Medway Snooker League folds but it could yet return

The Medway Snooker League has folded - but all is not lost.

There could still be a future for the league, with Jordans Bar in Rainham, which hosted matches, hoping to resurrect it.

The former Rileys club, owned by pool star Jordan Church and his family since 2008, will do all it can to help.

“Jordan and I are in discussions at the moment to relaunch snooker events and we would like to restart the Medway Snooker League in one guise or another,” said Les Church, Jordan’s dad.

“It will take time and it will only work if we get support. We seem to be getting a lot more snooker players in, which may help?

“We will keep you posted and, of course, be drawing on the outgoing committee’s knowledge.

“Finally, we have been very proud to be your host venue over the years and would like to thank the committee and the players, past and present, for their support. We made a good team.”

Snooker has been in gradual decline since its 1980s heyday, when the game drew huge TV audiences and was widely played in pubs and clubs up and down the country.

League secretary and treasurer Les Crowder can vouch for that.

He joined the league in 1979, playing at the Coop Club, and was part of a golden era.

Crowder said: “On a nostalgic note, I checked my collection of printed fixture lists and in 1986-87 we had four divisions and 64 teams, playing at places like Kingsnorth Power Station, the Telephones, Delbridge House and the good old Civil Service Club.

“They were happy days but I do remember collecting all the results on a Thursday night, what a chore that was!

“I do regret that it has come to an end, but I think the writing was on the wall for the last 10 years.

“I would like to thank everyone I have played with and against, and especially Derek