She had good taste in Rock Star Snooker players then.

I'm sure that's her sitting to the right of Alex, with the dark glasses?

Yes it is her! I once spoke to her in 1989 as she came into the DIY shop I worked in and she said Alex was a 'bloody fool to himself' but it didn't stop her supporting him, even at her age.

Alex was a very classy player with tons of natural ability a true proper snooker man

I lost count at the amount of live matches I saw but it's probably over 200. Went to the Masters at Wembley every year from 1984-2006. Went many times also to Hexagon Reading and also Bournemouth international centre plus Derby a few times and The Guild Hall Preston once and of course not to forget the Crucible went twice in 85,86

@@digeme69 Top Draw you Attended loads of Matches. i Saw Another Great Match at the Norbreck Castle Hotel In Blackpool the 1988 Mercantile Final 1988 Davis v Parrott. as said Great Final Freezing Outside Snow.

I found the commentary from Dave Farrar was very relaxing during the Semifinals of the WC last year between McGill and Wilson

I must say I find Alan McManus very irritating with his hyperbolic style .

two class players making the game look ridiculously easy... effortless potting & break building... wonderfully complimented by less is more commentary... miss these days.

Yeah and u had proper natural commentators unlike what u got now rob walker that's pure desperation

The great WT was Mr maximum as well!

Willie Thorne had no bottle when it mattered

And the late great Len Ganley refereeing.

Was Ray eyeing up your neck?

Snooker in its heyday. However big snooker is now, it was then when it was REALLY big!! You had to book a table a week in advance at my local snooker club.

I was a century break player an above average club player. I was in the era of Jimmy white Steve Davis. I still maintain the most underated player ever. In my opinion is Ray Reardon.

@@christiano8088 yep...i used to go to my local snooker centre when the worlds was on and the place would be chocker ! and there were quite a few snooker clubs in cardiff at that time...couldnt get a table.....same used to happen with tennis courts when wimbledon was on as well !

Often not regarded as a natural player like Jimmy,Alex and Ronnie but he really was probably the best looking player in the balls so fluent.

the best!

Well said Caz ,nice one 🌹

Who is sandy

alex.

Your comment jumped out, as you call Alex by his family name, my grandmother and Alex Mother were sisters. He stayed sometimes with her on the Shankill Road here in Belfast, along with my uncle Sandy (Alexander) take care...

Thank you! Cheers!

@@digeme69 Thanks for this.

When talking about his practise sessions Thorne said he made 100's of 147's and after listening to other players talk about him i can believe that no problem , guy was basically a genius ,

His nickname was Mr 147.

his passion was an advantage

@@paleshelter4002 yes he hated losing.

@@ianwilliamson2980 in fairness, no-one does but he was extremely hard on himself.

@@londonlady1966 yea that's true

@@londonlady1966 some take losing better than others though .like ray reardon he was gracious when he lost .see the 82 final we higgins.ray could still have a joke after losing.

There was a match at the masters in 83 between Higgins and Big Bill which also didn't have much coverage. I think from memory only about 25 minutes was shown and one of the frames had an 11 minute black ball decider where they sent the black up and down the table before Bill sank it. Higgins led 3-0 but Bill won 5-4. The atmosphere was electric but as you say they used to show other things plus also in those days many big boxing fights were on the same night. I recall Hagler v Minter was on a Wed. Of course nowadays all the big fights are at the weekend.

yes... awful kick.

Willie actually beat Higgins 3 times out of 10, twice in ranking events in 89 (UK and European Open) and also in the Matchroom League in the same year.

@@digeme69 As I said i don't think these were on TV...certainly the European event and obviously the Matchroom League. Last 32 of the UK Open may have been but I don't recall it.

@@MattBridger Yes i note you said that but the UK was a tv event and its possible there may have been footage of the matchroom league, anyway its all history now

@@digeme69 Yup I think the central point I wanted to make was that Alex comfortably had Willie's card marked during his peak years. There was no way he was going to lose an important match against him and I always watched those games feeling supremely confident.

Actually the European game was the one he played on 1 leg after beating Les Dodd ..affter he'd jumped through the window...so he can be forgiven for losing that 😁

Like your mothers flange

No they're not, they're the same as today's.

Dessie Anderson.

What Jimmy wears a wig 🦱

@@patrickdoherty3758 That should read :"What! Jimmy wears a wig?"

@@edmundpower1250 I'm lazy

@@patrickdoherty3758 That should read :"I am lazy!"

@@edmundpower1250 🤣😅😆