EPSB League Focus | Plymouth & District League

The Plymouth & District League has a rich history stretching back over nearly 150 years and is part of a thriving scene in the area.

The league has featured a number of recognisable names throughout its history including former World Championship semi-finalist Andy Hicks and current World Snooker Tour (WST) professional Haydon Pinhey – who still competes in the league as part of the ‘Legends Lounge’ team.

The reigning league champions are Precise Accountants and, this season, the league has 20 teams of three players and is continuing to show an encouraging upwards trend in team numbers in recent years. The Plymouth & District League is part of a healthy snooker scene in Plymouth with leagues taking place on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays – each of which are independently run by their own committee of volunteers.

Formed in 19th century, the league celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1983 with the presentation night held at HMS Drake. Comprehensive records of the league stretch back to the 1937-38 season, at which time there were 78 billiards and 20 snooker teams. Pennycross Sports Club and Saltash Social Club both had teams in the league during the 1930’s and are still represented to this day.

Lee Walters earned the distinction of making the first century break, a 127, in the history of the league during the 1988-89 campaign. Current WST player Pinhey has compiled a total of 21 century breaks in the league including a high of 132.

The league caters for a wide range of abilities and ages, with the first mention of a junior player dating back to 1958, and offers opportunities for a mix of both newer players and those who have played for many years – providing a welcoming and friendly environment for players to participate in competitive local snooker.