Geoff didnt celebrate his 50th

AT the end of last season veteran Geoff Knapp celebrated 50 years playing snooker in the Southampton & District Social Clubs League – or rather he didn’t.

Geoff Knapp - 50 years playing snooker in the Southampton League

The 67-year-old, who was born during The Battle of Britain, decided to concentrate on billiards not realising he had completed a half-century.

Knapp remembers watching former world champions Walter Donaldson, John Pulman and John Spencer in exhibition.

In fact, his dad, despite having had his thumb and first finger on his grip hand blown off in a shooting accident, played Spencer and asked: “What would you like me to do, John, smash ’em up?”

The three-time champion replied: “Charlie, it won’t make any difference what you do.”

Knapp added: “Dad could write beautifully.”

Picture: Kevin Legg