EASB Sport England Recognition

On 22nd September 2011, Sport England formally recognised EASB as the National Governing Body for Snooker and Billiards in England.

This marks the end of a long campaign for official recognition which was begun shortly after the association was formed in 1992 as a replacement for the defunct Billiards & Snooker Control Council.

Subsequent delays were largely due to the difficulty in agreeing a united presentation for snooker and billiards; with competitions for the latter being independently run by the English Amateur Billiards Association (EABA). Following protracted attempts to achieve an inclusive solution, the successful submission, which was presented to Sport England in February, did not contain any input from the EABA.

This change in status now enables EASB to make progress in a number of areas, not least giving access to schools for coaching purposes; recognition as an NGB being a prerequisite for most local authorities. The coaching scheme which was recently launched in anticipation of this decision, can now progress with the grass-roots development of snooker and billiards in England.

There is also expected to be an increase in financial opportunities, and it is hoped that a long held ambition to establish a fund to assist English representatives at overseas competitions will now be realised.

Peter Ainsworth
Company Secretary

Media Enquiries

Terry Teeman Email:  t.teeman@englishsnooker.com