WORTHING BAR BILLIARDS 1959/2000.  ( INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY TONY LEWIS ).

Organised Bar Billiards in Worthing did not arrive until 1959, nearly 30 years after it was brought to England. Charles Bryant, Landlord of The Royal George and Jack Britton, Landlord of The Globe set up the first league. 

The first season saw The Globe emerge as winners, but no records are available, in 1960/61 nine teams formed the League and the winners were once again The Globe. Of those original venues only The Elms survives as a venue. The Dragoon and The Globe continued to dominate the sixties, although the emergence of The North Star eroded that towards the end of that era.

In the seventies they were joined by The Crabtree, Lancing and The Mile Oak, Portslade. By 1976/77 there were 37 teams playing from 25 venues and the boundaries had been eatended. The eighties saw the rise of The Ham B, but the League was dominated by The Gardeners, Sompting. They won six titles, including five consecutive ones. The nineties saw The Romans C and The London and Edinburgh Club trade titles. For now the title of greatest team must surely go to The Gardeners.

Individual competitions did not start until 1963/64 when Harold " Nobby " Clark won the inaugral Singles, the fo;;owing year saw the introduction of the Doubles. The mens game has beem dominated by, Charlie Preston, Ian Lelliott, Roger Taylor, Mike Hinton and Jim Millward. Between them they have appeared in 25 Singles and 26 Doubles Finals. Mike Hinton also won the first ever All England Title.

If you can add anything to the above then please contact us on contact@wdbbl.com