How I Became a Professional Billiard Player
By TOM REECE
There are three reasons. First, because the game exercised an extraordinary fascination over me; second, because I discovered that I had a natural aptitude for the game; third, and perhaps most important of all, because billiards opened out the prospect of an improved social position for myself. There may have been a few other reasons why I took to billiards as a profession, but the three already quoted were the ones that really counted. Unlike most of my confreres, ancient and modern, I possessed no" heredity "traditions in connexion with the game. I had no father, brothers, uncles, or grandfathers to hand down to me the billiards atmosphere, if I may put it that way. So, like"Topsy," I just" growed,"so far as my billiards life is concerned.
I was born in Lancashire, the county that gave us the father and mentor of the last generation of billiard players—the late John Roberts—and also the quaint and talented Edward Diggle. I played and learned much from both when I was fairly launched on a billiards career, but I was over 18 years of age before the names of either were familiar to me.
Born in Oldham on August 12, 1873 (John Roberts's month), without any silver spoon in my mouth, I had to look after myself at quite an early age. A local cotton mill was the scene of my activities and billiards was undreamt of by me until I was eighteen. Then I happened to be introduced to a local social club that had a gymnasium attached to it. This became my " Mecca,"as I had a pronounced taste for athletics. But at my first visit I did not get as far as the"gym."To reach it I had to pass through the billiard room, where two men were playing. I stopped to look on and with each succeeding- minute the fascination of the game grew upon me. I saw the game through, and another, and yet another one, and there and then decided that here was the pastime for my spare hours.
I lived on that club table (outside of my cotton mill duties, of course). I found that I had some natural aptitude or gift for the game, and at the same time work in the cotton mill lost its savour for me. I soon became proficient enough to warrant my looking around for a more congenial occupation, and I secured an appointment as head marker at one of the principal local hotels. From that moment I decided on billiards as a career.
Assiduous practice allied to ambition to get on worked wonders with me, and it was not long before I found good local support in matches against the lesser lights of that day.
My first really big match was with Tom Monkhouse, then champion of Oldham. We played 9,000 up for £100 aside and the championship, and I was not unnaturally proud of my victory by the margin of 1,141 points.
Other money matches followed against Ryder and Harris of Manchester, Francis of Southport, Alec Taylor of Leeds, and Charlie Wilkinson of Wakefield, and, although occasionally defeated, when accounts came to be squared up I found myself on the right side. These matches gave me experience and confidence, and turning my eyes Londonwards, I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to play in 1902 in the Burroughes and Watts tournament in the old rooms in Dean Street.
That was my London debut, and from my point of view it was successful, for I tied with Harverson for first place with seven wins and two defeats.
My first experience of Inman was in January, 1903, when we played 15,000 up level for £100 aside. I was led at one stage by well over 1,000, but caught him up and was only defeated in a closely-contested finish by the narrow margin of 312 points. And thus commenced a keen, but I hope healthy, rivalry which has lasted to the present day.
These are the chief milestones in a professional career that has, with all its ups and downs, afforded me much pleasure. I owe much to the sympathy and support of the billiards-going public and have always endeavoured to repay it by giving of my best and making my game as attractive as I could. If an indulgent editor will permit me I shall be glad on some future occasion to try and show how the greatest of all indoor games might be improved as a sport and as a spectacle.