About The League
Chairman George Bradbury 01782 336325
Secretary Tony Hazledine 077567 15420
Competition Secretary Paul Ward 07982 231301
History of The League
The league was formed in
1978
according to my records by a pool addict named Alan Rowe (RIP).
Alan, when I first met him was being assisted by Sid Brough.
Due to his health the chair was taken over by Paddy Drummond and
assisted by Kim Newbon with Sid still looking after the books.
The rest of the history of the league is simple.
1987
- The arrival on the scene of George Bradbury, who with Tony 'Beano'
Hazledine stormed onto the pool scene .
During the Nineties the committee was made up of Tommy and Hazel
Malbon and Tommy Clowes with George and 'Beano'.
1992
- Saw the committee introduce another competition called the 'George
Bradbury' Chairman's Cup, this was designed for the top sides in
each division. To help the lower sides the league 'invented' the
Secretaries Shield for them to battle for.
1993-The
league attracted sponsorship from Stone Van Hire and Bass breweries,
this enabled the league to purchase new perennial trophies which are
still in circulation to this day. (As you can see from our history
below all old trophies were donated to other organisations and
records were not kept)
1996
-The league introduced a Subsidary Singles and Doubles competition
for first round losers in the relevant Singles and Doubles merits.
They have now 'outlawed' county players to make it better for the
lower players to play and win.
In the year
2000 another competition was re-designed, the Super
Sixes (Sevens originally). This was designed to give a cup final
atmosphere in each match with all players playing at one venue.
2004
- This season both Tommy and Hazel relinquished their posts due to
work commitments and were soon joined 'in retirement' by Tommy
Clowes.
To this day
George is still the Chairman and after a short break
of two years, Tony remains as the Secretary and now Treasurer.
Also in 2004
the committee was 'boosted' by the arrival of Paul Ward with the
official name of Merits / Competition secretary.
2007
- the league once again introduced yet another set of competitions
called the Champions Trophy ,(competed by the top 2 sides in each
division) the remaining sides in each division play in the
Divisional cups. This ensures Four sides from each Division wins
trophies at the end of the season.
Wardys' first job was to introduce the One Frame Knockout ,a
fantastic competition that no league in Staffordshire can match. 64
players at one venue playing down to the winner.
As well has running this league George has been the chairman of
Staffordshire County since 1996 and back in
2002 recruited Beano as competition secretary.
'Wardy' is in his first position within a committee, but as a player
that's won over 10 merits titles, 5 national titles with the County,
he's now putting all his experience into this league.
'Beano' also was previously Chairman of both the Longton and
District league and King Ford League, and along with Kev Brindley
amalgamated the Longton League and the Concorde League. This league
is still running as the Gala League (Monday League)
The names:- Stoke Pool League (my favourite),
Carpets and Cane ,Stone Van Hire and now
Afford Pool League.
| History of the Divisions | |||
| Premier | First | Second | |
| 2012 | Locomotive | Players Rileys | No Division |
| 2011 | Players Baize | Trent Tavern | Green Baize B |
| 2010 | Players Trent | Wolstanton SC | Green Baize North |
| 2009 | Players Baize | Talbot | Crompos Pool Club B |
| 2008 | Players Baize | Park Inn | Longton Snooker B |
| 2007 | Players Baize | Rileys A | Fegg Hayes S&S |
| 2006 | Rileys B | New Penny | No Division |
| 2005 | Green Baize | Red Lion | No Division |
| 2004 | Green Baize | Ubberley WMC | Railway |
| 2003 | Green Baize A | John Marston | Corner Pin |
| 2002 | Green Baize A | Ashwood | Green Baize Z |
| 2001 | Green Baize B | Portland House | Rileys Hanley |
| 2000 | Congress | Rileys Fenton | Blythe Spirit |
| 1999 | Congress | Queen Of Hearts | Foley |
| 1998 | Ashwood | Hillberry | Normacot Hotel |
| 1997 | Regent | Winchester | Rileys Fenton |
| 1996 | Union | Ashwood | Winchester |
| 1995 | Portland House | Roebuck | Hollybush |
| 1994 | Regent | Man O Clay | |
| 1993 | Regent | Winchester | |