John Oldfield
SELF-confessed
old stager John Oldfield played ice hockey for Southampton Vikings, aged 14,
shot clay pigeons for England and has just completed 50 seasons playing snooker
and billiards in the city.
Oldfield,
now captain of Sarisbury Social billiards team, started playing snooker for
second division Pirelli’s in Lodge Road in 1959 aged 16.
“They
used to allow me to be locked into the club during the day to practice,” he
said.
“All
the old boys used to moan ‘these youngsters, eyes like vultures’ and now
it’s turned full circle. The old boys are moaning about the youngsters again.
So nothing’s changed, and that’s the way it’ll always be.”
Oldfield
owns a motorbike spares shop in Shirley and used to have a full-sized table in
the house next door.
Future
world champion Steve Davis would often visit for a game and signed a book for
Oldfield’s assistant: “For Jill, who makes lovely bacon sandwiches.”
local enthusiast for
Snooker and Billiards in the Southampton & Portsmouth area.
The picture, taken in 1995, shows John playing in the Portsmouth League after he scored a massive 139 break for his "Majestic" team against Waterlooville A.
John currently captains the Sarisbury side in the Southampton Billiards League, but over the years has enjoyed success playing for Pirelli's, Bitterne Cons, Cue Ball and Wellworthy (Lymington).
During the 1970's John owned his own table, placed in a flat above his business, and in practice scored a 129 break against Peter Marchi.
In 1990 both Peter and John masterminded a superb cup win in the "Trophyman" sponsored Summer Billiards KO. The Q-Ball team also included Pete Tilsley, Neil Davies and Tony Aldridge.