CHILDREN are being invited to learn the game from the late and great Paul Hunter’s former snooker coach at Swinton Leisure Centre.

Reg Davis, who was three times Masters champion Hunter’s coach in his formative years and remained his friend and mentor until his death, has joined forces with the late John Spencer’s nephew Dave Spencer to start a junior snooker programme at the Wellington Street centre.

The North West Junior Snooker Academy is held between 11am to 1pm every Saturday before a month-long break at the start of August.

It will start up again in the beginning of September. And Davis, who has been the Malayasian, French, Belgium and German national coach during his 40-year coaching career, is hopeful of the new snooker venture being a great success.

The 77-year-old said: "I was responsible for installing a schools snooker programme in the schools in Malaysia and was appointed by the government to do so.

"That was a big success and, having now retired back in England, I have been asked by the Salford Sports Council, via Swinton Leisure, to do something similar at Swinton Leisure Centre with Dave Spencer.

"It is a really good opportunity for local children to have fun on the table and to learn about what a great game snooker is.

"And, with the co-operation and support of the Salford Sports Council, we are hopeful of starting a schools programme for the winter which would culminate with an inter-schools competition, which I’m led to believe would be the first in the UK."

The price for taking part in the two-hour sessions at Swinton Leisure Centre is just £4. For more details or to book yourself in contact the centre on: 0161 794 0672 or call Davis on: 0161 681 4949.

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