Pool stars pocket final spot

BAIZE OF GLORY: Oldham pool team of Dave Cooper (back, left), Ricky Makinson, Andy Pickup, Farah Buta, Matt Evans, Steve Mak, Ian McMullan, Gary Cook. Glen Shaw (front, left), Andy Coyne, Colin Lord and Mike Pine.

POOL:

OLDHAM pool team head to Great Yarmouth next April hoping to crowned kings of the green baize.

Victory in the Inter-League Second Division Championship for the Greater Manchester region clinched a place at the English Pool Association national finals.

The Oldham team, made up of players from pubs, clubs and organisations, boasted a 100-per-cent record, with eight wins out of eight.

They played one match a month and used the Home Guard Club, Failsworth, as their base.

A total of 96 teams will converge on the East Coast venue next spring — the finals are being held at the Vauxhall Holiday Park — for a round-robin format, followed by a straight knock-out.

Oldham have qualified once before for the national finals, but were unable to bring the title back to the town.