Former World Snooker Champion and BBC commentator John Parrott was in Carluke on Friday night as a guest speaker at Carluke Rotary Clubs annual Sportsman’s Dinner. The event was the 25th in the clubs history and John was joined by Willie Allan and Willie Young to help the club celebrate the achievement. Christopher Jack caught up with the man himself to talk all things snooker.
To date John has won 9 Ranking Events including the 1991 World Championship and UK Championship. He is one of only five players to hold both of these titles at the same time.

"Everybody wants to be recognised as a former world champion. Winning the UK, which my father took me to, that was very special and to win it in Preston was very special indeed. The two of them are the two majors we have on our circuit so winning the both of them was equally as good”
Recent results haven’t been as good for the man from Liverpool and he has slipped to number 42 in the World but he is more than content with the way things are going.

“It’s a question of motivation and will. Your life changes and you have a couple of kids and you’re happy with your lot. So basically that’s it. I’m more inclined to believe that I’ve been there and done it and had a good run at it and its time for somebody else really.”
Parrott began learning his trade aged 12 and has some useful advice for youngsters just starting out in the game.

“Enjoy it and enjoy every minute of it. Play in as many tournaments and competitions as you can and they will be the answer to you finding out whether you’re good enough to become a professional. It’s no good just practising on your own. It’s only in tournaments you find out whether you’re going to be good enough. Play in as many as you can”.

Under the guidance of his father, John became more and more interested in the game. My father played in the local club and he was very into it and he said go on have a go at this. I was immediately hooked. Once I saw those balls go in the net and go into the rails I was completely hooked.”
The hours of practise paid off and he was crowned World Amateur Champion in 1983.

He turned professional the following year and has been present at every World Championship since, apart from 2005 when he failed to qualify.
John is now a pundit alongside six times World Champion Steve Davis, a man who he regards as one of the greatest he has ever played against. “His overall standard of play was magnificent and his match play was probably the best match play I’ve ever played.”

Two years prior to his World glory, Parrott was humiliated 18-3 by Davis at the World Championships, a fact that he is regularly reminded of
“Anytime he has a chance to mention it, he mentions it. I have to come back with the fact that two years later I beat him 16-10 in the semi final and kicked his backside and sent him back home to Romford!”

With his professional career coming to an end, Parrott is more than happy to let the youngsters take over. And he’s willing to share some of his experience with the up and coming stars of the game. “I’ve done bits and bobs. I did coaching with Bobby Charlton’s soccer school, I did a snooker school for him one year, which I quite enjoyed. I don’t get asked that often but I would like to think I’m reasonably knowledgeable about it so it’s a possibility.”

Snooker has seen a significant drop in prize money over recent years. While other sports like football and golf have seen prize funds grow, professional snooker players are feeling the pressure of the ban on tobacco advertising. Parrott, who has career earnings of over £3million, feels that the players are still paid well for their efforts compared to other smaller sports in the UK but there is room for improvement. Compared to darts, we’re very well off but when you’ve played like I did for so many years on the circuit you see the difference. Deane O’Kane has come back to play this year and when he left in 2001, there was double the amount of prize money available. Losing the tobacco sponsorship has been a major blow to snooker”.

Players such as Hurricane Higgins have gone and players like John Higgins have taken their place. The modern era of players do not provide as many thrills for the crowd, despite their undoubted skill. Parrott agrees that the players are less crowd friendly during their matches compared to years gone by. When snooker first burst onto the seen you had Dennis Taylor with the big glasses, Terry Griffiths with his hairdo and Cliff Thorburn with his good looks. The lads all have their own personalities. They are excellent players but they haven’t developed in other ways.”

Away from the table and television cameras Parrott is a big fan of horseracing and is a season ticket holder at Goodison Park, home of Everton FC.
“I haven’t managed to go for a while. My son plays sport on a Saturday morning so it’s hard to get to the games after I’ve seen him play. Plus I absolutely love my racing on a Saturday afternoon so I’ve usually got the radio on listening to the commentary”

He may not be competing at the sharp end of the game but Parrott has certainly got more to give to the world of snooker. His role as a pundit and the possibility of going into coaching will ensure that the next generation of World Champions will benefit from his knowledge and expertise.