The Hurricane

jaysay · 21-10-2006, 08:55

Catching up on the papers last night I saw an article about Snooker Star Paul Hunters funeral. In this article there were a few pictures of snooker players, one of which was of Alec Higgins. As some of you may be aware Alec has been suffering with cancer over the last few years and boy is it showing, he's 57 and he looks 97. Its a far cry from the days when Alec first came on the scene in the sixties, when he lived in a flat above a shop on Catlow Hall Street in Ossy. I used to see him quite a lot walking down Rhyddings Street or waiting for the Accy bus on Union Road. In those days his manager also lived on Calwow Hall, in fact the last time I actually saw Alec was with this same guy in Ossy Con one Staturday lunch. They had called in on their way to Accrington Golf Club, there were about 6 of use having a game and he stayed for a couple of hours and played a frame with all the lads, or should I say we fielded out for him. Its now such a shame that a guy with so much natural talent is now in such poor health.

SPUGGIE J · 21-10-2006, 11:53

My uncle played against him when he was doing the rounds of the working mens clubs. Alex may have given them all a lesson but it was lighthearted and never taken as anything other than that. Say one thing thogh he has had a full if sometimes contraversial life but we have enjoyed it all the way.
Pity there are fewer characters as Alex around as the world is a poorer place for it.

mthead · 21-10-2006, 12:04

Yes its a pity to hear of Alex's ill health.I have never been a big snooker fan,but I did used to watch his matches as he brought a different sort of ellement to the game,a true 'Entertainer' in every meaning of the word.The only person who had his sort of style of playing is Jimmy White,who I dont mind watching either.
I remember one match Alex played in when he had a pot on his leg and had to hobble around the table,though I shouldn't mock someones injuries it was amuseing

mthead · 21-10-2006, 12:18

Just come across this if anyone is intrested

http://www.fcsnooker.co.uk/al_higgin...ns_profile.htm

It seems a good brief history of his carrer

jaysay · 21-10-2006, 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J

My uncle played against him when he was doing the rounds of the working mens clubs. Alex may have given them all a lesson but it was lighthearted and never taken as anything other than that. Say one thing thogh he has had a full if sometimes contraversial life but we have enjoyed it all the way.
Pity there are fewer characters as Alex around as the world is a poorer place for it.

Can't agree more Spuggie. Alec was one of those sportsmen who, as they say, put bums on seats, both on the club circuit or on the competion table

jaysay · 21-10-2006, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by mthead

Just come across this if anyone is intrested

http://www.fcsnooker.co.uk/al_higgin...ns_profile.htm

It seems a good brief history of his carrer

Very good Mthead thanks for that

garinda · 21-10-2006, 15:43

The photograph of him looking so ill was shocking.

He was a bit like the George Best of the snooker world in his day.

His maxim was a bit like George's too. Who famously replied when asked where his fortune had gone, that he'd spent it on wine, women, and song...and just squandered the rest.

maxwell silver · 21-10-2006, 16:36

Alex was to snooker what George Best was to football.A natural talent & showman,a maverick,a personality who sadly fell from grace before his time.

slinky · 21-10-2006, 20:06

My dad once played him back in the 80s. They had a 5 pound bet on the game. My dad actually won the game, but he never did get his 5 pound

.

I recon with interest added on now, I could may well have quite a bit of money since my dad died and I was next of kin

shillelagh · 21-10-2006, 23:02

Alec Higgins is why i started watching snooker. Mum used to love watching snooker when he was playing and thats how i started because if he were playing then that was what was on tv - no chance of turning it over. Even my dad wouldnt dare turn it over if the snooker was on.

jaysay · 22-10-2006, 18:20

At the start of this thread I mentioned that Alec, when living in Ossy was managed by a bloke who also lived on Catlow Hall. Not two hours after I made the post I had a phone call from a mate to tell me the this chap had died in the Royal Blackburn Hospital, this was a great shock to me as I had been pals with this guy for over 40 years, in fact he was the only person still a member of Ossy Con who had been a member longer that me. The name of my mate was Denis Broderick, he was a great guy and I am going to miss him every time I go in the Con