Snooker: John opens window of opportunity

Published on Saturday 28 November 2009 10:02

SCOTTISH Snooker's Under-16 Series received a massive boost when Midlothian businessman John McGovern sponsored the series with a £500 donation for the 2009-2010 season.

John McGovern, the windows, doors and conservatory specialist from Penicuik, was delighted to help, saying: "The funding will go towards the development fund for the under-16 category.

"Snooker is a great sport for kids to get into and you never know, my contribution may help to find another world snooker champion from Scotland."

Mike Leslie, who has contributed to the development of youth snooker in Scotland for the last five years, said: "We at Scottish Snooker really appreciate the input from John McGovern Conservatories at a very testing time for businesses due to the recession.

"Snooker is a fantastic game to be involved in playing, watching or sponsoring. I was telling John Higgins last weekend about the sponsorship from John and the current world champion was delighted to hear that junior snooker in Scotland was receiving this boost."

A number of snooker enthusiasts across Scotland are investing a lot of time and effort voluntarily to increase the numbers of players involved in amateur snooker in this country.

Paul Marinello, who is one of those enthusiasts, said: "At a recent under-16 event at The Lucky Break club in Clydebank, there were 22 entries, almost treble that of the first event.

"We have made great progress in only a short period of time and thanks to John we will be able to invest further in the development of the junior game."

Meanwhile, Michael Leslie junior, 16, of Bonnyrigg, who is one of Scottish Snooker's top prospects, has received an invitation to play in the European Under-17 Championships in Malta in January after finishing fifth in the Businessland Under-21 Series. Michael, who is the Scottish Under-19 and Under-21 champion, is looking for a waistcoat sponsor for the event to help towards the costs of international representation.

If anyone is interested, please contact Michael's agent on 07824 429397.