A Private Story of Respect: Reflecting on Clive Everton’s Affect – A Snippet from 2015…
As we mark what would have been Clive Everton’s 88th 12 months, I discover myself reflecting on a private encounter with Clive Everton in a brief 2 to three emails, however heat and respectable change from 2015 that highlighted his unwavering decency and respect for the sport of snooker and EVERY particular person in it.
Landywood Snooker Membership lately placed on their Fb web page that EVERY one that enters their snooker venue is handled with respect and valued – not simply the members, however these exterior.
In 2015, I reached out to Everton the editor of the long-running and broadly revered SnookerScene with an off the cuff e mail pitch about Ronnie O’Sullivan and why he had not obtained honours for his expertise and dedication to snooker. I used to be enthusiastic about writing a bit for SnookerScene about it and wished to get his opinion on it.
Though SnookerZone had not but been enacted, and ended up in operation three years later, I used to be eager to put in writing severely concerning the sport as a certified author and journalist with already years of expertise writing on different platforms – and having finished some expertise on papers, mags, and web sites. Snooker was and is one in all my passions. That’s the place I additionally began enjoying extra severely having had teaching with a high coach in Brian Cox.
Afterall, that’s the place all of us begin from from the identical sheet isn’t it? We’re ALL followers of the sport, no matter what we’re doing in it and everybody of us must be handled with respect.
I don’t care in the event you’re 100 break participant or an individual on the street who performs casually, and watches it on the TV – everybody ought to be capable of go right into a snooker membership and never really feel alienated, or really feel like they’re being ridiculed or humiliated, or, certainly, bullied or compelled out for no matter purpose.
Afterall, these folks that go right into a snooker venue, are usually not simply gamers, they’re clients, and so they pay the wages of these working there!
There are some quarters of the sport the place individuals (like myself have felt like that on a interval of events) the place they weren’t felt valued, and, or disrespected by sure quarters in the neighborhood with egos. Insults from individuals who ought to know higher. That’s unacceptable.
Properly, they will’t disrespect me now. I’ve received a league title and helped Oxshott A win the league for 2024/25 at an honest membership, in Oxshott – a league which has been going since 1910.
And this web site has been nominated for an award subsequent 12 months on the UK Enterprise Awards 2026.
In truth, I had a name final week truly from a league consultant of a distinct league to Oxshott and he stated that it was unhappy that there have been no more league gamers enjoying in leagues throughout the nation. As I’ve already identified on this web site earlier than in statistics, ONLY 19,000 individuals play snooker in England, in comparison with different sports activities the place the take up is way a lot larger. I’ve documented this on right here sufficient occasions, however I don’t fairly assume it has hit house with the powers at be!
He additionally stated that in the event you benefit from the sport, then it is best to play. “Should you get pleasure from it, he stated, maintain enjoying.” I additionally talked about I had had unhealthy experiences at one venue, and it made me extraordinarily skeptical of some points of beginner snooker and a few behaviors in it. I don’t belief a few of them and don’t like a few of their attitudes. I might write much more about stuff as I do know issues, however, I received’t.
Because it occurs, he additionally invited me to play within the league he was a part of, though I declined the provide as I proceed enjoying at Oxshott Membership.
I acknowledged and anticipated that my article pitch for snooker’s lengthy standing and far cherished journal wouldn’t get in and doubtless wouldn’t be appropriate for Snooker Scene, given the journal’s already established staff of writers like Dave Hendon et al. However to my shock in 2015 once I was nonetheless comparatively new to the writing and journalistic scene in snooker, Clive responded warmly, by saying,
“The extra the merrier now we have writing about our nice sport!”
I did finally find yourself writing the article elsewhere, in addition to many, earlier than SnookerZone got here into operation in 2018.
In an period the place the snubbery of individuals and disrespect is rife, immoral, and, generally, downright impolite – Everton’s heat and pleasant response was a breath of recent air at the moment, and was one of many causes I wished to proceed writing concerning the nice sport – not simply having fun with enjoying it, whether or not it’s for competitions or for recreation. Snooker has at all times been a ardour and at all times can be. And as I’ve talked about earlier than, I play with a non totally rotational shoulder and snooker is the one sport I can play “correctly” due to that!
Right here is Everton’s response to the e-mail pitch and query response he gave I had despatched to SnookerScene…
MY EMAIL (2015): Pricey Clive,
I seen in your twitter feed that you just had been campaigning for Ronnie to be honoured with an MBE. I simply wished to test this was true.
I’d be enthusiastic about writing a brief piece on this and I used to be simply questioning in the event you had just a few moments to supply a quote in your the explanation why you’re doing it and so on and your ideas?
As a Ronnie fan and snooker fan myself, it’s one thing I can lend my assist to by writing a bit on it….
I’d respect a brief quote in the event you would gladly do this if you get a spare second.
Many thanks on your time.
CHRIS GAYNOR
EVERTON’S RESPONSE (2015):
Pricey Chris,
I believe it’s unfair on Ronnie and snooker usually {that a} 5 occasions world champion just isn’t formally honoured when sportsmen in different disciplines of lesser achievement are.
That’s my solely motivation.
Until it was one thing out of the atypical, I don’t assume it could be value you writing a bit for us on this topic. As you realize, now we have three in home writers Phil Yates, David Hendon and myself so between us now we have obtained this gorgeous nicely coated.
Thanks, although, on your curiosity.
Clive Everton
This easy but profound reply encapsulated Clive’s ethos: a real ardour for snooker and a beneficiant spirit that welcomed contributions from all corners of the game.
Within the beginner sport the place I’ve sometimes been sidelined or ridiculed, and even disrespected, and even felt at occasions like I used to be not being taken severely, regardless that I used to be attempting to assist indirectly, this needs to be a reminder that widespread decency is required in every single place and respect for individuals needs to be primary precedence earlier than something to do with snooker.
Everton might have been the highest canine in snooker journalism, however his e mail response handled it prefer it was an equal and there wasn’t any trace of ego or trying down on others in there.
Writers and journalists generally must ask questions that go above the traditional promotional stuff. That’s how it’s. If some individuals within the sport can’t deal with individuals asking questions, then – and I’ve stated it earlier than, get some media coaching, and, or, change your angle as a result of that’s what you’re going to get from writers and journalists in sport (and certainly in another business the place there are writers and journalists.)
Clive’s response to me stood as a beacon of integrity and respect. It was a reminder that the true essence of snooker lies not simply within the frames performed, however in the neighborhood that surrounds it.
As we bear in mind Clive who would have been in his 88th 12 months this 12 months, it’s clear that his legacy is not only within the phrases he spoke or wrote about snooker, however in the best way he made others really feel valued and heard. His dedication to the game and its individuals serves as a permanent instance of how one particular person’s kindness can go away a long-lasting impression.
Though I didn’t get into SnookerScene with the article at the moment, and went on to start out SnookerZone, which I’ve truly obtained new plans for which I’m growing at current (watch this area) I used to be touched by his compassionate tone and the truth that he acknowledged my effort and pitch.
Nevertheless, you’ll be able to’t say that every one about among the individuals in beginner snooker and certainly, the pomposity and ego nastiness and I’d say some “jealousy” of some within the native scene! From my expertise, anyway!
Everton was one in all a sort in snooker and entered the Corridor of Fame. He handed away final 12 months in 2024.
