Saturday, 24 July 2010
RIP Alex Higgins
I recorded these poor quality clips of snooker legend Alex Higgins back in May at a fundraising event in Manchester. It was heartbreaking to see him in this near skeletal condition. Why do I post this here on a Tameside blog? Well actually Alex was a guest of mine and lived in Tameside for many months in the 1990’s. Any staff or customers from the now closed Fox Tavern or Stalybridge Conservative Club will probably have recollections of him because he was a fairly big celebrity in those days. He had an eternal search for the perfect cue - after smashing up his original perfect cue in a rage. He loved old fashioned Conservative Clubs such as the one in Stalybridge because he could try out antique cues and he always claimed the old ones were the best. A sad loss!
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14 comments:
RIP.
Chronic abuse of alcohol and tobacco played a significant part in his early death. A genius at his profession.
Alex didn't help himself, but let's not forget the main reason for his downfall; his Jewish accountant, Howard Kruger, fleeced him for every penny he had.
A great snooker player and great entertainer, but he was a drunk many people would avoid him even when he was a young man.
Alex was trouble and he could not handle it we had to deal with it and we would get a battering because of him many nights.
If you really knew him you will understand this, hes gone now God bless you Alex and take care of you now.
I knew Alex during his latter years at the top, during the bitter break up with Lynn and the sale of Delvron House in Prestbury and in the sad years of his decline including the cancer diagnosis and his eventual move back to Belfast. Alex was the nicest man you could meet before he touched alcohol. He was quiet, unassuming and something of an intellectual. We travelled all over the country many many times. Here is a typical day out with Alex.
Doug Perry would call to remind Alex of the exhibition match he was scheduled to play in Cannock that night. Alex would go through the usual ritual of reading the red top tabloids, starting with the sports pages and he would save a broadsheet, usually the Telegraph or Times for the drive to the venue - he used to like the crosswords and could nearly always complete them because anyone who knew Alex closely would know he was anything but thick.
Before we set off there was the obligatory visit to the bookies and then we would hit the road. If traffic was light and we arrived in the area of the match before the event he would always be on the look out for interesting looking pubs then would say “let’s just stop here for a quick half so we don’t arrive early”. Then it began, all it took was literally half a Guinness and he turned from Mr Nice into Mr Suspicious and eventually Mr Nasty. The frightening thing was; it wasn’t large quantities of alcohol which made him flip, any, even amounts which would have little impact on teetotallers affected Alex in a negative way. Alcohol truly was the curse of his life, as was smoking.
He was adamant he was going to sue the WBPSA who he believed to be utterly corrupt. He reckoned the board was a cartel, the referee’s such as Len Gantley were bent (and I am sure he was not) and the game sponsorship was rigged in a way which the players did not get the financial remuneration they deserved. Firstly he rebelled by openly smoking Marlboro Light cigarettes in televised events sponsored by rival tobacco companies, eventually he tried to create a breakaway snooker body to rival the WBPSA. He desperately tried to enlist the likes of Jimmy White and others - but he never succeeded.
The tales you could tell about Alex are truly remarkable, but sadly all the hilarious ones were when he was under the influence of alcohol and usually behaving badly. But never be let it said he “blew his fortune” like a correspondent on Sky News said last night. He truly did get ripped off by the Brighton based ‘sporting entrepreneur’. RIP Alex
is the fox tavern closed? are you sure you dont mean the sportsman
The Fox Tavern closed in the early 90's. It was located close to the start of Huddersfield road and has since been converted into terraced houses.
that pub was called the Church not the Fox Tavern
Is that the one in between the car park and the nursery which is now three teraced houses?
Make no mistake this man is the most dangerous person alive in Britain today. listen to his speech - it was truly terrifying.
You didn't.
Cameron isn't dangerous, he's insane.
Thanks for the info on the pub name. The old grey matter is definitely deteriorating with age.
oh the only fox tavern i know is on Ridge hill lane . i thought that hadn't shut its always busy. thanks for the reply
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