More than halfway there (From This is Hampshire)

More than halfway there

6:00am Saturday 28th May 2011

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THAT’S 79 down and 50 odd to go.

Happy Snapper Kevin Legg and I have just completed our third full season covering the magnificent characters who turn out every week to play snooker, cribbage, pool and poker in the Southampton & District Social Clubs League.

When we started in March 2008, our first target was to feature a team from every social club affiliated to the league.

That was achieved at Bishopstoke Institute on March 22, 2010.

Freemantle Social Club’s return to the cribbage league last September allowed us to notch up our 56th club.

Our next aim was to feature every team in the league.

On March 21, 2011, Woolston & Sholing Conservative Club’s cribbage side became our 79th victims. And our 24th in the 2010/11 season.

Sadly, like Monty Python’s parrot, some have ceased to be. And a few others are on life support machines.

Southampton City Transport Sports & Social Club, Botley Institute, Pot Black and Q World (although the latter two don’t quite fall into the category of social clubs) fell by the wayside in our first two seasons.

This season has seen the demise of Brook Social Club, the General Hospital Sports & Social Club and, only a fortnight ago, the big one: Shirley Working Men’s Social Club.

Which one will be next?

As usual, rumours are circulating.

However, as we know from our travels, many clubs are thriving. Chandlers Ford Central Club is always buzzing. Is it because of their massive TV showing live football?

Bitterne Park WMC is always busy when we visit. Is it the car parking? That seems to be a massive plus point nowadays.

The snooker room at Shirley Conservative Club is well used. Perhaps it’s because they have six tables, more than any other social club in the region. And that makes it more of a social occasion rather than being shut away in a small side room.

And of course Testwood WMC, poker’s spiritual home. There’s always something happening there. And it’s got a decent-sized car park.

It will be interesting to see how the remaining clubs evolve – as they truly must.

PS Happy 28th wedding anniversary to my snooker-widow wife xxx.

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