Hampshire snooker coach Ken Jones has died

Former Saints defender Ken Jones passed away on December 27, aged 68.

Ken earned a Billiards and Snooker Foundation coaching ticket from the late Jack Karnehm at Lilleshall in 1987.

Cuestars members will be aware of names like Nick Jennings, Billy Castle, Adam Nash, Alex Dunkley, Jordan Winbourne, Dan Hildyard and Mark McLean.

All these and many more were helped by Ken in the 35 years he spent coaching in the Chandler’s Ford area.

However, none of this would have happened if Ken’s dad hadn’t stopped him signing for Arsenal.

As a promising young inside-right for Monckton Colliery 3 and 4 Pits team in the Barnsley Junior League, Ken was offered amateur forms at Highbury by manager George Swindin.

“I’d already had trials with Arsenal when I was a lad but my dad wouldn’t let me sign because he said I had to get a job,” recalled Ken.

After being turned down by Aston Villa and rejecting a move to Coventry, Ken, who had now switched to full back, was offered a professional contract by Fourth Division side Bradford Park Avenue.

Ken took up the story: “I was in the last year of my apprenticeship so I asked my dad. He said: ‘It’s up to you if you want to make a go of it.’ He wasn’t too impressed because I had only one year to go to get my City and Guilds, and be an electrician. Anyway, I had a go and it came off for me.”

In the summer of 1965, Ken was signed for Southampton by Ted Bates. That season, Saints won promotion for the first time to the old First Division.

Later that year, Ken played in what is still Saints’ record win – 9-3 against Wolves.

But his favourite memory was the 4-1 victory at Old Trafford in August, 1969, against a Manchester United side that included Denis Law, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Paddy Crerand and Nobby Styles.

“To go to old Trafford and win 4-1 was out of this world,” he said. “Big Ron [Davies] scored all four. They had a great side. It was a wonderful victory for us.”

It was while at The Dell that Ken was dubbed ‘The Hustler’.

“I finished training every morning and was straight in the billiard hall, sometimes until midnight,” he said. “I could earn a lot more money hustling in a week than I earned playing football.”

Ken’s funeral will be at Wessex Vale crematorium, West End, on Tuesday, January 15, at 2.30pm.

Following the service, refreshments will be served at Churchills, Eastleigh.