World Snooker Championships at Sheffield Crucible: Can you remember golden days of 70s and 80s? RETRO PICTURES
By Darren Burke
Published 28th Feb 2019, 14:03 BST
Updated 17th Apr 2019, 13:20 BST
The World Snooker Championships have been part and parcel of Sheffield life for more than 40 years - creating some incredible sporting memories.
We've dipped into our archives to the golden days of snooker in the 70s and 80s - can you spot yourself and recognise some of the star players from four decades of action at the Crucible?
A packed out Crucible - all set for the snooker.
The Crucible opened in 1971 - here the finishing touches are being put to the building.
The Crucible first staged the World Snooker Championships in 1977.
The home of snooker champions - pictured in the 80s.
Canadian Cliff Thorburn, known as The Grinder for his slow, methodical play, celebrates after winning in 1980.
Fans' favourite Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins, lines up a shot at the Crucible in 1979.
The chalk and cheese Higgins and Davis never met in a final at the Crucible.
Snooker fans may recall the Crucible restaurant - pictured here in the 1970s.
TV host David Vine discusses the action in an early BBC broadcast.
Tickets for the snooker have always proved a popular draw.
The people's champion Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White contested six finals - but lost them all.
The 1985 final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor is regarded as the greatest Crucible final of all-time - the Northern Irishman triumphing on the final ball of the final frame.
The Canadian star goes for glory in 1977 - the first year the contest was held in Sheffield.
The Crucible takes shape in 1970.
Dennis Taylor celebrates his 1985 win - with a somewhat risque statue!
David Vine in the studio with Canadian star Kirk Stevens - who was known for his flamboyant dress sense.
Australian star Eddie Charlton, who died in 2004, was a three time finalist - but never won the World Snooker crown.
Dennis Taylor - before he adopted his trademark 'upside down' glasses.
Entrepreneur Mike Watterson, who died earlier this year, brought the snooker to Sheffield in 1977 after realising the intimate Crucible was an ideal venue.
Larger than life Canadian Bill Werbeniuk and Ray Reardon, a six time champion, share a joke.
The Crucible has hosted the World Snooker Championships for more than four decades.
Welshman Terry Griffiths celebrates his victory in 1979.
Leicester's Willie Thorne, known as Mr Maximum for racking up a string of 147 breaks, pictured in 1980.
Let battle commence!
How many snooker fans have enjoyed a drink and snack in here over the decades?
Taking a break from the snooker and outside in the sun in the early 1980s.
Snooker ace Ray Reardon, known as Dracula, could be relied on to add a touch of humour to proceedings. He's now 86.
Who remembers the Crucible's particularly garish carpets?
A tearful Alex Higgins celebrates his 1982 win.
Laying down those infamous eye catching carpets!
Yorkshireman Joe Johnson won the title in 1986 - one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history.
The foyer - where snooker fans recharge their batteries between lengthy sessions of snooker.
Of course, the rest of the year, the Crucible is a traditional theatre venue. Here it's packed out for a show in the 70s.
