Inspirational story behind Sheffield snooker academy which has produced 2 world champions

A little known snooker academy in the city, with an inspirational story behind its formation, has produced two world champions and hosted some of the sport’s biggest stars.

While Sheffield’s proud history as host city of the World Snooker Championship may be under threat, the future of this leading academy has been secured thanks to a major new grant.

Stephen Harrison Academy has been awarded almost £20,000 in National Lottery Funding to help double the size of its adult group to 200 members and develop the next generation of snooker stars.

The social enterprise has already produced the likes of Gary Swift, the reigning World Ability Snooker Champion in the paraplegic classification, and 21-year-old Reece Matin, who has autism and in April became the World Amateur Disability Snooker Champion.

The academy on Leeds Road, in Attercliffe, near the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, has also hosted some of snooker’s biggest names, including triple world champion Mark Williams and Jimmy ‘the Whirlwind’ White.

It was Stephen Harrison’s dad Ray Harrison, the 1985 Paraplegic World Snooker Champion, who inspired him to start the academy.

‘Dad was an inspiration’

Stephen said: “My dad was an inspiration to many wheelchair players; he taught many people who have spinal injuries at the old Lodge Moor Hospital.

“I travelled around the world with him when I was a kid, to countries including Malta, Denmark and Iceland, to grow the sport of snooker by teaching people how to hold a snooker cue and learn a new sport.”

When his dad sadly died, Stephen set out to continue his legacy and pass on his passion for disability snooker by opening the academy. He is campaigning for the sport to return to the Paralympics.

Stephen said: “Snooker was dad's life and is my life now. Dad taught me how to play, and I made my first century at 11 years old. I played professionally for over a decade and when my dad died, I knew I had to do something to continue his work and get more and more people with disabilities to take up the wonderful sport of snooker.”

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Trevonte, or Trev, is one person who is set to benefit from the new grant, from The National Lottery Community Fund.

Trev, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, attends monthly parent/carer sessions with his mum at the academy, which has provided him with a cueing aid so he can play while sitting in his wheelchair.

Stephen said: “As soon as Trev gets through the door, he wants to get his cue out to play with the rest of his mates. The more he plays, the better he gets. He is now building strength in his arms, as well as improving his fine motor skills.

“I think it’s brilliant how Trev has found a sport for life, and he can now play to a good level with the assistance of our trained staffed members. We are so happy Trev has found our club.

“Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund and National Lottery players for this grant. This will ensure more people will be able to take up the sport of snooker and benefit from our wonderful service.”