Hello Everyone. Well, thats it! The 2010/2011 season is over with the last of the competitive matches played on Tuesday 17th May, its been a long but compelling season. I find it hard to believe we started all the way back on 9th September with the Champions Challenge, those seven months have just flown by.

To be honest, when I took over the dual roles of Secretary and Treasurer, there were times that I wondered just what the hell I had let myself in for! But some invaluable guidance and help meant we had 19 teams, two divisions and 250 players ready to go for the new season. As I have said time and again, we would have no league if you guys did not give up your Thursdays to play snooker and for that you have my most grateful thanks. I'd like to think we have a league where even the snooker beginners can rub shoulders and compete with the seasoned and experienced players amongst us. Combine that with the fact that we have had probably the most competitive league programme in many years and our league has enjoyed a rejuvenation in interest and performance which can only be good for the future.

We introduced an extra round of fixtures into the programme at the last AGM, which meant each team played the others in their Division THREE times. The general response has been very happy with this as it reduced the number of open dates and the need for a long break at Christmas. It has lead to much more competitive year and hopefully will continue to promote higher standards amongst us all. Its been a season of excellent overachievement, disappointing underachievement and the end of a long wait for some teams this year. My congratulations to Huyton Constitutional who finally won the League title after a few years of being bridesmaid to St.Teresas 1, and also Scala Snooker who sealed their return to Thursday Snooker by taking the Division Two Title in the single closest league finish I have known. Moss Bank Community exceeded expectation by finishing as league runners-up and threatened to land the big one but for a couple of last minute wobbles. A disappointing year for Birchley St.Marys and East Sutton Labour who were relegated into Division Two. Indeed, the relegation fight came down to a 3-way play off which sadly proved a bridge too far for the East Sutton Labour-men. Broad Oak/Parr Cons shrugged of their "nomadic" existence and the closure of their venue to seal promotion to Division One after a play off with Lowe House. They will hope to enjoy a full season at their settled home of Parr Cons WMC next year. It has been a season of highs and lows for all teams this year, St.Teresas 1 finally losing their three year grip on the league title but taking home the Knockout Cup, beating Greenalls in the final.

Alongside this, we received a simply brilliant response to our competitions with tremendous entries in all the tournaments. Its also a reflection of the strength of the fields as the winners are all first time victors with a couple of them winning after only a couple of years playing the game! I would like to say a massive thank you to all who took part and played and arranged their games in good time. We hardly had to make ruling over any of the games and dates due to the excellent efforts made by all the competitors. As is nature there were some big upsets and challenges but ultimately I can pass on my congratulations to Ste Whittaker (Scratch Ind.), John Henry (Handicap Open), Chris Hayes (Under 25's), Paul Fox & Arun Zutshi (Pairs) and East Sutton Labour 2 (Three Man Team) on their victories and I hope that we can encourage the same numbers (if not more) into the tournaments next season.

It would be bad of me not to say some thank yous for the season gone. I was delighted that Chris Hill stayed with us to run and format the traditional competitions this season. They have all been superb and Chris has been a great help in this area even if he had to put up with my children doing the draws with us!! We will be running the same formats next year and hope to introduce a "Seniors" individual to the programme. I'm also happy that Ste Burrows continued on as Chairman and he also has given tremendous advice and support in all league aspects this year!! Thank you gents, I couldnt have done it without you!

I must also thank Tommy Burke from the St.Helens Wednesday League who gave me great help and advice just after I took over the running of the league. He helped me to understand how league programmes worked and gave help with items like scorecards and fixture sheet designs. Thank you very much Tommy, and I'm delighted that Tommy will be my guest of honour at the Presentation Night on Thursday 26th May. Thank you to all the clubs and management who gave their venues for neutral league and cup games. Scala Snooker, Holy Cross, St.Teresas, Greenalls, Eccleston Social, Thatto Heath, Windleshaw and Sutton Cricket. Take a bow guys! Many Thanks.

Finally, and once again, thank you to all the teams and players in making my job so easy this year. It has been a great honour and pleasure to run the league for you all this year and I couldnt have wished for it to go any better than it has. I hope to say my thanks to you all at Presentation Night but for those that will not be there, I can say a massive thank you from myself, Ste and Chris and we hope to see you all back for the new season in September

The new season A.G.M. will be held at Greenalls Club on Thursday 14th July at 8pm.

Enjoy your Summer guys! Yours in Snooker

Dave O'Dowd.