Len Ganley
Encyclopedia
Len Ganley MBE
(27 April 1943 – 28 August 2011) was a Northern Irish snooker
referee
. He visited England
in 1971 to spend a ten-day holiday with his sister in Burton-upon-Trent, and remained in England.
Born in Lurgan
, County Armagh
, Northern Ireland
, he became a full-time referee after working as a milkman
and bus driver
when he first arrived in Burton-on-Trent. He played snooker when he lived in Northern Ireland and won various local titles in Britain and Ireland. His highest break was 136.
He refereed four World Snooker Championship
finals between 1983 and 1993, including 1990 when Stephen Hendry
became the youngest World Champion. Another career highlight was the 1983 UK Snooker Championship
final between Alex Higgins
and Steve Davis
. Another famous match he refereed in his later career was Ronnie O'Sullivan
's fastest 147 v. Mick Price in the 1997 World Championship
first round.
Although a non-drinker
, Ganley also appeared in a Carling
Black Label beer advert on TV in the early 1980s, in which he crushed a snooker ball with his gloved hand in a match between Terry Griffiths
and John Spencer
, after Spencer had knocked the ball off the table.
Ganley was immortalized in the Half Man Half Biscuit
song "The Len Ganley Stance". He retired in 1999 and suffered a heart attack in 2002. His son Mike Ganley is the WPBSA Tournament Director.
Ganley, who suffered from diabetes, died on 28 August 2011, aged 68. His family requested that people donated to the Paul Hunter Foundation
rather than sending flowers. Steve Davis said: "Len did a very good job of being a referee and a personality at the same time. A referee is supposed to be unseen and he liked the limelight, but he still managed to do the job properly. He was a great character off the table, but in the arena he was an excellent referee. He knew the game as a player, having made century breaks himself, so when he was in charge of your match it was nice to know how well he understood the game.". He is credited with inventing the device that marks the position of the cue ball while it is removed by the referee for cleaning.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(27 April 1943 – 28 August 2011) was a Northern Irish snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
. He visited England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1971 to spend a ten-day holiday with his sister in Burton-upon-Trent, and remained in England.
Born in Lurgan
Lurgan
Lurgan is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town is near the southern shore of Lough Neagh and in the north-eastern corner of the county. Part of the Craigavon Borough Council area, Lurgan is about 18 miles south-west of Belfast and is linked to the city by both the M1 motorway...
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, he became a full-time referee after working as a milkman
Milkman
A milkman is a person, traditionally male, who delivers milk in milk bottles or cartons. Milk deliveries frequently occur in the morning and it is not uncommon for milkmen to deliver products other than milk such as eggs, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt or soft drinks...
and bus driver
Bus driver
A bus driver, bus operator or omnibus driver is a person who drives buses professionally. Bus drivers typically drive their vehicles between bus stations or stops. They often drop off and pick up passengers on a predetermined route schedule. In British English a different term, coach drivers, is...
when he first arrived in Burton-on-Trent. He played snooker when he lived in Northern Ireland and won various local titles in Britain and Ireland. His highest break was 136.
He refereed four World Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
finals between 1983 and 1993, including 1990 when Stephen Hendry
Stephen Hendry
Stephen Gordon Hendry, MBE is a Scottish professional snooker player. In 1990, he was the youngest-ever snooker World Champion, at the age of 21. He has won the World Championship a record seven times and was snooker's world number one for eight consecutive years between 1990 and 1998, and again...
became the youngest World Champion. Another career highlight was the 1983 UK Snooker Championship
UK Snooker Championship
The UK Championship is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It is the second biggest ranking tournament after the World Championship and is one of the Triple Crown events.-History:...
final between Alex Higgins
Alex Higgins
Alexander Gordon "Alex" Higgins , also known by his nickname of Hurricane Higgins, was a Northern Irish professional snooker player who was twice World Champion and twice runner-up. Higgins earned the nickname The Hurricane because of his speed of play...
and Steve Davis
Steve Davis
Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire...
. Another famous match he refereed in his later career was Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronald Antonio "Ronnie" O'Sullivan , is an English professional snooker player known for his rapid playing style and nicknamed "The Rocket". He has been World Champion on three occasions , and is second on the all-time prize-money list, with career earnings of over £6 million, behind only Stephen...
's fastest 147 v. Mick Price in the 1997 World Championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
first round.
Although a non-drinker
Teetotalism
Teetotalism refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices teetotalism is called a teetotaler or is simply said to be teetotal...
, Ganley also appeared in a Carling
Carling
Carling brands are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. In South Africa it is distributed by SABMiller.Carling Black Label is the name of a brand of Canadian lager in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Africa...
Black Label beer advert on TV in the early 1980s, in which he crushed a snooker ball with his gloved hand in a match between Terry Griffiths
Terry Griffiths
Terrence "Terry" Griffiths OBE is a retired Welsh snooker player and current snooker coach and pundit. He won the World Championship in 1979 at the first attempt, and reached the 1988 final. He also won the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982, making him one of seven players to have...
and John Spencer
John Spencer (snooker player)
John Spencer was an English professional snooker player who won the World Professional title at his first attempt, was the first winner at the Crucible Theatre, was the inaugural winner of the Masters and Irish Masters and was the first player to make a 147 break in competition...
, after Spencer had knocked the ball off the table.
Ganley was immortalized in the Half Man Half Biscuit
Half Man Half Biscuit
Half Man Half Biscuit, often "HMHB", are an English rock band from Birkenhead, Merseyside, active since the mid-1980s, known for satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs. The group comprises Nigel Blackwell , Neil Crossley , Ken Hancock , and Carl Henry...
song "The Len Ganley Stance". He retired in 1999 and suffered a heart attack in 2002. His son Mike Ganley is the WPBSA Tournament Director.
Ganley, who suffered from diabetes, died on 28 August 2011, aged 68. His family requested that people donated to the Paul Hunter Foundation
Paul Hunter
Paul Alan Hunter was an English professional snooker player. His media profile developed swiftly and he became known as the "Beckham of the Baize" because of his good looks and flamboyant style....
rather than sending flowers. Steve Davis said: "Len did a very good job of being a referee and a personality at the same time. A referee is supposed to be unseen and he liked the limelight, but he still managed to do the job properly. He was a great character off the table, but in the arena he was an excellent referee. He knew the game as a player, having made century breaks himself, so when he was in charge of your match it was nice to know how well he understood the game.". He is credited with inventing the device that marks the position of the cue ball while it is removed by the referee for cleaning.