Lighting the way to better facilities at Barnard Castle snooker club

LIGHTS fit to grace the Crucible have been installed at a Teesdale snooker club as it enters a new era.
Teesdale Wanderers Snooker and Billiards Club has welcomed new world championship standard lights to its Birch Road home, in Barnard Castle.
The LED lights were funded by the County Durham Community Foundation after a bid by the Friends of Teesdale Wanderers group.
Club chairman David Dye said the set of two had come from Gateshead’s Breakaway Snooker.
He joked: “It’s proper professional lighting – they’re the ones you see at the world championship so we’re all set for them now if they’re looking at a venue change.”
Changes have come thick and fast to the century old club.
No fewer than 27 regulations in the original 1920s rulebook have been relaxed, meaning the Wanderers is registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act.
“They were basically strangling the club,” explained Mr Dye.
“One of the most significant things is there is no age limit now. Children can join and we’ve already got a couple of youngsters.
“I would think the forefathers of the club would be turning in their graves but it’s no longer an old man’s game.”
The timber-clad Wanderers club was on the brink of extinction for a number of years with a dwindling and ageing membership and no heating system.
But the past 18 months have seen more regular heating, a new pool table installed and its membership tick up to 93.
Mr Dye said the club’s status change had allowed it to look at bigger projects. 
He added: “It has now made us more eligible for financial help from grant funders which is what we really need.
“We are really trying to do something about the building and we have various options. One is to renovate this place – another is to replace the building which would, presumably, be nicer for the residents of Birch Road.”
A training school for juniors during the summer break has also been lined up as another venture. Mr Dye added: “We were thinking of maybe having some training sessions during the school holidays to help them with the type of shots they need to play.
“We could organise little tournaments for them if we get enough involved.
“At the end of it they’re the future of the club – we all played it as kids and ended up coming back to it.”
Club membership costs £12 for adults and £5 for juniors for the year.
For more information on membership contact David Dye on 01833 641216, email dyedavid55@gmail.com or ring club secretary Jon Keighley on 01833 650071.