OLD LEAGUE TABLES

OLD RESULTS

PLAYERS PAST & PRESENT

The Pickwick Pool Team was founded in 1980 and originally played out of the Royal Oak (now demolished) in Woolwich. A predominately Irish pub, where a mixed bunch of boozers and young lads got together to form the sub standard B team and played in the bottom division (Div 2) of the Plumstead & District League, which has since been renamed The Frank Smith Pool League. In those early days the pool wasn't up to much, and the hat was frequently seen passed around for punters to contribute to the IRA funds. By the second season of league pool, the number of young lads grew, as existing players brought along their friends. In 1983-84 relegation to the newly formed Division 3 was just avoided with a big away win, late in the season. In the Summer of 1984 Paul Gafa' took on the mantle of skipper, and began to assemble a team that would compete, rather than just play. 1984-85 saw the team finish comfortably in mid table, but the following season The Royal Oak closed and the team were homeless. The Royal Oak in Barnfield Gardens and RASRA Sports Club were used as temporary venues, but eventually the team moved to The Lord Bloomfield, Plumstead Common. So in their new home, the team achieved the seemingly impossible and were promoted to the top flight. The final match of the season of the season saw The Bloomfield B just miss out on the Division Two Championship. The team had arrived, and indeed so did more quality players. They began to collect trophies predominately in the summer leagues of the late 1980's. By this time the team had a reputation of being a tough team to beat, notorious for laying snookers and playing long tactical frames. The team itself became 'The Academy' where all players that joined were taught, and helped to play in a similar style. The so called 'fictitious hand book' was formed, and still used to this day. Eviction from the Lord Bloomfield in 1989, as the pub regulars, wanted to form their own B team, meant that the Royal Standard in Blackheath became the teams next home for 2 seasons. The Lord Bloomfield later closed down and is now a noodle bar. A reserve team was set up, but folded after one season, due to poor organization and administration. With the belief that the team were genuinely very good, a few of the players attended London County trials, and indeed three players successfully gained a place in the county squad. Unfortunately Gary Cordery and Matt Minter decided it wasn't for them, but Paul Gafa' went on to play for the county for the next eleven years, retiring from the County scene in 1999.  Then eviction again, for similar reasons saw the team take up it's present and hopefully final home at The Pickwick. After finishing third in the previous 2 seasons, the championship finally arrived in 1990-91, now under the captaincy of Graham (Monkey) Coomes. For the first time since the Royal Oak days, it felt like the team had a proper home and 'the big one' sparkling in the trophy cabinet. The Pickwick continued to battle for the title in the early to mid 90's, but fell short on many occasions. They were seemingly jinxed in their attempts to secure the Team Knock Out also. On too many attempts, The Pickwick battled to the semi final stage and lost to inferior opponents. In 1996 another attempt to set up a reserve team was successful. Playing in The Greenwich & District Pool League on  Monday nights. A blend of experienced, up and coming, and new players quickly won promotion to the top division and in 1996/97 won the title and Team Knock Out convincingly. This was to be the last season, as the league folded. A formidable squad of County players was also assembled in 1997 to compete on Tuesday evenings in FSPL. Surely the championship for a second time was a matter of course, however the blend of superstars failed miserably, as they each fought to out do each other on the baize. Perhaps this began the Pickwick's demise as a real force in SE London, as a lot of the journeymen players left the team, leaving the regulars to reassemble the pieces. The last significant honour to date was won in 1998-99 under the guidance of then captain Dave Down. At last a cup final win was secured, in the final frame against New World Snooker Club. Who can ever forget 'Monkey' Coomes' impossible double from a snooker, on the penultimate ball, and then the screaming long black, as time almost expired. A beautiful moment in the teams' history. Since the turn of the century, the team has gradually been rebuilding, collecting a few minor trophies, and it's hoped that the glory days will be returning sooner rather than later. Apart from the teams successes, individual honours have also been secured along the way. Mick Warwicker won the League Singles in 1985-86, and together with Paul Gafa' won the Pairs in 1988-89, whilst Paul Gafa' and Paul Slater (with a dislocated elbow!) won the Captains and Secretarys title in 1994-95. A new league (SLKPA) playing "World Rules" pool on Thursday nights was set up, and the Pickwick became founder members. The Pickwick is still a tough place to come and play, with its smaller table, and many obstructions. Opponents frequently comment on the infamous pole, which inhibits cueing, and indeed, has become the Pickwick's logo. A unique venue for a unique team.