Clive Everton
Clive Everton (7 September 1937 – 27 September 2024) was an English sports commentator, journalist, author, and former professional snooker and billiards player, renowned as the calm and authoritative voice of snooker during the sport's global rise in the late 20th century.[1][2] Born in Worcester to Alma and Harold Everton, he earned a degree in English from Cardiff University after attending King's School in Worcester and the City of Birmingham College of Commerce.[1][2] As a player, Everton excelled in amateur billiards, winning the British under-19 championship in 1956 and the Welsh amateur title five times, first in 1960 and last in 1999, including a national pairs title in 1977 with Roger Bales.[1] He turned professional in snooker from 1981 to 1991, achieving a peak world ranking of 47 in the 1983–84 season.[1][2] Everton's journalism career began as editor of Billiards and Snooker magazine from 1966 to 1971, followed by founding Snooker Scene in 1972, which he edited for 50 years until 2022.[1] He served as snooker correspondent for The Guardian from 1976 to 2011 and contributed to outlets including The Sunday Times and The Independent on Sunday, while also establishing Everton's News Agency.[1][2] Over his lifetime, he authored more than 20 books on billiards and snooker, such as The History of Snooker and Billiards (1978) and Black Farce and Cue Ball Wizards: The Inside Story of the World of Professional Snooker (2007), alongside a biography of Ronnie O'Sullivan.[1][2] In commentary, Everton started on BBC radio in 1972, covering Alex Higgins's first World Championship win, and transitioned to television with ITV in the 1970s before joining the BBC for the 1978 World Championship.[1][2] He succeeded Ted Lowe as the BBC's lead snooker commentator in the 1990s, continuing until 2010, and returned to ITV as chief commentator until 2019, known for his precise, formal style using a vintage lip microphone.[1][2] A vocal critic of snooker's governing bodies, he won 20 legal cases against them and was seen as the sport's moral conscience.[1] Everton's legacy includes induction into the World Snooker Hall of Fame in 2017 and appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2019 for services to snooker.[1][2] In 2022, the British Open's invitational trophy was renamed the Clive Everton Trophy in his honor.[1][2] He was married to Valerie Teasdale from 1961 until his death and was survived by her and their five children.[1][2]Early life
Childhood and family background
Clive Harold Everton was born on 7 September 1937 in Worcester, Worcestershire, England.[1][3][2] He was the son of Alma and Harold Everton, who operated a family transport business in the area.[1] Everton's early exposure to cue sports came through his father, who took him as a young boy to watch a billiards match at Leicester Square Hall in London, where he witnessed a century break by professional player Sidney Smith. This experience captivated him from the "first click of the balls," igniting a lifelong passion for billiards and snooker that shaped his future career.[1][3][2] Everton attended King's School in Worcester for his early education, where he developed his skills in billiards during his teenage years, though the institution showed little recognition for his emerging talents in the sport. No records indicate siblings in his immediate family, and his upbringing in a modest business-oriented household provided a stable foundation amid the post-war economic recovery in the West Midlands.[1][3][2]Education and early influences
Everton was educated at King's School in Worcester, where he attended during his formative years. He later studied at the City of Birmingham College of Commerce, where he met his future wife, Valerie Teasdale, in 1956. Everton went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Cardiff University (then known as University College Cardiff). Following his studies, he took up teaching English and Liberal Studies at Halesowen College of Further Education in the West Midlands, a position arranged by his father-in-law after his marriage to Valerie in 1961.[1][2][4] Everton's early influences were profoundly shaped by his family and exposure to cue sports. Born in Worcester in 1937 to Harold and Alma Everton—whose family ran a transport business—young Clive was introduced to billiards by his father, who took him to London's Leicester Square Hall during a rainy afternoon. There, witnessing professional player Sidney Smith's century break captivated him from the "first click of the balls," igniting a lifelong passion for the game. This early encounter, around the age of 10 or 11, marked the beginning of his deep involvement in billiards and snooker.[1][2][4] At King's School, Everton's burgeoning talent in billiards faced resistance from headmaster F. R. Kittermaster, who viewed the sport as lacking in "character building" qualities and dismissed Everton's proficiency as unfit for school values. This opposition fostered Everton's anti-establishment outlook, reinforcing his outsider perspective on authority and institutions. Additionally, his friendship with fellow billiards enthusiast Rex Williams provided early mentorship; Williams later assisted Everton in transitioning to journalism by introducing him to key contacts in the sport. These experiences, combined with his competitive successes—such as winning the British under-16 billiards championship in 1953—solidified his commitment to cue sports over conventional academic or professional paths.[1][4][3]Playing career
Billiards achievements
Everton's billiards career began prominently in his youth, where he demonstrated exceptional talent in the amateur ranks. At the age of 14, he entered the 1952 British Under-16 Billiards Championship and advanced to the final, defeating John Lambert to claim the title; the match was broadcast on BBC Television, marking an early highlight in his competitive journey.[1][4] Four years later, in 1956, he won the British Under-19 Billiards Championship, further solidifying his reputation as a rising star in the sport.[1][3] As an adult amateur, Everton achieved sustained success at the national level. He secured the Welsh Amateur Billiards Championship a total of five times, with his first victory coming in 1960 at age 22 and his final win in 1999, spanning nearly four decades of competitive play.[1] He also reached the final of the English Amateur Billiards Championship on five occasions, though he never claimed the title.[1][3] Internationally, Everton competed at a high level, reaching the semi-finals of the World Amateur Billiards Championship in both 1975 and 1977.[5][6] In 1977, he partnered with Roger Bales to win the National Pairs Billiards Title, showcasing his versatility in team formats.[4] Transitioning toward professional competition, Everton peaked at ninth in the world billiards rankings and reached the quarter-finals of the World Billiards Championship on three occasions.[4][5] A notable professional highlight came in 1980 when he won the Canadian Open Billiards Championship, defeating a young Steve Davis in the final.[4] These accomplishments underscored his technical proficiency and longevity in billiards, even as he later focused on snooker and commentary.[3]Amateur snooker success
Everton demonstrated considerable talent in amateur snooker, particularly as a representative of Wales, where he dominated the national scene for decades. He captured the Welsh Amateur Championship a total of six times (1967, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1979), showcasing his technical skill and consistency in competitive play.[1] His final Welsh title came in 1979, underscoring his enduring passion and ability. Earlier successes included winning the British Junior Championship and the Midland Championship, along with reaching the semi-finals of the Welsh Championship on two occasions. He also advanced to the final of the southern section of the English Amateur Championship. These accomplishments, achieved amid a burgeoning interest in snooker during the 1960s and 1970s, positioned him as a respected figure in the amateur ranks before his professional debut in 1981.Professional snooker tenure
Everton turned professional at snooker in 1981, at the age of 44, following a distinguished amateur career that included multiple Welsh titles.[4][7] Over the next ten seasons, until his retirement after the 1991 British Open, he competed on the main tour but struggled to replicate his earlier success, partly due to his age at entry.[8] His overall record reflected this challenge, with just six match victories in 66 professional encounters and a win percentage of 9.09%.[8] Despite the modest results, Everton achieved a career-high ranking of 47 during the 1983–84 season.[8] He qualified for the World Snooker Championship in each of his first three professional seasons, reaching the last 64 in 1983 and 1984, and the last 80 in 1985.[9] His strongest performance came in the 1984 Grand Prix, a ranking event, where he advanced to the last 64 before losing 1–5 to experienced Australian Eddie Charlton, followed by a 3–5 defeat to Pat Houlihan in the last 32.[10] Everton also reached the quarter-finals in four non-ranking events and the last 16 in one invitational tournament during his career, earning a total of £3,075 in prize money.[8] His highest recorded break was 74, with eight breaks of 50 or more overall.[6] By the mid-1980s, as the sport grew in popularity and competitiveness, Everton shifted his primary focus toward journalism and broadcasting, where he found greater acclaim, though he continued playing until 1991.[4]Performance timeline and finals
Everton's professional snooker career spanned from 1981 to 1991, during which he competed in 66 matches, winning just six for a 9.09% success rate.[8] His highest world ranking was 47th in the 1983–84 season, reflecting modest results amid a field dominated by established stars.[8] He earned a total of £3,075 in prize money, with his best single-season haul of £1,375 coming in 1984–85.[8] Everton's play was characterized by occasional upsets against higher-ranked opponents but frequent early exits, particularly after his peak years. The following table summarizes Everton's seasonal performance, including rankings, matches played, win-loss record, and prize money:| Season | Ranking | Matches Played (Wins-Losses) | Prize Money (GBP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–1982 | - | 10 (2-8) | 500 |
| 1982–1983 | - | 12 (2-10) | 650 |
| 1983–1984 | 47 | 8 (1-7) | 450 |
| 1984–1985 | 73 | 12 (1-11) | 1,375 |
| 1985–1986 | 100 | 6 (0-6) | 0 |
| 1986–1987 | 112 | 6 (0-6) | 0 |
| 1987–1988 | 120 | 4 (0-4) | 0 |
| 1988–1989 | 132 | 2 (0-2) | 100 |
| 1989–1990 | 134 | 2 (0-2) | 0 |
| 1990–1991 | 140 | 2 (0-2) | 0 |