Sheffield United vs Preston North End

UTB 47
he has a table at home. Years
ago, Gary Lineker was a really
good snooker player, he’d make
century breaks. It’s a bit of fun for
the footballers, but I must say, if
you do get promoted you have to
treat the lads to a new pool table!
“Sheffield United are flying and
I really hope you get promoted.
I keep sticking them in my
accumulator every week, but
I don’t gamble! I’d love to see you
guys in the Premier League.”
Jimmy has been a regular
visitor to Sheffield since his debut
at the Crucible back in 1981 and
has had previous with United’s
training facility where it was
once home to the Star Snooker
Academy.
Jimmy explained: “I’ve been
here many years ago when
there was a snooker academy
here, so I been here many
times practicing. It was good to
come back.
“I love Sheffield. Obviously
playing in so many World
Championships down the years,
and I now work for Eurosport.
I love coming back to Sheffield
and seeing the city.
“I come from south London, salt
of the earth type of people. It is
the same with Sheffield. You have
good people, and if there’s a
bad apple, they get thrown away,
which I like.”
Whilst he admits to enjoying
the TV work, Jimmy still has a
burning desire to compete, and
after a good season where he
claimed his tour card, he is now
looking ahead to the World
Seniors Championships which
is also staged at the Crucible
beginning May 3rd.
“Ronnie (O’Sullivan) said to
me about eight years ago about
working for Eurosport, and we
have great fun,” explained the six
times Crucible finalist.
“I still love the game. I am still
on the main tour, so it is good
fun. I got my tour card on merit,
but I fell short of qualifying for
the World Championship so
that was a bit disappointing but
next season I go into it full of
confidence. It’s not like football
or boxing, if you have the desire
to practice and your game is still
there, then you can keep going.
“The seniors starts three days
after the World Championship
at the Crucible, so I get to play
there again and I get to see some
old friends like Cliff Thorburn and
others coming over for it, so it will
be great fun.”
Watch Jimmy providing his
expert analysis on Eurosport and
discovery+’s live coverage of the
World Snooker Championship
final from 12.45pm on Sunday.
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs PRESTON NORTH END