A NEW generation of Scottish snooker players is being encouraged by one of the game's legends, who has announced he is to donate ten full-size tables to local schools and youth groups.

Bert DeMarco, at one time Scotland's highest ranked professional snooker player, has said he will give away the tables from his club at Marcos Leisure.

The Grove Street venue is to close at the end of the month to be replaced with a £13 million student accommodation block, and Mr DeMarco is looking for new homes for the 12ft by 6ft tables, which can cost as much as £4500.

Marcos, near Haymarket, first opened almost 30 years ago, and was the first commercial snooker hall in Scotland, and at one time the largest in the world.

While Mr DeMarco, 83, will still be encouraging players to use his latest club at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange, he admitted the give-away was a bid to boost the number of youngsters taking up the game.

And the five-time winner of the Scottish Amateur trophy and two-time Open winner said he hoped it would encourage a new generation of champions.

"I first played on a full-size table in Brechin when I was 11 years old, and my auntie gave me a box to stand on so I could practice," he said.

"I think they just wanted me out of the way, but from there I caught the bug, and now I want to get other youngsters involved.

"It's a shame that Grove Street is closing, and I didn't want the tables to just be destroyed or go to waste.

"The most important thing for the game in Scotland right now is attracting young players, and so by helping give them the chance to play on a full-size table I hope to do that."

Stevie Baillie, the chairman of governing body Scottish Snooker, said it was a fantastic gesture by Mr DeMarco, and added that he hoped it would help to create the next world champion.

"It is a tremendous gesture, as it makes a real difference giving kids the chance to play on a full-size tables," he said.

"The fact that he is donating them to schools and youth clubs will hopefully make a big difference to some youngsters' lives, and it might even give snooker a bit of a foothold in schools.

"Snooker, for whatever reason, is a sport that Scots have excelled at – we have produced the greatest player the game has ever seen in terms of records and world championships.

"The more youngsters we can get playing the game, the more chance there is of someone else taking the game even further."

• Any school or local youth group that would like to take up the offer has been asked to write to Mr DeMarco before February 22nd at Bert DeMarco, c/o Marcos, Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 11 Newmarket Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1RJ.

www.marcosleisure.co.uk

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