by elliott west
I have always been a firm supporter of the junior game and when WPBSA coach Kai Michael asked me to write a piece on the Brighton Castle Juniors team, I jumped at the chance.
Kai first set up the snooker team last November and was told from the start that the association wouldn’t be successful. However, like many entrepreneurs Michael was undeterred and gathered together potential youth stars of the future to create a firm base in their Sussex location. Their first team match was in February against Frames Sports Bar. Spurred on by the success of this event Kai then introduced a Saturday morning junior club in March which has been equally successful. A massive hit and an avenue for bringing new faces and raw talent into the sport!
Alongside the great work of the youth team Kai has reached out to social media and created a dedicated Facebook page for the Brighton Juniors. This has allowed followers and players of the sport to interact with the comings and goings of the club, track results and watch matches as they are posted via You Tube. Thankfully this is a project that through the inspiration of those within it has naturally expanded and produced a movement that works for the local community. Through general word of mouth and the use of internet platforms, World Snooker has been made aware of this fantastic club and heaved praise on their Facebook page saying that it is the best juniors page on Facebook.
This club has touched me and so feel I need to make others aware of it. The project doesn’t stop there! A new junior under 18 inter league is being created with four other clubs across the South of England launching in the new year. There will be plenty of league games and competitions to look forward to.
When asked what Kai thought of this groundbreaking youth snooker movement he replied:
“ I never dreamt it would have taken off the way it and the reward these kids are getting is very pleasing. Brighton didn’t have one junior player this time last year and we now have a regular, good attendance at the junior club and a squad system of players for the team. Also there are now a few playing in the Brighton and Hove League.”
Kai Michael
With the closure of so many snooker clubs in recent years due to the smoking ban and rising overhead costs, it is refreshing to see someone look outside of the box and create a club movement that brings joy to the youth of today. Without such projects the United Kingdom wouldn’t be able to nurture the young players that potentially could get onto the main tour in the future. China has this market wrapped up and is constantly entering refreshing, young players into main events.
Sadly the UK still has a lot of work to do to capitalise in this area and investment is still far too low. However Kai has proved with his junior league that anything is possible when you put your mind to it, bravo Kai Michael and his team!
