By Elliott West
Introduction
Snooker has always prided itself on a smart dress code with players in years gone by, having to wear a tie for afternoon play and a bow tie for the evening session. In current times, this code is still used today with the odd exception, most notably, Stephen Maguire who is exempt as he has a Doctor’s note. Although there is still high compliance, many players still complain privately and sometimes publicly that wearing any form of tie, constricts you on the shot and you can still be smart without one. That’s why you often see a player with a tie at half mast or quickly removed when a match is at its closing stages.
Alex’s angst
If you cast your minds back to the 1970s and 1980s, I am sure you can remember a whole catalogue of tales about Alex Higgins. However for the purpose of this piece, let’s concentrate on the subject matter in hand. Alex was renowned for challenging the rules and a perfect example of this was an incident that occurred at the Tolly Cobbold Classic in 1983. In his first round match against Dennis Taylor, Higgins complained to the referee that the television lights were making him too hot and asked permission to remove his tie. The referee consented but Taylor didn’t agree with the decision, complaining the act was in breach of the rules. Dennis’s objection added fuel to the fire for an already agitated Alex, who was already not happy by the state of the match table and he later commented to the media about the incident saying:
“The referee gave me permission to remove my tie. I am very perturbed Dennis complained”.
Alex Higgins
Alex went on to lose the match, 4-2 to Dennis Taylor but couldn’t hep himself by having the last word:
“I didn’t mind losing anyway, because it’s only a Mickey Mouse tournament”.
“Nobody sweats more than me but I didn’t even have to wipe my hands during the match”.
Alex Higgins
However, subsequent to his outburst, Higgins had time to reflect on his actions. Alex was either spoken to or hopefully was just feeling guilty for what he said. A public apology ensued and Higgins agreed to donate his £1,000 earnings from the tournament to charity. A meeting took place between Alex and the director of the sponsor, the brewer, Tolly Cobbold, Patrick Cobbold. Cobbold who was also the director of Ipswich Town Football club, was drafted in as a mediator to directly resolve the matter. An argument that was largely a ‘storm in a tea cup’. A happy ending to an incident that didn’t reflect Higgins’ close association with the tournament and the good friendship that the player had with John Peachey, the co-director of the event.
Summary
Alex Higgins reminds me of Ronnie O’Sullivan with his long list of media outbursts. This one, although it quickly blew over with an apology, was important in the respect that organisers did start to look at dress code in greater detail for future tournaments. A number of events have since been played without the need for a tie but it was clear that Alex Higgins was never a fan of this neck accessory in a tied or bowed form and was quick to dispose of it at the earliest opportunity. Essentially Higgins was harmless and reacted when backed into a corner in the media boiling pot. He was a divisive figure but clearly a genius of the sport.
