By Elliott West
“The main thing I have missed is the competitive side. The butterflies in the stomach when you go to play in a tournament. I know a lot of footballers who have found it very difficult when they stop playing, having been competitive for most of their lives. The adrenaline rush that you get during a match can’t be replaced with anything else, and that’s something that people outside sport don’t understand. I have had a few dark spells where I have wondered what to do with myself”.
Alfie Burden
Introduction
One of the most gifted players that I have watched in recent years in snooker, is the formidable player Alfie Burden. Burden oozes that something that few possess. He reminds me of the late Paul Hunter and has an air of his good friend David Beckham about him. A man who could probably turn his hand to most things. Sadly no longer on the main tour, after being relegated in the 2019/20 season, he lives and breathes snooker and his other passion, football. An avid Arsenal fan, he loves the cut and thrust of the sport, living the elation of the wins and the pain of the losses.
Life after Snooker
Since leaving the snooker stage, Alfie Burden has freely admitted that he has had some “dark spells”. This is understandable as imagine being part of something since your childhood days and now it is on the back burner and not at the forefront of your life. This sport consumes you and to suddenly not have it in your daily life, must feel like a part of you is no longer there, especially without the close friendships that you have formed with the players involved.
Fortunately, not all has been lost regarding his involvement in snooker. Recently Jason Francis asked Alfie to take part in a World Seniors qualifier. Burden, who was adamant that he wouldn’t return to snooker, agreed after some gentle persuasion and enjoyed it so much that he now has his eyes set on the forthcoming Q School, dusting his cue off and starting to put in the practice time required.
Alfie has also tried other things in recent months. Regaining his spark, Burden has helped set up a dairy company, delivering goods to homes around North London and is also considering becoming a football coach. A move that is inspired by his own involvement of mentoring his son Lene, who is a very promising football player and was at Arsenal for ten years and is now looking to join another club at a junior level. Alfie himself was a very good footballer, talented scouted to play for Arsenal Youth Team and later Swindon Town FC under the management of Glen Hoddle before a nasty break to his leg ended his professional dreams.
The Future
With his sights firmly set on snooker again, Alfie Burden is definitely a force to be reckoned. He is far too good a player, to be out of the sport for long. He has the hunger for competing back and now enjoys practicing again. Two musts if you want to compete again at the top of the sport. Snooker can be a tough game, it has its knocks but ultimately it is a sport that outstrips the disadvantages with its advantages.
Burden has already tasted success, winning the World Amateur title in 2009, was a very good junior player and even achieved a 147 break in the 2016 English Open. Having his highest ranking of 38 between 2001-2003, Alfie made 118 century breaks and is capable of beating any player on his day. This man, originally from Paddington, London, oozes class, so expect to hear his name again in a main arena in the very near future.
