News & Events

Dear All,
Just a few lines to direct you to the website of the "English Partnership for Snooker & Billiards" (EPSN), an umbrella set up which includes the guidance of the world professional body the WPBSA, with regards to the current situation.
The below link takes you to the EPSN website, from which you can see for yourselves the current WPBSA guidance (version 1 - 7th July 2020), and based on the Government advice to coincide with the re-opening of premises on the 4th July.

https://www.epsb.co.uk/epsb-re-opening-guidance/
The same document is also attached to the website - "About Us" tab.

THIS AGAIN IS NOT A DIRECT INSTRUCTION FOR YOUR CLUB SECRETARY's / COMMITTEE's - but it might prove useful to them?

AS FAR AS THE LBSO IS CONCERNED-
The WPBSA guidance only confirms what we already know-
"Inter-club team competitions should not take place, such as local league activity, until further notice".
Once we are aware of any further changes, I shall be in contact again.
In the meantime, please keep the fees coming in by bank transfer.
Stay safe and well.
Best regards.
Bob
Bob Patterson LBSO (on behalf of the Management Committee).

By the time you read this message, you will probably have seen or heard elsewhere, of the Government's U-turn about its guidance regarding indoor sports / snooker, since it was posted at the weekend.
Full details are currently on the homepage of the WPBSA's website, which has a direct link to the Government guidance, amended to confirm that snooker halls are now allowed to open, and therefore clubs are now in order to provide snooker facilities also.
PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER - AS PREVIOUSLY STATED THIS IS NOT AN INSTRUCTION TO YOUR CLUB SECRETARY OR GENERAL COMMITTEE.
Those who run your club, now have the full responsibility to allow snooker BUT ONLY IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO, under any restrictions at their discretion, and ONLY providing they follow the other strict Government guidelines which still apply, by way of the club's own risk assessment.
The only positive outcome of yesterday's change, as far as the LBSO is concerned, is that as from now, we can at least begin monitoring, the way clubs across Leeds are starting to allow snooker to be played again.
As a result, we are in a much better position to start to contemplate when the new season can commence?
BUT PLEASE BE PATIENT!
Currently, it will be weeks if not months, before we can start to consider making any such announcement.
You will of course be notified of any further developments in this respect straightaway.
UNTIL THEN - THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR PATIENCE!
Stay safe and well.
Bob Patterson
LBSO General Secretary / Treasurer.
(On behalf of the Management Committee).

PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS NOT ADVICE FOR YOUR CLUB SECRETARY OR GENERAL COMMITTEE.
Despite this long awaited day, you probably will have seen by now, the statements on the websites of the WPBSA and the Northern Snooker Centre, both dated 30th June.
Clubs are allowed to open from today, but "NOT FOR INDOOOR SPORT USE" according to the Government.
The main hurdle seems to be the guideline / restriction that ALL those inside need to be seated (amongst other things).
Some trade associations within the hospitality industry, take a different view about pool / snooker in pubs / clubs, but the Government view currently applies, until changes are made, hopefully in the words of the WPBSA "as soon as possible"!
Clearly, until there is a change in these guidelines, we are not in a position to even start contemplating the start of the new 2020/21 season (nor the completion of the 2019/20 competitions).
Until we reach that point-
>Paul Grimes will continue working on the 98 teams which have registered for the new season (subject to fees being paid).
FEES: these have been coming in at a steady stream by bank transfer, since first requested on the 7th June, to complete the registrations of these teams. As for others-
>plenty have been in contact with me, to offer an alternative to bank transfer as requested,
>plenty of others have done neither.
PLEASE - continue to pay by bank transfer wherever possible, until further notice.
(Registrations are only complete where fees are paid in full)
PLEASE WATCH THE WEBSITE & YOUR / CAPTAIN's INBOXES FOR FUTHER UPDATES AS THEY BECOME KNOWN.
Thank you in advance for not making any further enquiries at this stage.
Bob Patterson - General Secretary / Treasurer (on behalf of the Management Committee).

An email has just been circulated to all team captains, with regards to paying fees for the 2020/21 season.
A word document attached to the email, is also now uploaded in the documents section of the website - go to "About Us".
CAPTAINS - PLEASE READ YOUR EMAIL AND ATTACHMENT IN FULL, but basically, as from now fees are due, and are requested to be paid by bank transfer.
During these restrictive times, the onus in now on each captain to arrange an alternative method of payment, other than by bank transfer, by contacting only myself.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Keep safe and best regards - Bob Patterson Gen Sec / Treasurer.

I hope you and your loved ones are all keeping safe and well in these troubling times.

Thanks to all captains/IT delegates and players for their help in submitting the new season registration forms.

From my point of view this has been a great success with all teams from last year registered plus one new club and two new teams from already registered clubs.

Thank you all for your help registering your clubs.

This gives a total of 97 teams registered for the new season.

If any club new to the LBSO or existing club wants to register a new team please contact me and I will outline the procedure to register.

We have 1 place remaining to give us a full compliment of 98 teams which will mean 7 leagues with 14 teams per league.

If you or your club are interested in filling this space it will be strictly down to the first club/team to contact me.

The deadline to register interest in submitting a new team is Sunday 7th June please contact Paul Grimes.

The next process for our league to succeed is for the prompt payment of registration fees.

Whilst we understand a certain number of clubs pay league fees for their teams and we understand it may not be possible to gain access to the money required to pay the fees we must ask captains/delegates to make a great effort to pay the fees when requested.

Bob Patterson General secretary/ treasurer will be circulating an email later this week to instruct you how to pay your clubs/teams fees.

Throughout this pandemic Bob and I have continued to work full time as well as concentrating our efforts into setting up the new season for when we are allowed to make a return to our clubs, we hope you can appreciate the work we have put in and that you can make our workload easier by submitting your fees when requested by bank transfer ideally and at the worst a cheque.

Please keep checking your inboxes for instructions on how and when to pay the fees.

Regards and best wishes I hope you all stay safe.

Paul Grimes,
LBSO league secretary.

Last night, the captains of just over 30 teams, who had so far not replied, were sent emails / registrations forms one last time, to be returned NO LATER than 31st MAY.
The response so far since last night has been good, and therefore, it looks hopeful that we should have a 'full set' by the end of the month.
At that stage, we might know a little more about the effects of relaxing further any current restrictions, and at that time, we can hopefully start looking at collecting fees and other aspects of finishing this season and starting the next.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT YOUR TEAM BY 31st MAY 2020.
Thank you - Bob Patterson General Secretary / Treasurer.

Thanks all for your submitted registration forms any that have been received will be sanctioned in turn if there are any queries/errors I will contact you if not I will email you once I have submitted the forms onto the website.

Once submitted you will not be able to see the new information until we are at a stage to put the season live, whenever that might be.

Please don't email/phone to say there has been no changes, the information you will see on the website is from this season that has just finished.

Please be patient I will probably begin inputting the information late May once the bulk of registrations have been received.

**PLEASE NOTE-: For the benefit of those still to submit, the registration form is NOT attached it forms a PART of the email itself, if you scroll down.**

Stay safe and take care.

Paul Grimes,
LBSO league secretary.

Just an update after the start of the 2020/21 registration process on Tuesday (21/04/20).
Registrations have started to come in already at a steady flow, and in the main are going well without any problems.
THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED & THOSE WHO ARE STILL TO DO SO, CAN WE ASK YOU TO BE PATIENT PLEASE - YOUR EMAIL HAS BEEN / WILL BE RECEIVED AND IS BEING PROCESSED, SO THERE IS NO NEED TO MAKE ANY FURTHER CONTACT WITH US.
Paul Grimes will contact you straight away if there is a problem with your registration.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS NO PROBLEM, HE WILL START WORK ON YOUR DETAILS PROVIDED AS THEY COME IN, BUT WILL NOT CONTACT YOU STRAIGHT AWAY, ONLY ONCE THE WORK IS DONE - BUT THIS MAY NOT BE FOR SOME TIME.
I shall keep you all informed about who has and who has'nt registered from time to time.
WEBSITE - the work Paul is doing is in the background so you will NOT be able to see it, until everything goess 'live' - which could be months down the line yet.
In the meantime, all you will be able to see on the website is what you can now.
SO AGAIN PLEASE BE PATIENT AND DO NOT EMAIL US WITH ANY CHANGES.
EVERYTHING WILL COME GOOD - WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN?
Bob Patterson.
LBSO General Secretary / Treasurer.

A MESSAGE TO ALL TEAM CAPTAINS:
An email has just been circulated tonight to ALL CAPTAINS.
Those who should receive the email, are those currently identified on the website as Captains, or, those who have made contact with us already, to say they are taking the role on this coming season.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR INBOXES (& SPAM FOLDERS), FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMAIL / FORM & MAKE SURE IT IS FULLY COMPLETED BEFORE SUBMITTING THE FORM.
PLEASE RETURN THE FORM BY EMAIL TO BOTH BOB PATTERSON & PAUL GRIMES -THANK YOU!
If any of you do NOT receive this email, could you send an email to that effect to bob.patterson622@virginmedia.com by the end of this week.
THANK YOU.
Bob Patterson
LBSO General Secretary / Treasurer.

Registrations for the new season will now be circulated to Captains either today or tomorrow.
We have been looking into a more favourable option in the last few days, resulting in the short delay.
As you will appreciate a couple of days won't make a lot of difference at present.
CAPTAINS - KEEP A LOOK OUT IN YOUR INBOXES IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS!
Bob Patterson.
LBSO Gen Sec / Treasurer.