No Kidding as Tony beat a world champ

Two over-45 individual titles and a victory over eventual three-time world champion John Spencer, just after he had lost the 1972 final to Alex Higgins, are among the highlights.

But you get the impression the modest 67-year-old from Stourbridge gleans more satisfaction from seeing the league continue to thrive under the stewardship of a hard-working committee.

The league was formed just after the Second World War and today boasts three divisions with sides playing on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Kidd's parents were steward and stewardess of Stourbridge Conservative Club and that's where he caught the snooker bug.

He played for the club until it closed in 2004 and then moved to Kinver Constitutional Club before joining Pockets Snooker Club in Kidderminster, which he still represents in the Premier Division.

But it's not just for his skill on the table that Kidd is well-known and respected, but also for his sterling work off the baize.

He became match secretary in 1974 and then secretary and treasurer but after 40 years' service he is keen to highlight the key roles played by others – a potted, rather than plotted, history if you like.

"One of the earliest secretaries was Sam Kinnear, who would later go on to act as chairman and president, while Fred Hill, Bob Foster and CF Cartwright also did much to establish the league," said Kidd.

"Charlie Randle, as secretary, and his father, Albert as chairman, both of Wordsley Cons at the time carried on the good work, while Bill Venables (Brierley Hill Liberals and Kingswinford Cons) deserves great credit for shaping the league into its present form in his role of secretary, then president over a period of 27 years."

Other chairmen to serve with distinction include Jack Greenaway (Pensnett Cons), Ray Billingham (Norton Social), Reg Butcher (Amblecote Institute), Keith Bourne (Stourbridge Police, Stourbridge Cons) and David Gilroy (Amblecote RBL).

Kidd forms the current committee alongside fellow league stalwarts - chairman Sam Harrison, president Mike Pritchard and match secretary Kevin Franklin – and they have kept the ball rolling over the years.

"Gradually we have lost a number of teams as various social clubs and working men's clubs have closed down," he said.

"We used to have 64 teams at our peak and now we have 33 playing across three divisions. We could do with a few extra teams and it would be nice to have three divisions of 14 sides. But the league is well-run and still looking pretty healthy.

"The standard is still very high. We haven't had a century break so far this season, but it's just a matter of time."

Kidd has rubbed shoulders with some of the game's greats over the years including the legendary Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins, pictured left.

"I remember Alex Higgins doing an exhibition at Stourbridge Conservative Club," said Kidd.

"It was in 1972 and a week before he beat John Spencer to win the world title for the first time at Selly Oak British Legion in Birmingham.

"I had to show him around. He turned up at the club, knocked on the door and I had to show him to his hotel, The Bell in Stourbridge. That was a good night.

"It was in the days of the three-day week and we knew the power would be going off at 10pm, so we had eight car batteries there to provide the power for the lights so that Alex could play the games.

"One of our local players, Barry Roscoe, managed to beat as well."

One of Kidd's proudest moments came courtesy of Higgins a little while later.

"We booked Alex for another exhibition after he won the title, but he didn't show up! Fortunately John Spencer offered to come along and play for free, which was really good of him.

"I managed to beat him, but I did apologise to him because people had come along to see him play and not me.

"Doug Mountjoy, Rex Williams, Ray Reardon and John Pullman have all played exhibition games down the years, but that was in the days when it cost £80 for the player and you could charge £1 entrance and get 100 people watching."

Sedgley's Martin Clarke, who made the world's top 16, and Cannock's Steve James, who reached as high as five in the world, have graced the league down the years, and Clarke in particular made an impression on Kidd.

"I can remember Martin Clarke making his debut in the league," he added.

"I played Martin when he was 15 and 16 and he made century breaks against me.

"It was pretty obvious that he would make a name for himself in the game and he is the most talented player I played against in the league."

Former UK Ladies champion Maria Catalano plays in the league for West Midlands Police while 14-year-old rising star Taylor Fish is a name to look out for.

"Taylor is a very talented young player and he has already had a 147 in practice. He could be one to watch," added Kidd.