Dave Collins hails impact of Sheffield snooker club which has 'changed my life'

‘Dancing’ Dave Collins is proof that something very special is happening in a corner of north-east Sheffield.

Dave walked through the doors of the Stephen Harrison Snooker Academy when he was eight years old, seeking to build his confidence and feel part of a community. Now he is 26 and living his best life in a leadership role, taking responsibility for coaching and mentoring young players at the Academy.

“This is Dave’s whole world,” said founder Harrison. “We can’t really believe the transformation we’ve seen in him across the last 18 years.”

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Dave is so comfortable in the environment at the Academy that he has become famed for his love of dancing - “I just love it, I’ll dance to anything” - hence the nickname. He has used snooker’s scoring system to help improve the maths skills of young players, as well as work on his own arithmetic.

“The Academy has changed my life,” says Dave. “On the morning of every session, I’m up early, I’m ready to come down and get going.

“The things I really enjoy about it are helping people, enjoying myself and making new friends. It’s had a really big impact and I now feel like a really confident person.

“It’s such an amazing feeling to know I’m doing something good and passing on the skills I’ve learned to a new generation of kids.”

Established in 2007, the Academy welcome up to 20 players to sessions that run five-times weekly during term time and daily during school holidays. They have regular participants who range from aged eight to 88.

The Academy is home to World Ability Games champion Gary Swift and players who don’t pick up a cue, but come to the facility to socialise. Clearly, this is a lot more than just a snooker club.

A weekly Wednesday dance group is specifically designed for single fathers who are carers, creating a space where parents can play snooker and discuss their circumstances, at which point the Academy signpost them to resources and help them navigate areas such as social care services and the benefits system.

A younger member of the Academy sits on a sofa in conversation with a man who has a laptop on his lap For John Robinson, 58, the Academy has helped him stay active after he stopped playing wheelchair basketball three years ago and given him a thriving social life, too.

In the middle of sessions, players will spend an hour eating lunch together and take time to connect away from the snooker table.

“It’s the friendliness of it,” says John. “The benefits don’t just come from playing the game, it’s like being part of a big, happy family.”

Stephen’s aim when he founded the club in 2007 was to continue the legacy of his father, Ray, a champion player who travelled the world with a mission to make snooker accessible.

“My dad taught me how to keep my head up and see the positive in every situation,” Stephen says. “My passion is snooker and getting everyone I meet to pick up a cue. But this has become something a lot bigger - clubbing together, being friends and helping each other.”

Every Body Moves - to inspire, inform and signpost disabled people and those interested in disability sport to high quality opportunities. For more information visit: https://everybodymoves.org.uk