Chairperson
BWPPA
The British Wheelchair Pool Players Association
www.bwppa.org
Tuesday 10 November 2009

Matthew Gleaves shooting at the first BWPPA event in 2009.
The Lester interview - Matthew Gleaves talks to Pro9
Born in 1969, Matthew Gleaves has been playing cue sports of one type or another for well over twenty years. In that time he has managed to combine a full-time career as a civil servant with an equal devotion to promoting the British Wheelchair Pool Players Association, as well as being a capable and fierce competitor himself.
Gleaves, now in his 40's, still has ambitions to win Gold at the European 9 Ball Championships and he can regularly be found relentlessly practicing pool at his favourite local club in Darlington to further that ambition.
Here he talks with Pro9's latest guest reporter Matthew Lester about the BWPPA, it's first year with the new three tournament format, and his plans for the future of the wheelchair game in the UK.


"Read More..." for our exclusive interview with Matthew Gleaves.

Matthew Gleaves holding one of the awesome racks from tour sponsor "Delta-13".



But last year we made some very valuable links with sponsors and their support had given us the tools to really provide players with professional events and quality prizes.
We even now have a finals table recovered at each event with donated match cloth and every player wears a tour shirt thus adding to the professional perception of the tour.
I am now contacting sponsors hoping for their ongoing support into the 2010 season and fingers crossed it will be better than ever.


It’s a lot of work running the tour and fitting it around family and work.




I hope we can extend the format to next year and beyond.


It is really important that we attract new younger players as most of us are getting a little long in the tooth and we will be working on that in the future.



I don’t think it will have a detrimental effect on the BWPPA as we will always need an outlet to compete with our peers.


The BWPPA would like to take this opportunity to recognise the hard work of everyone involved with the charitable organisation “The Gentlemen’s Night Out” and for their generosity. Without their financial support the BWPPA would not be able to provide disabled American pool players an outlet to showcase their abilities in the UK.
We also hope to make other improvements but at this point it all depends on what other sponsorship we attract for the 2010 season.


I hope to educate the members that there is more to pool than 9 ball, I personally would love to have a straight pool tournament. Maybe 2011 season we will try to introduce other disciplines.

Check out the Pro9.co.uk Calendar for more tournament dates.