{"id":7630,"date":"2024-05-06T15:55:30","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T15:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=7630"},"modified":"2024-05-06T15:55:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T15:55:30","slug":"paul-colliers-emotional-refereeing-retirement-in-world-snooker-championship-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=7630","title":{"rendered":"Paul Collier’s emotional refereeing retirement in World Snooker Championship final"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

\"Cazoo\n<\/div>

Paul Collier referees his last professional match on Monday (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is an emotional day for Paul Collier as he referees a professional match for the final time in his fourth and last World Snooker Championship final.<\/p>\n

The 53-year-old is retiring from refereeing duty to concentrate on his role as tournament director for World Snooker Tour, going out in style at the Crucible.<\/p>\n

The Welshman is taking charge of the final in Sheffield between Kyren Wilson and Jak Jones and is set to receive a brilliant ovation as he removes his white gloves for the last time.<\/p>\n

Speaking ahead of the final, Collier told the BBC: \u2018It\u2019s going to be emotional, hopefully I can keep it all under control until the match is over. It\u2019s going to be sad to know that I\u2019m not going to walk out there again with a pair of gloves on.\u2019<\/p>\n

Collier started young, refereeing on the pro circuit for 32 years and he has worked with multiple generations of legends on the baize.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve had a great time but it feels like forever ago that I first started,\u2019 he said. \u2018I reffed for Ray [Reardon] and Cliff [Wilson] quite a few times. I reffed Eddie Charlton\u2019s last match as a pro, reffed [Stephen] Hendry\u2019s last match at the Crucible, refereed for Alex [Higgins] on many occasions. We weren\u2019t the best of friends because he wasn\u2019t a fan of referees, but I worked with him quite often. <\/p>\n

\u2018My career goes back that far I refereed Fred Davis in a ranking event, so there\u2019s been some great names and great people I\u2019ve been lucky enough to meet.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\"Cazoo\n<\/div>

Collier\u2019s last match as a professional referee will see a new world champion crowned (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With more than one pearl of wisdom to hand out to aspiring referees, Collier says the best thing for officials to remember is that they are best going unnoticed and not trying to make their mark on any match.<\/p>\n

\u2018The greatest compliment is when someone doesn\u2019t know you refereed that match,\u2019 he said. \u2018There\u2019s people who want to referee snooker matches and there\u2019s people who want to be in charge of snooker matches. The people that want to referee will always do better.\u2019<\/p>\n

Collier is going out with the final in Sheffield, but also reffed the most memorable match of the tournament as John Higgins produced an immense clearance to beat Mark Allen 13-12 on the black.<\/p>\n

\u2018The John Higgins game in this Championship, when he beat Mark Allen, my legs were jelly on the colours,\u2019 he said. \u2018I don\u2019t know how the players can stand there and keep on potting balls under that kind of pressure.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\"Embassy\n<\/div>
Collier refereed Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan\u2019s win over Graeme Dott in 2004 (Picture:Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is just one of many highlights of an epic career, including the 2004, \u201916 and \u201921 Crucible finals, and he is thrilled with the CV he has put together.<\/p>\n

\u2018To be out there with some of these great matches and great players, I don\u2019t take it for granted, I\u2019ve loved it, absolutely loved it,\u2019 he said. \u2018There\u2019s a lot of boxes that you want to tick over a long career and I\u2019ve ticked everyone, which is brilliant, so I leave without any regrets.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve always said if someone writes a history book on snooker, as long as I got one line somewhere. \u201cPaul Collier put 32 years in and didn\u2019t do a bad job.\u201d That would be nice.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\t
\n\tMORE : Jak Jones baffled by \u2018pathetic excuses\u2019 of World Snooker Championship opponents
\n\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n

\n\t
\n\tMORE : Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan lists changes he wants to see made to the Crucible
\n\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
\nFacebook,\u00a0<\/strong>Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"Snooker\"<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n