31:
442:
Foundation rather than sending flowers. Steve Davis said: "Len did a very good job of being a referee and a personality at the same time... He was a great character off the table, but in the arena he was an excellent referee", and added that Ganley's aptitude at the game made him more insightful as a
610:
334:
wrote in 1986 that Ganley "is the most visible, because he is the biggest, of the tournament referees. He gives the impression of being in charge of the whole building, not just the table". Ganley declared that referee should be unobtrusive, but players including
600:
219:
at a local league level and also refereed matches. He worked as a chimney sweep when he was 15. In 1971, he, with his wife
Rosaline and their five children, visited England. They intended to spend a ten-day holiday with his sister in
132:
involving
Reardon. Ganley gained his Grade A refereeing certificate in 1979, joined the Professional Referees Association the same year, and became a full-time referee in 1983. He refereed the world championship finals in
311:, the first professional snooker event in China, which was watched by a television audience estimated to be between 300 million and 450 million people. He also toured countries including Singapore and Thailand with
419:
Ganley retired from refereeing in 1999 and moved back to Lurgan, where he took a coaching course and taught young players cue sports. His son Mike Ganley became a
Tournament Director for the
438:
in 2002, and had long-term diabetes. He died at home on 28 August 2011, aged 68, after his health had declined over the preceding weeks. His family requested that people donated to the
1064:
1033:
248:
involving
Reardon. Ganley gained his Grade A refereeing certificate in 1979, joined the Professional Referees Association the same year, and became a full-time referee in 1983.
420:
1218:
1203:
203:
and was the youngest of eleven children: four boys and seven girls. The family lived in the village of Castle-Lane. His mother was a shop-keeper, and his father was a
601:"Keith Elliott at Large: Jolly giant of the green baize: The chimney sweep turned professional snooker referee was once described as the 'godfather of punk'"
362:, after Spencer had knocked the ball off the table and into the groin of Ganley. He was subsequently nicknamed "Ballcrusher". He was the subject of the
1120:
168:, after Spencer had knocked the ball off the table and into Ganley's groin. He was subsequently nicknamed "Ballcrusher". He was the subject of the
1213:
1054:
1011:
1171:
1095:
961:
933:
905:
874:
775:
532:
500:
179:
Ganley retired from refereeing in 1999 and moved back to Lurgan. He had diabetes, and died on 28 August 2011, aged 68. He had been appointed
696:
1208:
817:
660:
491:
Taylor, Mark (1989). "How did a chimney sweep become know as the ballcrusher? A profile of Len Ganley". In Smith, Terry (ed.).
393:
296:
268:
264:
260:
256:
146:
142:
138:
134:
106:
102:
272:
632:
359:
165:
411:
and cancer research. As part of the
Snooker Golf Society, he helped raised funds for powered wheelchairs for children.
427:
292:
180:
86:
354:
beer advertisement on TV in 1984, in which he crushed the cue ball with his gloved hand in a fictional match between
252:
98:
224:, but ended up staying long-term. Ganley and Rosaline had a sixth child after moving to England. He worked as a
160:
beer advertisement on TV in 1984, in which he crushed the cue ball with his gloved hand in a match between
1116:
367:
363:
316:
173:
169:
215:". He took up snooker aged nine at the Catholic Association, where his brothers also played. He played
1198:
1193:
288:
569:
1059:
1001:
351:
157:
408:
308:
1167:
1091:
1038:
957:
929:
901:
870:
844:
813:
771:
528:
496:
444:
385:
221:
686:
448:
430:(MBE) in 2000 in recognition of his charity work and for services to snooker. Ganley was an
245:
200:
129:
1142:
978:
605:
355:
331:
312:
161:
283:, which Higgins won after having trailed 0–7. He also refereed the fastest-ever fastest
1187:
793:
728:
723:
565:
304:
284:
204:
196:
110:
55:
921:
637:
435:
401:
389:
327:
276:
836:
763:
439:
397:
371:
347:
336:
320:
300:
280:
241:
153:
125:
893:
665:
340:
229:
118:
407:
Ganley was actively involved in charitable causes, including fundraising for
1034:"Len Ganley: The chimney sweep from Lurgan who became a top snooker referee"
848:
748:
431:
380:
1147:
1006:
983:
949:
691:
113:, he moved to England with his wife and children in 1971 and worked as a
183:
in 2000 in recognition of his charity work and for services to snooker.
388:
as host, but the show was eventually made without either of them, with
244:'s suggestion, after he had stepped in as a replacement referee for an
225:
216:
212:
128:'s suggestion, after he had stepped in as a replacement referee for an
114:
94:
91:
30:
1166:(Revised ed.). Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing Group. p. 47.
192:
51:
954:
The Hate Game: Benn, Eubank and
British Boxing's Bitterest Rivalry
375:
240:
Ganley took up refereeing snooker matches in the UK in 1976 on
434:, but had given up drinking alcohol by 1986. He experienced a
370:". The band referred to him as the "Godfather of Punk" in the
1088:
Who Was
Hurricane Higgins?: The Man, the Myth, the Real Story
495:(Sixth ed.). Aylesbury: Pelham Books. pp. 119–122.
979:"Len Ganley: Snooker referee with stardust on his gloves"
1143:"Snooker legend Len Ganley – Dennis Taylor pays tribute"
1090:(Kindle ed.). Hodder & Stoughton. p. 143.
428:
Member of the Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire
207:. Len Ganley recalled a "hard upbringing, one salvation
124:
Ganley took up refereeing snooker matches in 1976, on
90:(27 April 1943 – 28 August 2011) was a Northern Irish
330:, and reaching 22 stones at his heaviest. Journalist
109:. Having taken up snooker aged nine, and worked as a
421:
343:
felt that he enjoyed being the centre of attention.
63:
37:
374:. He appeared in the pilot for the snooker-themed
843:(Revised ed.). London: Orbis. p. 189.
396:, Ganley arranged the meeting between promoter
996:
994:
451:League twice, and his highest break was 136.
8:
956:. London: Simon & Schuster. p. 23.
791:Hale, Janice (October 1985). "China Diary".
680:
678:
676:
191:Leonard Ganley was born on 27 April 1943 in
21:
633:"Obituary: Len Ganley MBE, snooker referee"
1219:Referees and umpires from Northern Ireland
1204:Members of the Order of the British Empire
1055:"Higgins fumes at World Championship exit"
869:. London: Faber & Faber. p. 116.
152:Ganley was an imposing figure. Although a
29:
20:
594:
592:
590:
323:, which Davis and Taylor were signed to.
726:(October 2011). "Obituary: Len Ganley".
718:
716:
714:
518:
516:
514:
512:
271:. A career highlight was refereeing the
860:
858:
831:
829:
770:. London: Faber and Faber. p. 33.
741:
739:
560:
558:
556:
554:
552:
550:
548:
546:
544:
460:
1111:
1109:
1107:
888:
886:
486:
484:
443:referee. As a player, Ganley won the
7:
1067:from the original on 5 December 2016
732:. Everton's News Agency. p. 28.
699:from the original on 14 January 2009
482:
480:
478:
476:
474:
472:
470:
468:
466:
464:
187:Early life and pre-refereeing career
1123:from the original on 29 August 2012
900:. London: John Blake. p. 264.
812:. London: Piatkus. pp. 96–97.
797:. Everton's News Agency. p. 9.
599:Elliott, Keith (18 December 1992).
1164:The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker
404:that led to Hearn signing Eubank.
14:
1119:. World Snooker. 28 August 2011.
1014:from the original on 7 April 2003
841:Enjoying Snooker with Ray Reardon
1117:"Referee Len Ganley Dies Age 68"
1053:Baxter, Trevor (26 April 2008).
752:. 3 September 2011. p. 78.
613:from the original on 2 May 2011
394:1989 World Snooker Championship
392:and John Virgo hosting. At the
1214:Snooker referees and officials
977:McKee, Ross (29 August 2011).
928:. London: Ebury. p. 203.
527:. London: Hamlyn. p. 36.
493:Benson and Hedges Snooker Year
1:
685:Charles, Chris (4 May 2001).
661:"Snooker world mourns Ganley"
1002:"Ganley on road to recovery"
315:, a sporting management and
525:Hamlyn Who's Who in Snooker
1235:
839:; Hennessey, John (1986).
295:in the first round of the
253:World Snooker Championship
99:World Snooker Championship
865:Trelford, Donald (1986).
326:Ganley weighed around 20
28:
1209:Sportspeople from Lurgan
687:"Take a look at me now"
350:, Ganley appeared in a
307:as the referee for the
297:1997 World Championship
232:when he first arrived.
1162:Morrison, Ian (1987).
1086:Francis, Tony (2011).
523:Morrison, Ian (1988).
426:He was appointed as a
808:Wilson, Neil (1988).
570:"Len Ganley obituary"
368:The Len Ganley Stance
364:Half Man Half Biscuit
299:. In 1985, he joined
174:The Len Ganley Stance
170:Half Man Half Biscuit
74:Lurgan, County Armagh
415:Retirement and death
287:, which was made by
273:1983 UK Championship
1060:The Daily Telegraph
810:The Sports Business
352:Carling Black Label
158:Carling Black Label
156:, he appeared in a
25:
898:Say Goodnight, J.V
568:(30 August 2011).
409:multiple sclerosis
309:1985 China Masters
97:who refereed four
58:, Northern Ireland
1173:978-0-600-55604-6
1151:. 29 August 2011.
1097:978-1-4447-0877-6
1042:. 30 August 2011.
1039:Belfast Telegraph
963:978-1-4711-2904-9
935:978-0-09-188312-6
926:Close to the Edge
907:978-1-78606-444-8
876:978-0-571-13640-7
777:978-0-571-23683-1
669:. 28 August 2011.
534:978-0-600-55713-5
502:978-0-7207-1944-4
313:Matchroom Snooker
289:Ronnie O'Sullivan
251:He refereed four
236:Refereeing career
222:Burton-upon-Trent
79:
78:
1226:
1178:
1177:
1159:
1153:
1152:
1139:
1133:
1132:
1130:
1128:
1113:
1102:
1101:
1083:
1077:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1050:
1044:
1043:
1030:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1019:
998:
989:
988:
974:
968:
967:
946:
940:
939:
918:
912:
911:
890:
881:
880:
862:
853:
852:
833:
824:
823:
805:
799:
798:
788:
782:
781:
760:
754:
753:
743:
734:
733:
720:
709:
708:
706:
704:
682:
671:
670:
657:
651:
650:
648:
646:
641:. 30 August 2011
629:
623:
622:
620:
618:
596:
585:
584:
582:
580:
562:
539:
538:
520:
507:
506:
488:
449:South Derbyshire
246:exhibition match
210:
201:Northern Ireland
130:exhibition match
89:
75:
70:
59:
47:
45:
33:
26:
24:
1234:
1233:
1229:
1228:
1227:
1225:
1224:
1223:
1184:
1183:
1182:
1181:
1174:
1161:
1160:
1156:
1141:
1140:
1136:
1126:
1124:
1115:
1114:
1105:
1098:
1085:
1084:
1080:
1070:
1068:
1052:
1051:
1047:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1017:
1015:
1010:. 4 July 2002.
1000:
999:
992:
976:
975:
971:
964:
948:
947:
943:
936:
920:
919:
915:
908:
892:
891:
884:
877:
864:
863:
856:
835:
834:
827:
820:
807:
806:
802:
790:
789:
785:
778:
762:
761:
757:
745:
744:
737:
722:
721:
712:
702:
700:
684:
683:
674:
659:
658:
654:
644:
642:
631:
630:
626:
616:
614:
606:The Independent
598:
597:
588:
578:
576:
564:
563:
542:
535:
522:
521:
510:
503:
490:
489:
462:
457:
417:
356:Terry Griffiths
332:Donald Trelford
319:company run by
238:
208:
189:
162:Terry Griffiths
101:finals between
85:
73:
72:
68:
50:
49:
43:
41:
22:
17:
16:Snooker referee
12:
11:
5:
1232:
1230:
1222:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1186:
1185:
1180:
1179:
1172:
1154:
1134:
1103:
1096:
1078:
1045:
1025:
990:
969:
962:
941:
934:
913:
906:
882:
875:
854:
825:
818:
800:
783:
776:
755:
746:"Len Ganley".
735:
724:Everton, Clive
710:
672:
652:
624:
586:
566:Everton, Clive
540:
533:
508:
501:
459:
458:
456:
453:
416:
413:
384:with comedian
366:tribute song "
275:final between
237:
234:
188:
185:
172:tribute song "
82:Leonard Ganley
77:
76:
71:(aged 68)
67:28 August 2011
65:
61:
60:
39:
35:
34:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1231:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1200:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1191:
1189:
1175:
1169:
1165:
1158:
1155:
1150:
1149:
1144:
1138:
1135:
1122:
1118:
1112:
1110:
1108:
1104:
1099:
1093:
1089:
1082:
1079:
1066:
1062:
1061:
1056:
1049:
1046:
1041:
1040:
1035:
1029:
1026:
1013:
1009:
1008:
1003:
997:
995:
991:
986:
985:
980:
973:
970:
965:
959:
955:
951:
945:
942:
937:
931:
927:
923:
922:Davidson, Jim
917:
914:
909:
903:
899:
895:
889:
887:
883:
878:
872:
868:
861:
859:
855:
850:
846:
842:
838:
832:
830:
826:
821:
819:9780861887279
815:
811:
804:
801:
796:
795:
794:Snooker Scene
787:
784:
779:
773:
769:
765:
759:
756:
751:
750:
742:
740:
736:
731:
730:
729:Snooker Scene
725:
719:
717:
715:
711:
698:
694:
693:
688:
681:
679:
677:
673:
668:
667:
662:
656:
653:
640:
639:
634:
628:
625:
612:
608:
607:
602:
595:
593:
591:
587:
575:
571:
567:
561:
559:
557:
555:
553:
551:
549:
547:
545:
541:
536:
530:
526:
519:
517:
515:
513:
509:
504:
498:
494:
487:
485:
483:
481:
479:
477:
475:
473:
471:
469:
467:
465:
461:
454:
452:
450:
446:
441:
437:
433:
429:
424:
422:
414:
412:
410:
405:
403:
399:
395:
391:
387:
383:
382:
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
353:
349:
344:
342:
338:
333:
329:
324:
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
305:Dennis Taylor
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
285:maximum break
282:
278:
274:
270:
266:
262:
258:
254:
249:
247:
243:
235:
233:
231:
227:
223:
218:
214:
206:
205:chimney sweep
202:
198:
197:County Armagh
194:
186:
184:
182:
177:
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
150:
148:
144:
140:
136:
131:
127:
122:
120:
116:
112:
111:chimney sweep
108:
104:
100:
96:
93:
88:
83:
66:
62:
57:
56:County Armagh
53:
48:27 April 1943
40:
36:
32:
27:
19:
1163:
1157:
1146:
1137:
1125:. Retrieved
1087:
1081:
1069:. Retrieved
1058:
1048:
1037:
1028:
1016:. Retrieved
1005:
982:
972:
953:
944:
925:
916:
897:
866:
840:
837:Reardon, Ray
809:
803:
792:
786:
768:Pocket Money
767:
764:Burn, Gordon
758:
747:
727:
701:. Retrieved
690:
664:
655:
643:. Retrieved
638:The Scotsman
636:
627:
615:. Retrieved
604:
577:. Retrieved
574:The Guardian
573:
524:
492:
436:heart attack
425:
418:
406:
402:Chris Eubank
390:Jim Davidson
379:
372:sleeve notes
360:John Spencer
345:
325:
277:Alex Higgins
250:
239:
190:
178:
166:John Spencer
151:
123:
81:
80:
69:(2011-08-28)
18:
1199:2011 deaths
1194:1943 births
1071:16 November
894:Virgo, John
579:29 November
440:Paul Hunter
398:Barry Hearn
348:non-drinker
346:Although a
337:Steve Davis
321:Barry Hearn
301:Steve Davis
281:Steve Davis
255:finals: in
242:Ray Reardon
154:non-drinker
126:Ray Reardon
1188:Categories
666:Sky Sports
455:References
400:and boxer
378:game show
341:John Virgo
317:promotions
293:Mick Price
230:bus driver
119:bus driver
44:1943-04-27
23:Len Ganley
1127:28 August
950:Dirs, Ben
867:Snookered
766:(2008) .
749:The Times
645:30 August
432:alcoholic
386:Mike Reid
381:Big Break
1148:BBC News
1121:Archived
1065:Archived
1012:Archived
1007:BBC News
984:BBC News
952:(2015).
924:(2002).
896:(2017).
849:60071113
697:Archived
692:BBC News
611:Archived
291:against
1018:20 June
703:20 June
617:20 June
226:milkman
217:snooker
213:snooker
115:milkman
95:referee
92:snooker
1170:
1094:
960:
932:
904:
873:
847:
816:
774:
531:
499:
445:Burton
328:stones
209:
193:Lurgan
52:Lurgan
1168:ISBN
1129:2011
1092:ISBN
1073:2009
1020:2009
958:ISBN
930:ISBN
902:ISBN
871:ISBN
845:OCLC
814:ISBN
772:ISBN
705:2009
647:2011
619:2009
581:2019
529:ISBN
497:ISBN
447:and
376:BBC1
358:and
339:and
303:and
279:and
269:1993
267:and
265:1990
261:1987
257:1983
228:and
164:and
147:1993
145:and
143:1990
139:1987
135:1983
117:and
107:1993
105:and
103:1983
64:Died
38:Born
423:.
211:...
181:MBE
176:".
121:.
87:MBE
1190::
1145:.
1106:^
1063:.
1057:.
1036:.
1004:.
993:^
981:.
885:^
857:^
828:^
738:^
713:^
695:.
689:.
675:^
663:.
635:.
609:.
603:.
589:^
572:.
543:^
511:^
463:^
263:,
259:,
199:,
195:,
149:.
141:,
137:,
84:,
54:,
1176:.
1131:.
1100:.
1075:.
1022:.
987:.
966:.
938:.
910:.
879:.
851:.
822:.
780:.
707:.
649:.
621:.
583:.
537:.
505:.
46:)
42:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.