1980: Sports heroes come to Ormskirk and Skelmersdale

By Gemma Jaleel on Nov 13, 08 09:00 AM

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WEST Lancashire sports fans rubbed shoulders with some of their heroes when they visited the town in October 1980.

Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths played to a packed house at the Comrades Club in County Road, Ormskirk.

He beat former world amateur champion Cliff Wilson by five frames to four over nine exhibition frames.

There was also a great repartee between the two men and Griffiths' supply of jokes and stories as he gave an exhibition of trick shots entertained the crowds.

But for one club member it proved a shattering experience as Griffiths miscued a trick shot and the white ball leapt from the table into the crowd, shattering a pint glass.

Club members and fans young and old waited patiently after the match to get the players' autographs.

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Liverpool player Steve Heighway was visiting St Richard's Primary in Skelmersdale to present a signed Liverpool Football Club ball to 11-year-old pupil Sean Downey.

The football was a prize in a raffle organised to raise money for the NSPCC.

Steve pulled Sean's name out of the hat and also presented the money raised from the raffle to NSPCC representative John Yearsley.