Football coach Graham Martin fights to save his iconic snooker club from being demolished by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s redevelopment plans

FOOTBALL coach Graham Martin has called upon our wonderful Kent Football Community to help save his livelihood from being bulldozed to the ground by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Martin, 60, who is on the management team of Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club Rusthall, has been the owner of the family-run Victoria Snooker Centre in Tunbridge Wells for the last 15-years.

The Victoria Snooker Centre – which has 400 members – is under threat of demolition as part of redevelopment proposals by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to build a new cinema, housing and restaurants on the site on Camden Road.

Martin, who played for Tonbridge Angels, Folkestone Invicta and Maidstone United, has managed Maidstone United and Rochester United and has been on management teams of K Sports, Snodland Town, Larkfield & New Hythe and now Rusthall, who are located less than two-and-a-half miles away from his under-threat business.

Martin has called upon the Kent Football Community to help save a well-valued and historic community asset, which is set to be demolished next year – if we don’t give the Martin family our valued support.

Martin missed  Rusthall's Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup Quarter-Final 4-3 home win over Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday night, so he could be interviewed by ITV Meridian.

The snooker club has posters of the snooker greats that have played exhibition matches at the venue on its walls.

Martin told ITV: “I think we’ve had most of them to be honest. I mean, you look at the first two (posters).  They’ve both won seven World Titles each, Stephen Hendry and obviously the greatest player of all time, Ronnie O’Sillivam, coming down to probably the best player that’s never won the world title, Jimmy White, is what we pride ourselves on, is our exhibitions, so it’s quite big.  We’re probably one of the biggest in the South East to do snooker exhibitions.

“It’s devastating (to know that we’re under threat), we can’t no longer go on, if that’s the way it’s going to be.”

Snooker Club members have launched an online petition, which has reached 3,879 signatures – but Martin wants that figure to increase to over 10,000, helped by supporters within the Kent Football Community, as we support a popular figure on the Kent football circuit.

Fellow owner, Liam Martin also told ITV: “We’re part of one of the biggest growing sports in the world with snooker and especially pool now.

“Pool’s on the rise as well, so without places like this we don’t create Ronnie O’Sullivan’s and Stephen Hendry’s, so I think we are very important to the community as well as the country.”

Snooker Club member Jerome Bowman, who launched the online petition, said in a statement: “Snooker clubs across the UK are under threat of closure and this would be another devastating loss despite the sport’s increasingly global appeal.

“Snooker, pool and darts are inclusive sports that everyone can enjoy and the club is a lively place to play, compete, see live exhibitions and socialise.

“It is the largest snooker club in the area, serving generations of local people.”

Housed in the historic Friendlies Hall on Camden Road, built in 1861 by the Friendly Society Charity, the building has been a social hub for over 160 years.

From the Friendlies Club to the Kent & Sussex Club and since 1995 as the Victoria Snooker Club, it’s walls hold living sporting history. Championship honours boards dating back to 1930 still hang proudly on the walls today.

It also supports regional Leagues such as the Crowborough and District Snooker League, established since at least 1952.

Bowman added: “The current owners have sustained the club as a welcoming, inclusive space for people of all ages and backgrounds. Losing it would mean losing a vital community hub, local heritage, a place to play one of Britian’s most popular sports and a place filled with shared memories.

“We urge Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, as current landlord, to listen to the community and work to preserve the Victoria Snooker Centre for future generations.”

Tunbridge Wells already has a cinema, situated at Knight’s Park – less than two and a half miles away from Martin’s family-run business.

To sign the petition, click here. www.change.org/p/save-victoria-snooker-centre?redirect_reason=guest_user