EASB to Vote on Transfer of NGB Status

On 18th June 2016 the English Association for Snooker and Billiards (EASB) will vote at its AGM upon the proposal that the Sport England National Governing Body recognition be transferred to the English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards (EPSB).

Formed last summer, the EPSB announced its Whole Sports Development Plan for 2016-2020 during the recent World Snooker Championship in April.

The EPSB is an umbrella organisation, comprising the EASB, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association Limited (“WPBSA”), World Billiards Limited (“WBL”), World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Limited (“WLBS”) and World Disability Billiards and Snooker Limited (“WDBS”).

The new body has been established to make a significant contribution to the growth and development of snooker and billiards in England. It will be an example of how sports development should work within a national governing body network and aims to raise the standards of playing facilities and to nurture talent in this country.

The board of directors of the EASB will recommend to its members that the proposal should be accepted as it will bring long-term stability to the EASB as an organisation running amateur snooker events. It will provide much-needed expertise and resources that it cannot secure on its own as a voluntary organisation.

As a legally recognised member of the EPSB, the EASB retains all the benefits of NGB status and none of those are affected. The EASB remain responsible for running the amateur game in England, continue to be recognised as such by EBSA and IBSF and will continue to be the body that nominates players and officials to European and World Events. Before agreeing this transfer, the EASB Board will ensure that in the event of dissolution of the Partnership, any requirements of Sport England to transfer the recognition back to the EASB are achievable.

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: “Sports governance has never been under greater scrutiny than at this present time. The EPSB has been formed to provide strong governance, to ensure equality and diversity within snooker, so that talent gets its fair chance regardless of background, gender or ethnicity

“The EPSB is the framework for the growth and development of grassroots initiatives in England and will form part of a wider submission to Sport England to access grants for funding to snooker and to ensure that the sport is treated fairly alongside other leading sports.”

The full EPSB Whole Sports Development Plan document is available to download in pdf format, together with a summary document bringing together the key points.

You can also watch key members of the EPSB including WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson, EASB Chairman Jeff Robinson, WDBS Chairman Nigel Mawer and WPBSA Head of Coaching Chris Lovell discuss the launch of the Whole Sports Development Plan at the WPBSA YouTube channel.