''I'm The Pool King At Brentford'' - Ivan Toney On His Little-Known Love Of Snooker

The Brentford striker inherited a deep love for the game from his dad, a fine amateur player who locked horns with Alex Higgins and Jimmy White
22:30, 01 Sep 2022

Snooker-loopy Ivan Toney stands one short of a 50-break of goals for Brentford. The 26-year-old forward goes into Saturday’s home clash with Leeds United having already established himself as one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers. 

The combination of goals, assists, power, pace and aerial prowess have even put him in the frame for an England call-up. However Toney, who grew up in the snooker hotbed of Northampton, uses cue-sports as a way of relaxing and getting away from the pressure cooker of top-flight football.

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He inherited a deep love for the game from dad Ivan Toney Sr, who was a fine amateur player that locked horns with Alex Higgins and Jimmy White in club matches. And the striker also claims to be the No1 pool shark at the west London club, and is set for a money match against team-mate Kris Ajer to settle any debate. 

Toney’s 49 goals for the Bees have come from just 88 starts since a £5million move from Peterborough two years ago. He tells The Sportsman: “I have always liked and appreciated snooker from a young age. My dad used to play snooker to a good level. He played regularly against very good club players, but he also played Jimmy White and Alex Higgins in club or exhibition matches, and other well-known players. 

“That wasn’t at a professional level, but it wasn’t just in Northampton where I grew up, but all over. He was decent at snooker, a good player – Ivan senior will like me saying that! From what I understand he wasn’t a million miles off getting to pro level, but lost a few key matches and it went on the back burner. 

“But after seeing him play I am sure he made centuries, and he would have been better and stronger back then. So I started playing snooker, and when I found it a bit too hard and the table a bit too big I started playing a lot of pool. 

“Snooker is very tough, with fine margins and no room for error. Northampton has seen some very good players emerge from there, or base themselves there. I used to play at Barratts Snooker Club in Northampton, and when I was younger I saw Rory McLeod there, I think Peter Ebdon and I’m sure Kyren Wilson has played there. 

“My highest break isn’t the best…I’ll have to be careful what I say, as some of the people I play might see this! A century! No but seriously, I can get between 30 and 40. I can pot the balls but there comes a point where you have to be able to control the cue ball really well to get more. I go chasing positions…not easy. 

“And my favourite player has to be Ronnie O’Sullivan. He is aggressive every shot and wants to pot every ball - that’s what I like. He says what he wants, but he backs it up by winning everything. I’d love to see the documentary coming out about him. It could be massive, and a really good watch. He has openly said at times that he doesn’t like the sport and does it for his family and to secure his future, but still goes out and wins titles. 

“I haven’t been to the Crucible and the World Championship yet and I would love to go. It tends to be at an important time of the season.  

Toney's favourite Snooker Player, Ronnie O'Sullivan
Toney's favourite Snooker Player, Ronnie O'Sullivan

“I loved going to the Masters final, it was a great experience. That was a couple of years ago when I was still at Peterborough. It was Stuart Bingham v Ali Carter in the final at Ally Pally, nearly three years ago. And I’ll look to get back there in January.  

“I do like individual sports too, because there you only have yourself to blame. And there is an aspect of that I like, take the responsibility and blame myself. But obviously in football that is not really the way, as part of a team. Still as a striker or maybe a goalkeeper, there is that extra responsibility on you doing your job. 

“I have tried to convert other lads to snooker – I play with Charlie Goode, but he’s not so good! Some of the overseas players play pool and think they are good but I am the pool king at the club. Kris Ajer reckons he can play and has said he will play me for as much money as I want. But that’s with neither of us having seen the other in action. 

“But I’ll back myself there, that can happen any time before he comes to his senses. I’ll send a driver to pick him up and bring him to my place.” 

Brentford are 23/20 to beat Leeds on Saturday with Betfred*

*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change

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