Joe Johnson (snooker player)
Joe Johnson (born 29 July 1952) is an English former snooker player. He also did snooker commentary for Eurosport. He became the British under-19 champion in 1971. He was an amateur, defeating Tony Knowles in the final. He reached the final of both the English Amateur Championship and World Amateur Snooker Championship in 1978. He turned professional in 1979. He reached his first ranking final at the 1983 Professional Players Tournament (losing to Knowles), and reached the semi-finals of the 1985 Classic.
| Born | 29 July 1952 Bradford, England |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  England |
| Nickname | the Shoe[1] |
| Professional | 1979–2004 |
| Highest ranking | 5 (1987–88) |
| Tournament wins | |
| Ranking | 1 |
| World Champion | 1986 |
Johnson began the 1986 World Snooker Championship as a 150–1 outsider. He was not likely to win the event. He had first-round losses in both of his previous attempts. He reached the final, and defeated Steve Davis in the final 18–12. This was his only ranking win of his career. The following year, at the 1987 World Snooker Championship. In the final, he lost 14–18 to Davis.
He was professional until 2005, when he retired at age 53 after breaking his ankle. Johnson later competed on the World Seniors Tour, where he won the 2019 Seniors Masters.
Life change
Johnson was the subject of This is Your Life. He was a guest on the celebrity sports quiz A Question of Sport in 1986.[2][3] In 1987, BBC1 broadcast a show called An Ordinary Joe it was about the year since his world-championship victory.[4] He appeared on snooker show Big Break between 1991 and 2001.[5] Johnson was interviewed for an episode of the Radio 5 show Time of My Life in 1998. He was a guest on the TV quiz show Celebrity Eggheads in 2012.[6][7] He sang in the band Made in Japan, who released a cover of "Everlasting Love" in October 1986.[8] Johnson coached Shaun Murphy and was an early influence on Paul Hunter.[9] He is a regular commentator for Eurosport.[10] Johnson owned Cue Gardens snooker club, and ran a coaching academy with Richard Harrison.[11] He is married to Terryl, and has seven children.[12] By 2017, he had survived seven heart attacks.[12]
References change
- ↑ Carter, Jo (15 April 2010). "Joe Johnson: The man who stunned the Crucible". ESPN. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ↑ "Across the county". Lincolnshire Echo. 11 December 1986. p. 4.
- ↑ "A Question of Sport". BBC Programme Index. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ↑ "Joe in the frame". Evening Post. Nottingham. 16 April 1987. p. 2.
- ↑ "Results for 'Joe Johnson' "Big Break"". BBC Programme Index. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ↑ "Time of My Life". BBC Programme Index. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ↑ "Celebrity Eggheads". BBC Programme Index. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ↑ "Johnson is still optimistic". Burton Mail. 26 October 1986. p. 24.
- ↑ "Obituaries: Paul Hunter". The Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2006. Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ↑ "Joe Johnson". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ↑ "Joe Johnson: The man who stunned the Crucible". ESPN. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Amos, Mike (20 July 2017). "Darlington snooker fans queue up to play former world champion Joe Johnson ... now he's blind in one eye". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 14 May 2023.