Grandad's army aims to win pool league (From Daily Echo)

Grandad's army aims to win social clubs pool league

8:20am Saturday 20th October 2012 in Sport

GRANDAD Kevin Ridout plans to end his runners-up jinx by winning the pool league with the youngest team ever fielded by Warren Social Club.

Warren have finished second for the past three seasons but the 57-year-old reckons he can steer the twenty-somethings to glory – provided he can coax old hand Richie Gardner, 50, out of retirement.

Ridout decided not to play this season after son Scott, twice individual champion, emigrated to Australia last November with three of his dad’s six grandchildren.

But, a week after his mum died, Ridout relented and joined forces with Neil Brady, 25, Ashley Sails, 22, and cousins Luke Jewell, 20, and Jack Jewell, 23.

“We’ve inspired youngsters to come through,” he said.

“They’re fearless. We hope to go one best than last year – the last three years.

“This is our first year together with me as captain and I’ve got all these youngsters round me.Alot of the time, I’ve got to explain the rules to them. I’ve just got to hold them together.

But I will probably give Richie a phone call to get him back in.

You need six players.”

Ridout, a life member at Warren Social, was first taken to the club by HIS dad, Toby, in 1974. And he has been part of the team “off and on” since the league formed in 1997/98 with Warren as the initial champions.

Full story and more Social Clubs news in today's Daily Echo