POOL is just a “sideline” of Testwood WMC’s Thursday nights out.

Famous as the centre of excellence in the Southampton & District Social Clubs League’s now defunct poker league, the club fields a pool side who are more interested in playing nine-card brag while their teammates are battling on the green baize.

Former poker team member Mark Stanton said: “We don’t take it too seriously. We’re notorious for playing cards on a Thursday night.”

And he added: “I’d love to see the poker come back.

“We had two sides and we were there right to the end. It’s a shame other sides dropped away.

“We met some nice people, playing poker.

“Where no money is involved, the competitiveness is probably more because you don’t want to let the team down.”

Pool captain Gary Green said: “This club revolved around poker for four or five years.

“We have poker nights and still keep in touch with each other.

“It would be great if it could come back but you need new blood.”

Turning to pool, Green said: “It’s just a friendly league. Most of them are really nice people. Half the league are really serious - and then you’ve got the few at the bottom.”

Dave Edwards said: “A few of the originals have gone by the wayside but we’ve stuck together. It’s a good social scene. We do win now and again.

“Sometimes the cards takes over from the pool.”

And John Leeson agreed: “It’s a sideline.”

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