How snooker halls became Ronnie O'Sullivan's "creche" from a young age

单集文稿 ...

• 00:14

  Hello, I'm Lauren Laverne and this is Desert Island Discs Postcards,

• 00:17

  a collection of funny and heartwarming moments from some of our many castaways.

• 00:22

  This postcard comes from seven times world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

• 00:27

  In 2023, he told me how he'd spent his childhood going unaccompanied to play in snooker halls across East London.

• 00:35

  You know, my dad used to put me in the car.

• 00:39

  And he'd go, right, we're going to City Road today.

• 00:42

  I'm going to drop you off.

• 00:43

  You'll be all right up there.

• 00:44

  He would have dropped you off at seven?

• 00:46

  About eight years of age, I'd say.

• 00:48

  So, yeah, he'd drop me off there.

• 00:49

  But my dad was like an East End guy, so he knew he had the gift of the gab.

• 00:52

  And he'd go in and he'd go, right, I want my boy.

• 00:54

  And he'd go, well, he's a bit young.

• 00:56

  He's the money.

• 00:57

  For him to play all day, let him do what he wants, you know what I mean?

• 00:59

  Just make sure he behaves and just keep an eye on him.

• 01:01

  So there'd be someone behind the bar keeping an eye on you.

• 01:03

  Yeah, my dad used to call it a creche.

• 01:05

  He went, it was the best place for you to be.

• 全部文稿