Fears for sight of Rotherham snooker ace

Former Rotherham Open champion Tony Scott jnr, who plays for Central Snooker Club, was in a takeaway near the Horse and Jockey pub in Rawmarsh on Boxing Day when he was struck from behind.

The blow carried such force that it caused him to lose vision and medics told him this week that he would be lucky to regain full sight.

Malcolm Sockett, from the Rotherham Snooker League, said: "It's a horrible thing to have happened.

"From talking to Tony, it was a punch out of the blue and he just didn't see it coming.

"He went to the hospital two days ago and they told him it will be a miracle if he gets his sight back in his damaged eye.

"Tony is one of the best players in the league and a big name on the local circuit. He says he wants to carry on playing but the other day he placed an onion on the table and tried to hit it—he missed.

"It was one of his ambitions to teach his little lad how to play snooker and now he fears he won't even be able to do that."

Amazingly, Mr Sockett revealed that Tony was the third local snooker player to lose sight in one eye as a result of attacks in the last three years.

Tony Jones and Chris Bitting, both of the former Atlas team at Brinsworth, were the victims and neither was able to play on.

Mr Sockett added: "It's so sad when anyone is stopped from playing the game they love. We haven't forgotten what happened to the other two lads and it really is strange how many times this has happened.

"Everyone connected with the Rotherham Snooker League wishes Tony Scott jnr a full and speedy recovery."