The Natural

The Natural: The Story of Patsy Houlihan, the Greatest Snooker Player You Never Saw is the compelling story of a man who potted balls fast and potted them hard. South Londoner Patsy Houlihan was one of the top amateurs of the 1950s and 60s as well as the greatest hustler of all time. He should have been a major player on the world stage, but the professional game was a closed shop and the likes of Patsy weren’t welcome. However, in the smoke-filled snooker halls of the backstreets of working-class Britain, populated by tough men seeking to make a quick buck from the game they loved, Patsy was a folk hero and an inspiration to a generation of players, including his close friend Jimmy White. This is the story of the greatest snooker player who never reached the big time, but whose exploits, adventures and skills guaranteed him immortality in the minds and imaginations of those lucky enough to have seen him play. The Natural brings to life the story of a forgotten snooker pioneer and master entertainer.

Author Biography

Luke G. Williams is the author of three books including Richmond Unchained and President of Pandemonium. He writes regularly for the website Boxing Social and has been published in the Guardian, Independent, Boxing Monthly, Snooker Scene and many other outlets. His work was nominated for a British Sports Book Award in 2016 and his previous snooker book, Masters of the Baize, was named Book of the Week by the Sunday Times.