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Callan won the [[Fleetwood]] and District Amateur Snooker Championship in 1950. It was the first time he had entered the competition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Champion makes 41 break |newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=31 March 1950 |page=6}}</ref> The following year, he lost in the quarter-finals,<ref>{{cite news |title=Snooker results |newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=2 February 1951 |page=7}}</ref> and in 1952 his quarter-final opponent was awarded a [[walkover]] when Callan opted to play in a [[The Fylde|Fylde]] championship match scheduled for the same night.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stansfield |first=Jim |title=Clash 'snookers' Callan |newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=29 February 1952 |page=6}}</ref> In October 1952, receiving 21 points start in each {{cuegloss|frame}}, he lost 1–4 to [[Joe Davis]] in a match staged for charity.<ref>{{cite news |author="R.R." |title=Snooker king turns ice (break)er |newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=17 October 1952|page=15}}</ref> Callan regained the Fleetwood and District title in 1953, and retained it in 1954.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nearly a snooker surprise but Callan wins cautious final|newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=6 March 1953 |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Snooker championship goes to Callan again|newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=12 March 1954 |page=7}}</ref> His most notable tournament win was the North West [of England] Amateur Championship.<ref name="SCOBIT" />
Callan won the [[Fleetwood]] and District Amateur Snooker Championship in 1950. It was the first time he had entered the competition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Champion makes 41 break |newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=31 March 1950 |page=6}}</ref> The following year, he lost in the quarter-finals,<ref>{{cite news |title=Snooker results |newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=2 February 1951 |page=7}}</ref> and in 1952 his quarter-final opponent was awarded a [[walkover]] when Callan opted to play in a [[The Fylde|Fylde]] championship match scheduled for the same night.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stansfield |first=Jim |title=Clash 'snookers' Callan |newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=29 February 1952 |page=6}}</ref> In October 1952, receiving 21 points start in each {{cuegloss|frame}}, he lost 1–4 to [[Joe Davis]] in a match staged for charity.<ref>{{cite news |author="R.R." |title=Snooker king turns ice (break)er |newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=17 October 1952|page=15}}</ref> Callan regained the Fleetwood and District title in 1953, and retained it in 1954.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nearly a snooker surprise but Callan wins cautious final|newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=6 March 1953 |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Snooker championship goes to Callan again|newspaper=Fleetwood Chronicle |date=12 March 1954 |page=7}}</ref> His most notable tournament win was the North West [of England] Amateur Championship.<ref name="SCOBIT" />


Callan took an interest in the "mechanics of snooker", and started coaching in the 1970s.<ref name="SCOBIT" /> His coaching focused on technical aspects, not psychological,<ref>{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=2012 |title=Black farce and cue ball wizards |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9781780575681}}</ref> and was based around the principle that each player should use a stance that was appropriate for them rather than trying to match an idealised position.<ref name="SCOBIT" /> Davis's books on technique were highly regarded in snooker circles, but Callan had discussed snooker techniques with him on a number of occasions, and come to believe that Davis's style of play, which was partly due to a weak left eye, would not work for all players.<ref name="HAUL">{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Mountjoy nets a rich haul with a fishmonger's help |work=The Guardian |date=29 November 1988 |page=19}}</ref> Callan also advocated using a long backswing when using a cue, with a pause before striking the ball during which the player should focus on the {{cuegloss|object ball}} rather than the {{cuegloss|cue ball}}.<ref name="SCOBIT" /> He also recommended using a standard drill (or routine) for each shot.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Frank |last1= Callan|first2=John |last2=Dee |title=Frank Callan's snooker clinic |publisher=Partridge Press |location=London |year =1989 |isbn=9781852250690 |page=64}}</ref>
Callan took an interest in the "mechanics of snooker", and started coaching in the 1970s.<ref name="SCOBIT" /> His coaching focused on technical aspects, not psychological,<ref>{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=2012 |title=Black farce and cue ball wizards |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9781780575681}}</ref> and was based around the principle that each player should use a stance that was appropriate for them rather than trying to match an idealised position.<ref name="SCOBIT" /> Davis's books on technique were highly regarded in snooker circles, but Callan had discussed snooker techniques with him on a number of occasions, and come to believe that Davis's style of play, which was partly due to a weak left eye, would not work for all players.<ref name="HAUL">{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Mountjoy nets a rich haul with a fishmonger's help |work=The Guardian |date=29 November 1988 |page=19}}</ref> Callan advocated using a long backswing when using a cue, with a pause before striking the ball during which the player should focus on the {{cuegloss|object ball}} rather than the {{cuegloss|cue ball}}.<ref name="SCOBIT" /> He also recommended using a standard drill (or routine) for each shot.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Frank |last1= Callan|first2=John |last2=Dee |title=Frank Callan's snooker clinic |publisher=Partridge Press |location=London |year =1989 |isbn=9781852250690 |page=64}}</ref>


Callan advised [[Steve Davis]], and was a coach to many players including [[Terry Griffiths]], [[John Parrott]], [[Allison Fisher]], [[Doug Mountjoy]] and [[Stephen Hendry]].<ref name="SCOBIT" /><ref name="HAUL" /> He was sometimes described in the press as a coach to Steve Davis, but Davis maintained that his own father, Bill Davis, was his coach, and Callan was an adviser.<ref name="SCOBIT" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Friskin |first=Sydney |title=Shout that let Davis in and Meo out|date=17 January 1984 |newspaper=The Times |page=24}}</ref> Hendry had worked with Callan, but stopped from the end of the [[1997–98 snooker season]] until February 1999. After winning a record seventh [[World Snooker Championship]] in May 1999, Hendry acknowledged Callan's help, saying "I've had help from all kinds of people this season but he is the man for me. He knows my game inside out ... There have been times in matches here where I've not played well but then gone into the interval and Frank has said one thing and it's made all the difference."<ref>{{cite news |last=Curtis |first=John |title=Coach Callan my saviour; admits Hendry |newspaper=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=4 May 1999 |page=49}}</ref> Mountjoy won the [[1988 UK Championship]] and the [[1989 Classic (snooker)|1989 Classic]] to become the only player apart from Steve Davis to win successive [[Snooker world rankings|ranking]] titles, and thanked Callan for his coaching.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Terry |title=Mountjoy's fairy-tale continues |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=16 January 1989 |page=30}}</ref>
Callan advised [[Steve Davis]], and was a coach to many players including [[Terry Griffiths]], [[John Parrott]], [[Allison Fisher]], [[Doug Mountjoy]] and [[Stephen Hendry]].<ref name="SCOBIT" /><ref name="HAUL" /> He was sometimes described in the press as a coach to Steve Davis, but Davis maintained that his own father, Bill Davis, was his coach, and Callan was an adviser.<ref name="SCOBIT" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Friskin |first=Sydney |title=Shout that let Davis in and Meo out|date=17 January 1984 |newspaper=The Times |page=24}}</ref>

Mountjoy won the [[1988 UK Championship]] and the [[1989 Classic (snooker)|1989 Classic]] to become the only player apart from Steve Davis to win successive [[Snooker world rankings|ranking]] titles, and thanked Callan for his coaching.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Terry |title=Mountjoy's fairy-tale continues |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=16 January 1989 |page=30}}</ref>

Callan, who ''[[Snooker Scene]]'' magazine described at the time as "long recognised by professionals as snooker's leading coach", committed to work only with players managed by Ian Doyle's Cusemasters company, including Hendry, for the [[1991–92 snooker season]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Callan goes with Doyle |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=July 1991|page=7}}</ref> Hendry stopped working with Callan from the end of the [[1997–98 snooker season]] until February 1999. After winning a record seventh [[World Snooker Championship]] in May 1999, Hendry acknowledged Callan's help, saying "I've had help from all kinds of people this season but he is the man for me. He knows my game inside out ... There have been times in matches here where I've not played well but then gone into the interval and Frank has said one thing and it's made all the difference."<ref name="JCSAVIOUR">{{cite news |last=Curtis |first=John |title=Coach Callan my saviour; admits Hendry |newspaper=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=4 May 1999 |page=49}}</ref> In ''[[The Times]]'', Phil Yates wrote that "transformation" was due to the revival of his coaching partnership with Callan.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yates |first=Phil |title=Past masters pay tribute to Hendry's excellence |date=5 May 1999 |newspaper=The Times |page=40}}</ref>


Callan died in 2016, aged 93.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coach Frank Callan passes away |url=https://wpbsa.com/coach-frank-callan-passes-away/ |publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association |date=29 January 2016 |access-date=21 August 2021 }}</ref> In 1990, Steve Acteson wrote in ''[[The Times]]'' that "If the leading players were asked to select the greatest coach in the game, they would invariably nominate Frank Callan."<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Acteson |title=Future lies with the young and dedicated |newspaper=The Times |date=26 April 1990 |page=39}}</ref> Snooker historian [[Clive Everton]] has called Callan "the father of modern coaching".<ref name="SCOBIT" />
Callan died in 2016, aged 93.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coach Frank Callan passes away |url=https://wpbsa.com/coach-frank-callan-passes-away/ |publisher=World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association |date=29 January 2016 |access-date=21 August 2021 }}</ref> In 1990, Steve Acteson wrote in ''[[The Times]]'' that "If the leading players were asked to select the greatest coach in the game, they would invariably nominate Frank Callan."<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Acteson |title=Future lies with the young and dedicated |newspaper=The Times |date=26 April 1990 |page=39}}</ref> Snooker historian [[Clive Everton]] has called Callan "the father of modern coaching".<ref name="SCOBIT" />

Revision as of 10:36, 27 September 2024

Frank Callan
Bornc. 1923
Died2016 (aged 93)
NationalityBritish
OccupationSnooker coach
Known forFrank Callan's Snooker Clinic

Frank Callan was a snooker coach, known for his work with world snooker champions Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.

Biography

Callan, born c. 1923 was a fish merchant.[1] Having played snooker as a youth, he joined the army in 1940, and did not play the game again until he was 27. He made his first century break when he was 32.[2]

Callan won the Fleetwood and District Amateur Snooker Championship in 1950. It was the first time he had entered the competition.[3] The following year, he lost in the quarter-finals,[4] and in 1952 his quarter-final opponent was awarded a walkover when Callan opted to play in a Fylde championship match scheduled for the same night.[5] In October 1952, receiving 21 points start in each frame, he lost 1–4 to Joe Davis in a match staged for charity.[6] Callan regained the Fleetwood and District title in 1953, and retained it in 1954.[7][8] His most notable tournament win was the North West [of England] Amateur Championship.[1]

Callan took an interest in the "mechanics of snooker", and started coaching in the 1970s.[1] His coaching focused on technical aspects, not psychological,[9] and was based around the principle that each player should use a stance that was appropriate for them rather than trying to match an idealised position.[1] Davis's books on technique were highly regarded in snooker circles, but Callan had discussed snooker techniques with him on a number of occasions, and come to believe that Davis's style of play, which was partly due to a weak left eye, would not work for all players.[10] Callan advocated using a long backswing when using a cue, with a pause before striking the ball during which the player should focus on the object ball rather than the cue ball.[1] He also recommended using a standard drill (or routine) for each shot.[11]

Callan advised Steve Davis, and was a coach to many players including Terry Griffiths, John Parrott, Allison Fisher, Doug Mountjoy and Stephen Hendry.[1][10] He was sometimes described in the press as a coach to Steve Davis, but Davis maintained that his own father, Bill Davis, was his coach, and Callan was an adviser.[1][12]

Mountjoy won the 1988 UK Championship and the 1989 Classic to become the only player apart from Steve Davis to win successive ranking titles, and thanked Callan for his coaching.[13]

Callan, who Snooker Scene magazine described at the time as "long recognised by professionals as snooker's leading coach", committed to work only with players managed by Ian Doyle's Cusemasters company, including Hendry, for the 1991–92 snooker season.[14] Hendry stopped working with Callan from the end of the 1997–98 snooker season until February 1999. After winning a record seventh World Snooker Championship in May 1999, Hendry acknowledged Callan's help, saying "I've had help from all kinds of people this season but he is the man for me. He knows my game inside out ... There have been times in matches here where I've not played well but then gone into the interval and Frank has said one thing and it's made all the difference."[15] In The Times, Phil Yates wrote that "transformation" was due to the revival of his coaching partnership with Callan.[16]

Callan died in 2016, aged 93.[17] In 1990, Steve Acteson wrote in The Times that "If the leading players were asked to select the greatest coach in the game, they would invariably nominate Frank Callan."[18] Snooker historian Clive Everton has called Callan "the father of modern coaching".[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Everton, Clive (March 2016). "Obituary: Frank Callan". Snooker Scene. p. 37.
  2. ^ Clive, Everton (1989). "1. Life and times". Frank Callan's snooker clinic. London: Partridge Press. ISBN 9781852250690.
  3. ^ "Champion makes 41 break". Fleetwood Chronicle. 31 March 1950. p. 6.
  4. ^ "Snooker results". Fleetwood Chronicle. 2 February 1951. p. 7.
  5. ^ Stansfield, Jim (29 February 1952). "Clash 'snookers' Callan". Fleetwood Chronicle. p. 6.
  6. ^ "R.R." (17 October 1952). "Snooker king turns ice (break)er". Fleetwood Chronicle. p. 15.
  7. ^ "Nearly a snooker surprise but Callan wins cautious final". Fleetwood Chronicle. 6 March 1953. p. 6.
  8. ^ "Snooker championship goes to Callan again". Fleetwood Chronicle. 12 March 1954. p. 7.
  9. ^ Everton, Clive (2012). Black farce and cue ball wizards. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 9781780575681.
  10. ^ a b Everton, Clive (29 November 1988). "Mountjoy nets a rich haul with a fishmonger's help". The Guardian. p. 19.
  11. ^ Callan, Frank; Dee, John (1989). Frank Callan's snooker clinic. London: Partridge Press. p. 64. ISBN 9781852250690.
  12. ^ Friskin, Sydney (17 January 1984). "Shout that let Davis in and Meo out". The Times. p. 24.
  13. ^ Smith, Terry (16 January 1989). "Mountjoy's fairy-tale continues". The Daily Telegraph. p. 30.
  14. ^ "Callan goes with Doyle". Snooker Scene. July 1991. p. 7.
  15. ^ Curtis, John (4 May 1999). "Coach Callan my saviour; admits Hendry". Coventry Evening Telegraph. p. 49.
  16. ^ Yates, Phil (5 May 1999). "Past masters pay tribute to Hendry's excellence". The Times. p. 40.
  17. ^ "Coach Frank Callan passes away". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  18. ^ Acteson, Steve (26 April 1990). "Future lies with the young and dedicated". The Times. p. 39.
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