Anthony Nardone, the world's youngest snooker referee

Dec 17 2008 by Richard Mooney and Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

ANTHONY Nardone was snooker loopy last week after he became the world’s youngest snooker referee.

The 12-year-old from the Village has just passed his exam to become the world’s youngest qualified referee – and it’s not just officiating that he excels at.

For Tony is also a star at the table, having won a collection of trophies, and he holds the highest break of 111 in the under-14s Scottish Snooker League.

He is even fondly known to Scottish snooker stars John Higgins and Graeme Dott as ‘wee Tony Nardone’.

But this week, the St Andrew’s and St Bride’s pupil was celebrating after passing his referee exam and is now a qualified grade three EBRSA referee.

He can now officiate at a host of amateur events at Scottish level, World Championships, round-robins and European under-19 single and team championships.

Tony said can’t wait to get started. He told the News: “I’ve just done five weeks of training for the course and I’m just relieved I passed it.

“The exam was hard, but I’m looking forward to refereeing matches now.

“I can referee in Scottish events now and I’m hoping next year that I can referee the Home International Championships, but I haven’t found out about that yet.

“I’m now able to referee groups of all ages from under-16s, under-19s, under-21s right up to the men’s and the ladies’ events.

“It’s great and I think my mum is going to phone up the Guinness Book of Records about it.”

But the snooker-daft youngster is used to the limelight after appearing on television twice in the last few months.

Back in May, Tony appeared on the BBC during the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible in Sheffield.

He was interviewed by six-time world champion Steve Davis and Australian player Neil Robertson.

And he appeared on television again in October at the Royal London Watches Tournament, where he was competing in the Junior Pot Black event at the SECC.

Tony started playing snooker at the age of seven and he has gone on to pick up titles across his clubs at Westwood Snooker Hall, Riley's in Victoria Road and also the Craigpark Masters in Dennistoun, the home club of John Higgins and Graeme Dott.

And he admitted his passion for refereeing came from him wanting to know more about the sport he loves.

Tony added: “I love playing snooker, but when I first started I didn’t know all the rules and I wanted to know more about it.

“So, I took up refereeing and if I can’t become a professional – that’s my dream – I want to be a referee.”

Tony’s mum Anne-Marie and dad Jimmy are amazed by their son’s achievements.

Anne-Marie said: “It’s absolutely fabulous what he has done and his dad and I are so proud of him.

“To be able to referee matches at his age is incredible.

“He’s taking charge of games where adults are playing and he’s a good wee player as well.

“We take him all over the country to play in tournaments and he’s always playing people older than himself – people in their 20s.

“At the clubs the older guys think they’ll take him on for an easy match, then they see how he can play and they wish they hadn’t played him.”

For a video interview with Tony Nardone click here.