Snooker Loopy

"Snooker Loopy" is a humorous song which was released as a single in May 1986 and entered the UK Singles Chart, reaching #6. It was written and performed by Chas & Dave and featured snooker players Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor, Willie Thorne, Terry Griffiths and Tony Meo, as backing vocalists under the name 'The Matchroom Mob' – Matchroom Sport being the company owned by promoter Barry Hearn which employed all these snooker professionals at the time.

The lyrics are a mild satire on the style and antics of the players involved: "old Willie Thorne; his hair's all gone" for example. The verse on Steve Davis also makes light of the 1985 World Snooker Championship final and his missed black in the final frame, and notes that his manager is not concerned who should win the upcoming 1986 Championships "because he's got the rest of us signed up!". Ironically, while all the top players of the day were featured on the recording, the 1986 Championships was eventually won by rank outsider Joe Johnson who was neither involved nor mentioned in the lyrics.

Chas & Dave still perform the song at their live shows with the original lyrics, even though all of the players mentioned have now retired from professional game (most are still known as part of the BBC commentary team).

A special rugby version of the song was performed at the Help For Heroes Concert at Twickenham Stadium, London on 12 September 2010 with the backing vocals performed by rugby players Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Williams, Mark Cueto and Jonah Lomu. Cueto's verse made light of the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final and his disallowed try in the 42nd minute and notes that his manager is not concerned who should win the upcoming 2011 World Cup "because he's got the rest of us signed up!".