I’m a Man Utd fan who had trials with Premier League clubs – now I’m making my own way in snooker after swapping sports
MARK ALLEN has revealed that he had trials to become a professional footballer before eventually settling on snooker.
The Northern Irishman revealed in an interview today that he had trials at both Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday before eventually settling on snooker.
Speaking on TalkSPORT’s Sunday edition with Shaun Custis and Henry Winter, he was asked about his trials at the two clubs.
He said: “I had trials for a few teams but I’ll never say I was ever going to make it. I love my football and I did okay at the time.
“I was in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup team when I was 13, 14 but it was so difficult to make it from Northern Ireland.
“I’m not for a second saying I would have done what I’ve done in snooker in football. Everyone wanted to be a professional footballer growing up.”
Allen then said that none of his fellow team-mates from that time went on to turn pro.
He joked: “Maybe I was the best player of a bad group! I still love my football. I’m a Man Utd fan for my sins and they’re a tough watch at the minute.
“I loved my football but I’m never saying I was ever going to make it.”
He then credited his Dad as being the one who got him into snooker, saying that his father played in local snooker leagues around Northern Ireland growing up.
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“I was only 12, I took to it [snooker] quite quick. After seven months I said ‘I can actually play this a little bit.’ After 10 months of playing I had to make a decision between football and snooker.
“I still don’t know why I chose snooker because at that stage I was probably a better footballer but it’s done me well.”
Asked about his chances at the World Championships he said: “Well I definitely feel I’ll be there or there abouts. But you’re never really sure until you’re there and get through that first round.
“You don’t know until you get through that first match but I definitely feel like I’m one that goes there with a big chance.”