Gosport teenager signs £300 sponsorship deal
A TEENAGE snooker ace from Gosport “couldn’t believe” it when presented with a £300 sponsorship deal.
Joe kitchen (pictured), who has been playing competitively for only two years, is being backed by Censebam, a coaching and mentoring firm.
The cash will fund the 14-year-old’s entry fees and travel costs on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Silver Tour.
“I felt very excited and I couldn’t believe I had a sponsor because I never thought I’d get one,” said Kitchen.
“It will give me more confidence to win more matches.”
Stewart Knight from Censebam, which is Latin for envisaging, said: “I’m a keen snooker fan myself and I’m excited about being linked to Joe this season.
“I know Joe wants to get onto the EASB Regional Junior Tour next season and, providing he does well on the Cuestars Silver Tour this season, I hope to sponsor him for that too.”
Kitchen’s dad Michael said: “I’m sure it will give Joe a boost in self-confidence and, hopefully, to his game.”
The young cueist is based at Stoke Snooker Club, Gosport, and travels to Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, once a month to work with Tim Dunkley.
His highest tournament break is 32 but he has recorded a 41 in a practice match.
Last season he finished ninth on the eight-leg Silver Tour, which stops this season at clubs in Salisbury, Swindon, Bournemouth, Woking, Chandler’s Ford and Fareham.
World Snooker coach Dunkley said: “Some of the things Joe does in practice are remarkable. The lad works so hard.
“His matchplay has improved dramatically over the past year or so and he is capable of taking this a lot further.
“I know he has targeted a top five finish this season and promotion to the Gold Tour.”
Gosport-based Censebam offers coaching and mentoring for a wide range of personal and private challenges from quitting a habit to improving yourself as a person to achieving a life-long ambition.
Until his website is up and running, Knight can be contacted via e-mail: [email protected].
Report and picture by Tim Dunkley.