It's a sport in which the Welsh are world beaters. Professional snooker referee Paul Collier from Newport explains why it's as popular as ever in South East Wales.

Although people say it's had its heyday, snooker remains the second most watched televised sport in the United Kingdom. It is also one of the most participated sports, only beaten by football and fishing.

Gone are the days where the likes of fifty-somethings John Spencer and Ray Reardon were winning tournaments. Snooker players are now considered over the hill at 35!

Also long gone are the dark and dingy billiard halls, replaced by stylish, modern snooker and pool clubs with satellite television, jukeboxes, air conditioning, hot food and resident professionals to give advice and coaching.

In Wales we have a wonderful structure for the development of snooker at all ages but particularly for youngsters.

A fourteen year old from Neath, Jamie Jones (above), recently became the youngest player in the world to make a maximum 147 break in an official competition.

Just about all the snooker clubs in Wales have activities and coaching sessions available for youngsters. Most of these schemes take place on Saturday mornings and are often booked up to capacity.

Former World number eight Darren Morgan has just bought the Red Triangle Club in Cross Keys.

He started a coaching session and a junior league on Saturdays: after just a few weeks he has over 50 players registered aged between 8 and 17.

But you dont have to be a junior to learn or even have to be 100% mobile. Coaching is available to all, there are even wheelchair championships held nationally every year.

The successes the Welsh players and officials have had over the years have helped boost snooker in Wales. Mark Williams (right) from Cwm has twice won the World Championship, in 2000 and 2003. Matthew Stevens of Carmarthen is a World finalist and Masters Champion while Dominic Dale from Penarth has won the Grand Prix.

Furthermore, two of only six full-time TV referees are Welsh - myself and Eirian Williams from Llanelli.

But who could forget Terry 'Grandpa' Griffiths? 1979 World Champion, owner of the Terry Griffiths Matchroom club in Llanelli and coach to Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry.

And Ray Reardon from Tredegar was a six-time World Champion in the 1970s, nicknamed Dracula because of his vampiric appearance.

If you want to start playing at a higher standard, refresh your memory or just try the sport out all you have to do is find your local club and go along. Help and advice is free and plentiful.

Information on the scheme mentioned above can be found in most clubs but you can also look at the web sites www.welshsnooker.co.uk and www.worldsnooker.com, or visit my own website at www.paulcollier.net for advice on where to go and how to get started.

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Daniel Marner, Yorkshire The reason that snooker has been so successful in Wales is the fact that Terry Griffiths was the first person to openly adopt the Joe Davis method of coaching the game. Daniel Stuart I think that snooker is great sport and there a lot of young welsh stars coming through. I am 17 years old and have a 64 break I would love to become a pro. Josh Conroy, Aberaman I think the reason there are so many top Welsh youngsters coming through as there are so many tournaments and cheap snooker deals around the place. Matthew I am 14 years old with a highest break of 95 - I want to get in tournaments but don't know how? Matthew from Blackwood I'm 15 years old and i am very interested in becoming a professional snooker player. I would like to enter any local tournaments or events and I would appreciate it very much if someone could inform me on any local events or clubs for me to play for. I have a half century break and would like to up my snooker to the next level. Many thanks Matthew. L. Jones, Aberystwyth My son enjoys playing snooker and would like to take it further, I'm finding it difficult though to find out about coaching in the Mid Wales area and would be grateful for any suggestions, thanks. Jordan Dubesky, United Kingdom When can I turn pro? David from Newport I am 13 and want to try my hand in a tournament to see if I can play well outside of my club. Does anyone who is from Newport or nearby have any information or a challenge please let me know. Ryan I am 13 years of age and i wish to play in lots of tournaments and have a 147 Ben I am a 22 years old novice and would like to know about any coaching and tournaments in the South Wales area? can anybody help!? thanks! Douglas Bradbury, Crosskeys Darren Morgan has proved in the Grand Prix tournament that he can still play snooker despite losing to Michael Holt. nick rogers coach bridgend i am a full time coach and i feel and see that the interest is still huge within the junior ranks in the south wales region. John Dobson (Caerphilly) As Welsh national coach and secretary of the Welsh coaching foundation I would like to make would be snooker players aware that we now have fully qualified coaches operating in all areas of Wales. For details of your local coach, and for information on how players of all ages can become involved in Welsh snooker please contact me on 029 20860241 email jdobsonsnooker@aol.com Gareth Rowlands, Aberdare I think that it is getting harder in the top tournaments now because of the youngsters coming through. Shaun I am 13 years of age and I wish to become the youngest pool or snooker player ever. Have your say about snooker in South East Wales Your name, surname and location: (All these details MUST be included for publication) Comment: Your Email Address The BBC reserves the right to select and edit comments. Find out how to make sure your comments are published. To submit a larger contribution or if you require a response please contact us.