Player Information

Nickname/Web username: The Wonderbairn
Year of birth: 1979 (What can I say, I look after myself!)
Year started playing pool: 1997
Current team: The Entertainers

Background

David Angus has been a stalwart of the pool league for over a decade, and since joining the league he has played a consistently high level for league and super league teams. He has a large collection of EKPL and EKPF honours, and recently added a fourth EKPL league championship to his belt with the Entertainers title victory last season. After some brief absences to the game in the last couple of seasons, “Gus” is back on top form and has been one of the Entertainers best performers so far this season. Away from the EKPL, David is also committed to running a number of national pool and snooker events for a large number players from the civil service throughout the year.

Singles Information

Aspirations for the current season:
None to be honest. I haven’t been playing IM’s or singles events for a while.

Greatest pool achievement in singles:
I can’t think of many as far as the league goes. I lost in the deciding frame of the EK Singles final in 2007 to Lee Miller. In the final Masters event of 2007 I lost to Colin Phillip 10-6. He’d just beaten Lee 10-0 in the semi final (sorry Lee!) That weekend saw some of the best pool I’ve played beating Scott Collins, Livvy, Bomber and then Oby in close matches to reach that final. Just couldn’’t get past CP that day though.

Honours in singles competition
A couple of wee flyers round the league. I’ve done better in works events with 4 Scottish Civil Service Eight Ball wins and 3 Nine Ball victories. Decent standard in these events to be fair with a lot of players from leagues around Scotland but nothing Earth-shattering.

Team Information

Aspirations for the current season:
We’re already out of one cup and we seem to be doing our best to let the Hustlers pull away in the league. My aspiration is to win the remaining cup and catch the Hustlers in the league. Tough ask, but we’re a good side so it’s not out of the question.

Greatest pool achievement with a team:
I’ve played for Mr Q’s Hawks, Mr Q’s, The Top Guns and The Entertainers in the EKPL and also The Wizards in the short lived but very enjoyable EKPF. I’ve been lucky enough to always play in good sides with very capable players, so I’ve got a lot of good memories of various victories. Team honours have always meant more to me than singles honours, which is lucky given the previous section of the questionnaire! On balance I’d say that getting to within one game of winning the league with the Top Guns is probably the best achievement. We surprised lots of people that year and had done most of the hard work. We just fell short but what a journey!

Honours in team competition
EKPL
League 1998, 2000, 2006, 2012
League Cup 2007, 2010, 2011
Robert Black Cup 2000, 2004, 2007, 2011

EKPF
League 2001, 2003
Cup 2002, 2003
Shield 2001, 2003

Cue

Make: Cue Master
Acquired: Kevin Irving sold me it from his vast array of cues!
Cost: Can’t remember exactly. £60ish I think.
Tip size: 10 mm
Who retips it? Oby does my quinquennial re-tip!

General Questions

Who, or what, inspired you to play?
I used to pop into Mr Q’s with my mates and Davie Muir asked if I fancied playing for a team called Mr Q’s Hawks. Other guys in the team included Marty Thom and Mark O’Brien. I said yes and joined the league from there. I seem to recall my first match was against ECKO and we won 12-0. This is easy I thought. Karma bit me on the behind for that one recently!

Favourite EK team you have played in?
The Top Guns or The Entertainers

Favourite EK team you haven’t played in?
The Greenhills

Best player you have ever played against?
Locally and because I’ve not played in teams as much with him I’d say Billy Edmond. He’s been around the top of EK pool for the 15 or so years I’ve playing and before that. That doesn’t happen by accident. Outside EK I’d probably say Pat Holtz. Joy to watch at times.

Best player you have played alongside?
There aren’t many players who would be considered top EK guys that I haven’t played alongside at one point or another. Others have mentioned “outsiders” in their list and some great players have come through this league. I’d rather praise the guys that have served EK well over a long period. It won’t be a galloping shock to people, but I’d say Oby for shot selection, Livvy for being able to get the 4/10 finishes when the team needs it, and The Bullet for his positivity around the table. It’s hard not to pick up some good habits these guys.

Favourite pro players (Pool or Snooker):

• John Higgins
• Matthew Stevens
• Chris Melling

Who is your bogey player?
Probably John Muir before the Scarlet Pimpernel joined The Entertainers.

What’s the one match that sticks in your memory
One match you say? I’ll take 3 if you don’t mind! 1. Superleague against Avondale. 7-2 down or something. Their players had left for the dancing. We came back to win 8-7 and staggered back to our caravans in the snow, singing. Probably my favourite Superleague match…and I lost to Scott Gillespie leaving the rest to do the hard part! 2. Top Guns v Hustlers/Hotshots. That fateful night at the bowling where we had the league in our hands and dropped it. 3. Wizards v Gamblers in my first EKPF Cup Final. We were 7-6 down with me and Smithy to play. I won, then Mark held his nerve to win the cup in a packed Westwood.

What would you say your best pool attribute is?
I don’t get too down about playing a bad shot…which is handy because I play lots! It’s only a game at the end of the day. I tend to back myself, sometimes foolishly, to get finishes, but if you don’t buy a ticket, you don’t win the lottery. I’ve definitely got better at knowing when to take my medicine and rein it in a bit though.

How would you rate the current standard of pool in EK?
Difficult question. I think we’ve underachieved as an “A” team at Superleagues. I’ve been part of sides that should have done better, so I’m not deflecting blame away from myself. The general mood around the league suggests that we won’t be changing that any time soon, just my opinion. The top players are still the top players that were around the couple of years after I started. A few players have got in and around that group – players from the Top Guns and Club 2000 spring to mind. Possibly a few players from teams like The Ospreys, The Tower or The Hunters could be next if they keep improving the way they are. I think there are less “tap-ins” in the league now both in individual frames and as teams. I don’t think the standard has improved too much in the last decade, there are just more people at a decent level.

What do you think we could do to raise the standard of pool in EK?
It depends what you want to raise the standard for, league or Superleague? Raise the overall standard of the players in the league by running regular local events like we used to for the Masters and Poolmania. I don’t know the answer as far as making the top players better goes, if I knew that I’d be a top player!

Anything else you would like to say?
We’re very quick to criticise in this league whether it’s someone having a go at Stevie Kelly for his fixtures, Marty Thom for his Superleague selections, or Andy Mason for the way a vote went at a meeting. Without these guys we don’t have a league. I’d also say that nobody does more than Oby to help develop players who are clearly of a lesser standard than he is by practising with them, spending time explaining shots and running events. I don’t think we say thanks enough to the guys I’ve mentioned and those who have served on the various committees over the years, so er…thanks!