20 Facts About Eddie Charlton

Eddie Charlton remains the only player to have been world championship runner-up in both snooker and billiards without winning either title.

Eddie Charlton later became a successful marketer of sporting goods, launching a popular brand of billiard room equipment bearing his name.

Eddie Charlton was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia and came from a sporting family.

Eddie Charlton's grandfather ran a billiards club in Swansea, New South Wales, and Charlton began playing cue sports when he was nine years old.

Eddie Charlton was involved in numerous other sports during his youth: he was a first-grade footballer and played in the Australian First Division Football for ten years; he was a champion surfer, and played state-level rugby league and competitive cricket; he excelled in speed roller skating, rowing, boxing and tennis.

Eddie Charlton worked as a coal miner until the age of 31.

Eddie Charlton's brother Jim was a professional snooker player but never joined the world ranks.

Eddie Charlton became a professional player in 1963 at the age of 34 and won his first Australian Professional Championship the following season.

Eddie Charlton unsuccessfully challenged Rex Williams for the World Billiards Championship title in 1974 and 1976.

Eddie Charlton was the most successful Australian snooker player until the emergence of Neil Robertson.

Eddie Charlton, who was known for his focused and dogged performances, challenged for the World Championship in 1968 and was the runner-up in the final of the World Championship in 1973 and 1975, losing the 1975 world final by just one frame to Ray Reardon.

Eddie Charlton won the BBC's Pot Black competition in 1972,1973 and 1980.

Eddie Charlton recorded the first century break on Pot Black.

Eddie Charlton complained about the lighting, and two large lights that were focused on the audience were switched off.

Eddie Charlton faced Reardon in the final of the 1975 World Snooker Championship in a match of 61 frames.

Eddie Charlton was known for playing with a very straight cue action and rarely hitting the ball with any, when a less conservative approach might have paid dividends.

In retirement from professional snooker Eddie Charlton often commentated during the BBC's world championship coverage.

Always active in the organisation and promotion of the game, Eddie Charlton was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1980.

Eddie Charlton formed the Australian Professional Players Association and was responsible for bringing many of the top players to play in Australia.

Eddie Charlton stopped competing in 1995 and died in Palmerston North, New Zealand on 8 November 2004 following an operation.