Marbles championship, Tinsley Green, Surrey-Sussex border

In Memory of the Grand Old Man of Marbles. Winston the bulldog mascot takes a look at the plaque which has been set up on the wall of the Greyhound Inn in memory of Sam Spooner, who was probably the best known of all marble players. He was known as the Grand old Man of Marbles, and died during the war. The Tolley Men of Tinsley Green. Once again the marble champions are practising hard for the annual National Championship to be played on Good Friday at Tinsley Green on the Surrey-Sussex border. Marbles is one of the world's oldest sports. It was played by the Roman Emperor Augustus. The Tinsley Green match dates back to the days of the Spanish Armada Threat when two local youths completed for the hand of the village beauty on Good Friday. Teams of six a side compete on a six -foot circular rink dusted liberally over with rough sand. Forty-nine clay marbles are placed in the centre of the ring and one at a time the players shoot at them with glass tolleys'. The Championships are held under the rules of the British Marbles Control Board whose HQ is at Tinsley Green. Last year's winners were the Capthorne Spitfires team led by 80-year-old Pop Maynard who has three of his sons in the team. They are hoping to repeat their victory in Coronation Year. Marbles enthusiasts come fom all parts of the country to watch the Tolley men of Tinsley compete for the coveted championship

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80-year-old Armada Augustus Bulldog Capthorne Compete Coveted Dates Dusted Enthusiasts Forty Greyhound Hoping Liberally Marbles Mascot Maynard Memory Oldest Placed Plaque Practising Repeat Rink Rules Spitfires Spooner Teams Threat Tinsley Tolley Tolleys Youths

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