Legendary Canadian snooker player and Town supporter Bill Werbeniuk has died of heart failure at the age of 56. Werbeniuk was one of snooker's most colourful characters during its hey day of the late seventies and early eighties.

Werbeniuk was a regular competitor at the Tolly Cobbold Classic held annually at the Corn Exchange in Ipswich. As a result Paul Mariner, Eric Gates, Frans Thijssen and other members of Bobby Robson's side, all snooker fans, became friends with the 20st North American.

He attended a number of games and the players gave him a Town tie which he was often seen wearing when playing in tournaments.

'Big Bill', as he was known, was famous for his vast appitite for lager, consuming enormous quantities during matches. A heavy smoker too, he claimed to have a rare condition which caused his arm to shake during play, and drinking lager was the only way he had found of controlling it.

He moved to Britain in the late seventies to compete on the snooker circuit and hit his peak when he made the final of the Lada Classic in 1984 where he was beaten by Steve Davis.

Latterly he returned to Canada and lived in Vancouver.

Photo: Action Images

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