Paul Collier (snooker referee)
Paul Collier is a snooker referee from Newport, Wales. He was born on 30 July 1970. He refereed several ranking final matches, including the World Snooker Championship 2004 final between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Graeme Dott. In 2005 he quit the main tour, citing among his reasons the financial problems snooker was facing at the time.[1] Paul has recently joined the main professional referees and is the referees' director for many snooker tournaments. His most recent big match was the semi-final of the world championships in 2013 between Barry Hawkins and Ricky Walden.
Career
He has been playing snooker since he was thirteen years old and became a qualified referee at fifteen. In December 1991, he became the youngest member of the Professional Snooker Referees Association. As well as Snooker, he has refereed both 9 Ball Pool and English Billiards World Championships. Although no longer refereeing full-time on the Ranking Circuit, he remains the sole referee for the Premier Snooker League. The 2008 Final was his 200th match in charge at the Premier League Snooker.
Early life and life outside snooker
Paul attended Hartridge High School where he graduated from in 1987. Behind snooker, Paul is passionate about rugby and supports the Newport Gwent Dragons.