I can remember back in about 84 I received a phone call from Eric Park, who was a Director of E. J. Riley and a friend of mine. At the time I was Chairman of the Lancashire County Pool Ass. and an International Poll ref, as well as Managing Pro Pool Player Neil Payton. Eric asked if Neil and myself could pop down to their Padiham works and look at a prototype poll table they were developing, which we did. On the visit we were introduced to Steve Davis who Riley's Sponsored together with his minder
The pool table was of first class quality, as you would expect, but I think the price would have been a little dear, the Classic Table used by the EPA at the time cost around £750the Riley would have been a hell of a site more. However, the experience was good, if only to see how they actually produced the snooker tables, especial the slate beds