Mick Camm told the Guardian: "A lot of clubs around here don't allow youngster on to their tables."

"It doesn't make any sense to me because not only would it mean that those clubs could enter three or four teams into the league instead of one or two but it would also help the next generation of good snooker players to come through."

"We can't enforce it but it is certainly something that I want to happen."

Camm, who runs his league from the Breakers club which produced professional players Danny Folwer, Barry West and Guy Dennis, admitted that the sport was not as popular as it once was.

"All kids seem to want to do is play on computers these days and we are not helping but excluding them from our snooker clubs," he said.

"When my son was 12 or 13 he would be at the snooker club every night but he wouldn't be allowed to do it these days in a lot of clubs."

"In the eighties Worksop was a great place for the sport with some top players and an awful lot of interest in the sport and league."

"There used to be a pub or club in every village with a snooker table, but that has all fallen by the wayside."

"There are less and less clubs as it is and the sport is not as popular but if we don't let these kids play then we will never regain the popularity."

"Most teenagers who start to play snooker tend to be interested for the rest of their lives."

"The clubs are not helping by refusing to let these young players play."

Camm, 62, was full of praise for Daz Presgrave, who coaches from the North Notts Community Arena.

"He is bringing through a great team of 30-35 youngsters," he said.

"Maybe clubs like that are the future if other snookers clubs won't take junior members."

"Someone like Ashley Carty, who won the Sheffield Under 18 Championship at the age of just 13, is a perfect example of what can be achieved."

"If more clubs did this then we would see more Ashley Carty's coming through."

The fruit and veg salesman, who has been a member of the Breakers club for 35 years, is also concerned by the way success is now achieved more through money that skill.

"You have to buy a professional license to be professional, it isn't done purely on skill anymore," he said.

"You used to become professional based on ranking points and success in tournaments."

"Now, when you reach a certain level you just pay some money and you have a professional license."

"I think it's a shame and it has taken some of the fun out of the game."

But Camm says that despite his concerns about the sport's future he is still very much enjoying running the Worksop leagues.

"We have a great time and there is a lot of good snooker played," he added.

"There is a great atmosphere and people can learn from each other and just have fun."