Inside the barbers a stone's throw from snooker's Crucible where top stars get a haircut

A thin cut in Sheffield at around April time usually means someone has been watching the action at the Crucible. But just a stones throw away from the iconic venue youll find a different kind of establishment, also indelibly linked with snooker.

Taylor Taylor Barbershop has been operating in Sheffield since 1907, making it 20 years older than the World Championship itself. They have two sites in the Steel City, including one on Surrey Street just a minutes walk from the Crucible, while the other on Division Street is a seven minute walk away.

Thats just over two minutes longer than the amount of time it took Ronnie OSullivan to compile the fastest televised 147. But what is unique about Taylor Taylor is its link with snooker and namely the amount of players, pundits and fans who come in for a quick trim during the tournament.

Luke Linacre works at both shops and has had many run-ins with the great and good of the game. So it probably helps that hes also a massive snooker fan you might even call it a lucky break.

Ive been working at Taylor Taylor for 16 years, he tells us. I love snooker. When I came in for my interview all that time ago the qualifiers for the World Championship were going on.

One of the first haircuts I remember doing was actually for Neal Foulds. It drew me into working here straight away! Over the years Ive cut the hair of a number of big names, including Ronnie OSullivan, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Judd Trump, Ryan Day and Rob Walker.

Jimmy White has been in before as well, plus weve had all of the referees and commentators, too.

As a huge snooker fan, its perhaps no surprise who Lukes favourite person in the chair has been over the years. Ronnie is my idol, he beams. When he came in it was surreal.

I never do walk-ins but when Ronnie came in I made sure he got looked after. He was brilliant to deal with. We spoke about Chinese hot pots and running he didnt stop talking!

I play a lot of snooker myself and I love the game. People often say Ronnie doesnt come across as wanting to talk to you but it couldnt have been further from the truth. I couldnt stop him talking.

While Luke may be a walking snooker baize to Z, the same cant quite be said for all of his co-workers. One of my colleagues cuts Steve Daviss hair when he comes in but doesnt like snooker, so doesnt really know who he is, he jokes.

Shes always asking him if hes off to work straight after and he always sees the funny side of it. Shaun Murphy came in once with his shirt on and a cue in his hand. One of the girls tried to explain to him the real snooker was on around the corner.

He said to her: I know, Ive just played! John Parrott, the 1991 world champion and a mainstay on the BBCs coverage of the tournament, is another regular.

Hes really good friends with everybody in the shop, Luke adds. We have a picture from him that he presented to the shop from when he won the World Championship.

Luke and the Taylor Taylor crew are looking forward to the return of the worlds this year. But, until recently, the spectre loomed large that it might not be coming back to the Steel City for too much longer.

Thankfully that has now been put to bed following the announcement that the World Championship will remain at the Crucible until 2045. Luke and his colleagues are understandably delighted.

Its just a brilliant time to be around," he says. "It means a lot and I think all of the players and fans enjoy coming to Sheffield, too.

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