Born in Tredegar, Reardon labored as a coal miner and a police officer whereas constructing a fame within the newbie sport earlier than turning skilled on the comparatively late age of 34 in 1967.
It was a serious step to go away a safe job at a time when he didn’t personal a house, however the gamble paid off handsomely as he rapidly established himself as one of the fashionable characters within the sport.
His rivalries with John Spencer and the flamboyant Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins made for a few of the most compelling sporting contests on tv on the time.
His first world title got here in 1970, when he beat John Pulman 39 frames to 34.
There adopted a niche till 1973, when he beat Australian Eddie Charlton within the closing. That was the primary of 4 consecutive titles, culminating in his victory over Higgins in 1976 – the final championship earlier than the transfer to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Reardon gained the title once more in 1978, and topped the world rankings till 1981, when the emergence of Steve Davis heralded a brand new period.
He reached the World Championship closing once more in 1982, however misplaced to Higgins.
