Lincolnshire man to represent Great Britain at World Disability Sports event in Thailand

Dean Simmons will play snooker for the World Ability Sports games in Thailand in December – being one of only 15 in the country to be selected.

He is currently ranked World Number 2 and is the reigning Champion of Champions winner 2023 with the World Disability Billiards and Snooker Association (WDBS).

Now the 55 year-old has been given the honour of being asked to represent his country in the upcoming games in Shanghai.

Playing snooker is said to have been a life-line for Dean who had been suffering with his mental health since the accident 15 years ago, which left him unable to lift his left arm..

Dean said: “I use to play snooker in my twenties, but then I had a really bad accident where I nearly lost my arm altogether, it’s held on with screws and plates. Doctors told me I’d never be able to lift it up again.”

Dean’s partner Joanne Whitehead explained: “Dean had a major work accident that left his left arm/shoulder broken in so many pieces that nobody could believe it. His arm was just left hanging by one tendon.

“He worked on the land more or less from leaving school at 16 years-old and had his accident just before his 40th birthday. He was in the back of a tractor and cart that was full of full trays of cauliflower when the vehicle flipped on its side. The full trays landed on Dean inside the cart. It left his left shoulder completely smashed. It had to be rebuilt with screws and bolts everywhere and it was such a big operation. It also left damage to his lower back and knee. It took nearly two years to get him to do things like drive again by himself.

Friends later suggested Dean go back to trying snooker again. After getting back into the game at Boston Snooker Centre, Dean was later encouraged to join WDBS, and says he’s “never looked back”.

“He never thought he would be able to play snooker again, so getting himself to where he has and now having the greatest opportunity of his life would be a dream come true,” Joanne adds.

"WDBS has saved Dean’s mental health, these tournaments are not only just about the snooker, we’re also a little family and it’s just been amazing.”

World Disability Billiards and Snooker is a section of the World Snooker Federation. It is broken into eight different categories relating to the type of disability a player has. This is the first time that WDBS has been invited to the World Ability Sports Games.

Joanne adds: “Dean is obviously hoping to be coming home with the gold medal, but he said just representing his town and country is the biggest honour.

“I am absolutely delighted for Dean and cannot wait to see him excel out there. I go to every tournament with him and am extremely proud of everything that he does.”

Dean is being sponsored by Boston Snooker Centre and haulage company Logic freight. But with the expense of flying out to Thailand for the 10 days games, he and Joanne have set up a Justgiving page to help pay the costs.

To support Dean, visit his Justgiving page justgiving.com/crowdfunding/joanne-whitehead-2.