Born in Tredegar, Reardon labored as a coal miner and a police officer whereas constructing a repute within the newbie recreation earlier than turning skilled on the comparatively late age of 34 in 1967.
It was a serious step to depart a safe job at a time when he didn’t personal a house, however the gamble paid off handsomely as he shortly established himself as probably the most standard characters within the recreation.
His rivalries with John Spencer and the flamboyant Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins made for among 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 spot 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 received 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.