In June 2022, the English Pool Association (EPA) and Ultimate Pool Group (UPG) issued a significant update to their proposed collaboration, reducing the suggested league-player fee from £6 to £1. This page is retained as a historical record of how the partnership proposal developed during 2022.
Proposed league-player fee reduced from £6 to £1
Following feedback from leagues and players, the organisations announced that the proposed annual fee for EPA league players would be reduced from £6 to £1.
The update said the change was made after concerns were raised about affordability during the cost-of-living crisis. It also stated that, after VAT and transaction costs, the EPA would receive the remaining league-player fee rather than the smaller share originally proposed.
Grassroots projects remained part of the plan
The EPA and UPG said the reduced fee would not alter the wider projects they were discussing for clubs, leagues, grassroots development and higher levels of competitive eight-ball pool.
The original announcement also confirmed that the proposed arrangements for Interleague and county players remained unchanged at that stage.
Member feedback shaped the revised proposal
EPA Chair Barbara Taylor said the earlier Q&A had helped bring the proposal directly to leagues and players and generate useful feedback. The revised proposal was then intended to return to the counties for a final vote.
UPG Chair Mark Quirk said the organisations had listened to concerns about the proposed fee and wanted the collaboration to support players across every level of the game rather than create division.
Where this sits in the 2022 partnership history
This June update followed the original EPA and Ultimate Pool partnership announcement and the detailed 2022 partnership Q&A.
For the wider sequence of announcements and later developments, see the Ultimate Pool archive.
Historical record: originally published June 2022. Fees and organisational arrangements described here should not be treated as current.