Rob Milkins remembers eventful UK Championship debut and first Ding Junhui meeting

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Rob Milkins is still competing at the UK Championship 28 years after making his debut in the event, when he battled the elements as well as an all-time great.

The Milkman first appeared in the UK back in 1996 as a 20-year-old, beating Neal Foulds in his opener before coming up against the dominant force in the game at the time, Stephen Hendry.

Typical of the popular veteran he has an entertaining tale from that event nearly three decades ago.

‘I played Neal Foulds first,’ he called. ‘It was snowing outside but it was so hot in my room that I opened the window. I woke up the next day and I’m not joking I couldn’t move my arm!

‘I had a chill in my arm. I was really struggling, but I think I beat him quite easily, then I played Hendry. I think I was 4-1 down, came back to 4-4, but then lost.

‘I’ve had some crackers in the UK, though. Beat Matthew [Stevens] 9-8 and lost to him as well, late stages. Some great games. Played [Nigel] Bond one year I was 7-2 down, beat him. I used to do alright in the UK.’

Milkins faces another iconic figure in the game on Saturday night in York in Ding Junhui, a player he remembers taking in on practice two decades ago in Northamptonshire.

‘I played him once years ago and he didn’t want to be there, I don’t think,’ said the Milkman. ‘I beat him 5-1, this was at Rushden years ago when he first came here.

‘Ding’s the nicest bloke on tour, but at the time he didn’t know anyone, he didn’t want to be playing me. Especially getting pumped as well!

‘He wasn’t rude or nothing, because he never is. He wasn’t in his comfort zone and I can understand that because it would be the same if it was the other way round. Must have been about 20 years ago.’

Milkins has had a very disappointing season so far, but played well in qualifying for this event and is relishing a crack at Ding, who is in good form after winning the recent International Championship.

‘It’s going to be great,’ he said. ‘Ding’s obviously a quality player and he looks to be back on form. He’s got the better of me. I played him in this a couple of years ago and he pumped me.

‘It’s going to be a tough game but I’ve took the pressure off myself a little but this week, I’m free-rolling. It’s just gone too far now, I ain’t bothered because when you just keep losing, losing, losing, who cares? I won a match in Belfast, won a couple in this, so hopefully it’s changing.

‘I’ll be inspired [playing Ding], it’s just whether my game is good enough to beat him. My game’s really…not declined, because I’m still hitting the ball well in practice, but in matches I’m losing 40-50 points a frame to what I was a couple of years ago, it’s a big thing.

‘I’m not playing nowhere near like what I should be, but out there it could be a different ball game.’