Leonard “Len” Ganley (26 March 1944 – 13 August 2012) was a Northern Irish professional snooker referee. Born in Lurgan, County Armagh, Ganley began his refereeing career in the late 1970s and quickly became one of the sport’s most recognized officials. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he officiated numerous high‑profile matches, including several World Snooker Championship finals and other major ranking events.
In addition to his on‑table duties, Ganley made regular television appearances, notably as a referee and presenter on the BBC’s snooker programme Big Break and as a commentator for Eurosport’s snooker coverage. His professionalism and distinctive style earned him multiple Referee of the Year awards from the Snooker Referees Association.
Ganley retired from active refereeing in the early 2000s but remained involved in the snooker community through media work and mentorship of younger officials. He died on 13 August 2012 in Belfast after a brief illness.
