‘I’m proud that I’ve done Jocky’s name no bad’
Gary Anderson proud to be the new Flying Scotsman, Clay Wilson reports.
It’s a long way from the building site to the bright lights of darts stardom but Gary Anderson insists it hasn’t changed him a bit.
Winner of the past two world championships, the understated ‘‘Flying Scotsman’’ still marvels at where his talent for the pub pastime has taken him.
‘‘When I started playing, which is 20 years just about to this day, I had a young family and money was tight but darts didn’t cost a penny,’’ Anderson, 45, said as he prepared for the Auckland Darts Masters this weekend.
‘‘I’d drive two hours to work, do anything from an eight- to 14-hour shift and drive home. But from Friday to Sunday, I’d be all over Scotland playing darts.
‘‘I could make more money in three days playing darts than what I could in six months on the building site.’’
Anderson, who had his nickname passed on to him by Scottish darts icon Jocky Wilson, ditched the tools in 2001 and took up full-time darts while also managing a pub with his partner Rachel.
Wilson, legendary for the volume of alcoholic spirits he drank while playing, was a childhood hero of Anderson’s. Wilson died in 2012.
‘‘It’s a sad thing I never met him because he’s a legend in Scotland but he finished just as I started.
‘‘It’s great to have that same name – the Flying Scotsman. He was some boy. I’m proud that I’ve done his name no bad.’’
Within three years of turning pro Anderson was world No 1 with the second-tier the British Darts Organisation, and in 2007 he had another breakthrough year when he beat Phil ‘‘The Power’’ Taylor to win the prestigious World Darts Trophy title. But in the years that followed he hit a flat patch and many started to doubt whether the man from the Scottish borders could consistently challenge the world’s best. He was tagged a heavy scorer who often failed to deliver at the big tournaments.
And it got a whole lot tougher for him in 2011-12 when tragedy struck his family. His father and younger brother died within a year and, not surprisingly, he lost his desire for the feathers.
He battled through the mental anguish for two years before the arrival of third son Tai in early 2014 changed his outlook, lifting the weight of expectation off him.
‘‘When he came along I just went ‘I don’t care, I’m just going to play, if I get beat, I get beat’. And I started to play well.’’
Anderson says the young fella started throwing real darts at 12 months old and has already progressed to mimicking Taylor’s style in front of the dart board.
‘‘Having three boys now, I more or less play darts so I can help them in the future,’’ he said. ‘‘I could retire now and be happy, but I’m carrying on for them.’’
Less than a year later, Anderson edged 16-time world champion Taylor 7-6 in an thrilling final of the Professional Darts Corporation’s 2015 world championships before collecting all four of world darts’ Player of the Year awards. He won his second world title six months ago.
With success comes sacrifices, however. In the past 18 months he has spent just 41 days at his seaside home in Somerset, England. While his partner and young Tai travel ‘‘90 per cent’’ of the time with him, living out of a suitcase is tough going.
‘‘I’m a very quiet person,’’ Anderson said. ‘‘I’m usually the one [among the players] who is in the background. I do like a good laugh, but I prefer to do my own thing and let them do their own thing.’’
Anderson admits he doesn’t know how much longer he will stay on the circuit. But New Zealand may be seeing the Flying Scotsman for a few years yet.
‘‘When we came across last year we stayed on an extra week, hired a car and drove about. We absolutely loved it. It’s so much like Scotland it’s unbelievable, the people enjoy a good laugh and have a good sense of humour.’’