Phil’s been a Power of strength for me
Ando wants to thank pal Taylor .. by beating him on his final bow
GARY ANDERSON reckons Phil Taylor kickstarted his career – now he wants to be on stage when The Power’s ends.
Anderson admits he owes as much as anyone to the 16-time world champion for helping him into the elite of his sport.
The Scot’s astounding win over his inspiration in the World Darts Trophy a decade ago convinced him to swap the BDO for the PDC.
Anderson has since lifted two world titles, the most cherished his first in 2015 after sinking Taylor, 57, in the Final.
The Power will say goodbye to the game after the William Hill World Championship which starts on Thursday.
And Anderson would love to meet him one last time on the famous stage at Alexandra Palace before he retires.
The Musselburgh man said: “Phil will always play a part in my career – even when he is finished. Everyone will always talk about me managing to beat him in the Final as being the stand-out moment but that’s not the big memory.
“That came before most folk had any idea who I was.
“I’ll never forget winning that World Darts Trophy against him 10 years ago.
“At that time I was doing all right in the BDO and always felt I could mix it with the best boys in the PDC.
“Saying it and thinking it is one thing, doing it when it really mattered was another – and that really pushed me.
“We both averaged over 100 in the Final and it was like a marker moment in my career.
“It proved to me I could really make something of myself in the game and it was really that moment which set the wheels in motion to move over to the PDC a couple of years later. Winning a world title was always a dream but I said right from the outset if I won one I’d have to beat Phil at some point during the tournament for it to really count.
“I know that sounds daft but that’s what I believed. For that to happen almost three years ago was incredible.
“Of course I’m not silly. It’s not I wouldn’t have enjoyed or celebrated winning a world final at the Ally Pally. But the fact it was Phil I beat in the Final made it extra special.
“That’s because of the respect and admiration I had for him then, have for him now and will always have for him in the future.
“The game is changing and he is moving on but as far as I am concerned he is and always will be the greatest player who ever walked the earth. He has made darts what it is nowadays. There are a lot of boys making good money and living good lifestyles because of darts these days and that’s down to Phil.
“I won’t be sad to see him go in one sense because he beats me more often that not. But on a serious level I’ll miss him being around. He slags me off and we have a bit of a carry-on at times. I’m quite an easy-oasy sort of person and not really the type to look up to anyone or try to be inspired by anyone.
“Phil though is an exception to that rule. Every time I go on to the stage with him for a game it’s a special buzz, a special feeling.
“You know you are up there with the greatest of all time. I have no idea how it is going to go over the next couple of weeks but if I could in any way have it transpire I could get to play him in his final World Championships it’d be nice.”
Anderson, who starts his bid against Luke Humphries or Jeff Smith on Saturday, now has a soft spot for the place not just the person having enjoyed his biggest career wins in London.
He said: “I couldn’t handle the hurly burly but then I won two Premier Leagues and two Worlds there – suddenly it’s great. It’s like nothing else going to the Palace.
“The place will always have special memories for me. If I finish in the game with two in the bag I’ll go out a happy man because an awful lot of people said I’d never win one and I proved them wrong twice.
“Do I want more? Of course I do. But I’m not going to batter myself if I don’t. If I don’t win it won’t be for the lack of trying.”
That win over Phil proved to me I could really make something of myself GARY ANDERSON