William played his cards right to live Ally Pally dream
WILLIAM BORLAND once spent Christmas working at The Card Factory but this festive period he’ll sign fans’ cards inside the darts Dream Factory.
Down-to-earth Scot Borland faces Bradley Brooks at Ally Pally tonight but still aims to be back up the road in time to join his mates for tomorrow’s tournament in Prestonpans.
The 25-year-old’s Christmas rush this year will come from being on the stage and not behind a counter.
He said: “From a young age I was telling everyone in my local team that I was going to make it.
“They all said ‘You’re good but you’re not that good.’ I thought ‘I’ll prove you wrong.’
“I worked part-time in the Card Factory. The shop was busy at Christmas, you’d be on the tills all of the time.
“But even though I had the job for three months, as soon as I got my Tour Card, I gave it up. You have to be dedicated and I have been my whole life.”
Borland rubs shoulders with the elite these days, but loves being amongst the boys as well. He said: “I grew up wanting to play on this stage. Now the time has come. I’m starstruck a wee bit.
“If I win I play again on the 22nd but I’ll come back home. I still do a lot of local competitions.
“That’s my practice so I like going to them. I was in Musselburgh last week and, depending on how it works out, I’m hoping for an early flight on Saturday because there is one in Prestonpans.”
Borland will be fit for the Brooks test after taking up cycling. He said: “I did Duddingston to Linlithgow one day – 28 miles. I was knackered. I had to get the train back!”
Borland will also have a World Cup winner in John Henderson glued to the box watching him.
He said: “We have become really close.
“Him and his wife Veronica have helped me so much. I was at the pub steaming drunk, shouting and celebrating when he won the World Cup.
“We did an exhibition in Alloa and he said he was going to watch. It’s nice to hear that from someone of his calibre.”