Luke Littler effect: Star inspires new generation
Eight-year-old Noah trains for two hours a day and wants to be world champion
- Published
The founder of a darts academy says the performance of 16-year-old Luke Littler has created a surge in interest among young people.
Littler shot to fame earlier this month after becoming the youngest player ever to reach the final of the World Darts Championship (WDC).
Craig Neale runs the MK Sharks Junior Darts Academy in Bletchley and says 16 children have joined in the last two weeks alone.
He started the academy with six children in 2016 and now has 44 on his books - some as young as four.
“What Luke has done for darts is amazing,” Mr Neale told BBC Look East.
“I started this to give kids a chance when it was a pub sport, but it’s not a pub sport anymore, it’s a proper sport and they just love it.”
Craig Neale runs MK Sharks Junior Darts Academy
Eight-year-old Noah is one of the academy's most promising players and trains for two hours on weekdays and six hours on weekends.
“It helps me do maths and it’s the best sport in the world,” he admitted.
“Luke Littler has inspired me and I want to be playing at the PDC World Championship too in a few years’ time."
"I want to win. Everyone does don’t they?"
Aaron Dunne coaches young people to play darts in Buckinghamshire
Noah is coached by Aaron Dunne, who works for Buckinghamshire County and trains the children at the academy.
“The explosion has been phenomenal,” he said.
“After Luke Littler everyone just wants to play darts. It’s great for the youth game.
“It’s the fame, the social media, and it’s great for socialising. These kids at the academy don’t live near each other, they come from 30 to 40 miles away and they all get on.
“These clubs are thin on the ground but hopefully more might now open.”