Andy’s academy were right on target in youth darts

The ‘Luke Littler effect’ has led to a surge in youngsters taking up darts on the Island, and the formation of the Youth Darts Academy IoW.

The academy has been started by Andy Barney, of Shanklin, a former Super League player. Andy’s father, Henry, was crowned the News of the World darts champion in 1970, at the time the biggest competition in the sport.

Andy said: “Darts has always been a big thing in our household, and I play at the Ambassador Snooker Club at Gunville. One of the young lads there, Luke Thompson, who is in his 20s, looks at me as his mentor and he’s now my pairs partner.

“So I started thinking about the next generation of players on the Island, and where they would come from. I created a Facebook page to see what interest there was and I got loads of enquiries which I wasn’t really expecting!

“I’ve had an amazing reaction; the kids love darts and they love getting involved.”

Luke Littler has taken the world of darts by storm. Last year, aged just 16, he was runner-up in the PDC World Final, before taking the champion’s crown this year.

Andy added: “Luke has had a phenomenal effect on the kids and they all look up to him. He is near enough their age and what he is doing at the moment is incredible.

“I believe that, if we don’t continue to promote darts, it will go the same way as football. Years ago, I used to play on a Sunday when there were four divisions on the Island; now we don’t have any.

“Luke started playing in the academy with the Junior Darts Corporation and, eventually, that is the target I am aiming for on the Island. At the moment, we are finding our feet and making sure we have enough interest to fill the criteria.”

The academy has first-aiders and children’s safeguarding policies, and meets at three different venues across the Island each week. Sunday, Ambassador Snooker Club, Gunville, 3pm-5pm; Wednesday, Wight Bay Hotel, Sandown, 5pm-7pm, and Thursday, Freshwater Conservative Club, 5pm-7pm. There is a £10 registration fee and the cost is £2 per week.

Andy added: “We don’t have electronic scoreboards, so the kids get a maths lesson learning to add and subtract as well!

“We had our first competition a couple of weeks ago at the Ambassador, which attracted more than 50 entries, and now, we’re looking to hold another competition around Easter.”