The Geordie Darts Team
First up to the oche is Sam 'Deadly Dudley Destroyer' Allardyce...“I've been playing darts for some time. When the British Open first started the organisers decided to hold it at the Reebok Stadium they asked me to do a little bit of promotion and suggested I joined in the first round. Little did I know that it was at Didsbury at a pub in south Manchester. I turned up on a Saturday morning and there were hundreds of people from all around the country. I got walloped by a lad from Southampton, if I remember rightly. He did me three sets to nil, quite comfortably I might add.
The players especially are really into their darts at Newcastle. They've got their own little area with two Premier League darts tables and they run two leagues - the Championship and the Premier League.
There are enough players to get great competitions between themselves. The lads that practice the most are the best and that's James Milner and Steve Harper. I know they'll put up a better challenge than me against Phil.
I love my darts, but I'm far too busy to play in the league, because when training stops I don't stop. The players can have a bit of relaxation and sort out their little competitions. Me, I just get on with the job, because the chance to enjoy pastimes for a manager today is rare.
It's nice to see the lads joining in together rather than just sat at a laptop. We also have table tennis, and if it was up to me I'd expand on the games area if we could, but it's a bit tight for space now.
You may think the sport in terms of physical attributes is not that active - well, it's not, but the level of concentration means there are similarities between football and darts on the face of it. The fitter you are, the more you can concentrate. When you're up there in a world final mental fatigue is something you have to deal with - the fitter you are the more focused you can be.
That said, I wouldn't have any tips for Phil Taylor, because they are fundamentally two totally different sports, even if they do require 100% dedication, 100% concentration and 100% skill. Probably the level of skill that Phil has to reach at a world championship is huge. The margin for error, like in football these days, is minimal and one slip can cost you an awful lot.The similarities lie there.”
Steve Harper: “We started playing darts at Newcastle seriously in the last year or so. Darts has had a bit of a renaissance and we just got a board in at the training ground for a bit of fun. It's really taken off, the lads are enjoying it and the standards have really gone up, especially recently with the arrival of Alan Smith - he's a pretty good player.
I got a travel board for trips to Europe and was basically in charge of setting it up. As soon as we got to the hotel I would go to the medical room with my hammer,tape measure and measuring hooks - which were a nightmare to get through security - and then find the biggest picture to take off the wall. That way when we replaced it it would hide all the holes from the arrows.
Once I set the board up and got it the perfect height I used to ring the lads and they'd come and have a few tournaments. It's just a great way to pass the hours - it's great fun.
Back home we've had a few competitions in the Premier League format. We've just started our third one and James (Milner) is the champion. He's won both of the previous leagues, so everyone is after him at the minute...”
James Milner “...I'm not cocky with it, mind. How can I be? We've got Phil Taylor here tonight and I'm here for the experience. Even if he nine darts me I'll just be happy to watch Phil and play with him. You couldn't learn from a better person.
I don't know the secret of my own wrist action... but there's a bit of luck thrown in there too. Like Harps said, this year will be tight in our Premier League. Smudger is a pretty decent player and everyone seems to have improved - Harps himself, Nicky Butt and the kit man. It's just a bit of enjoyment to pass the time before games and after training when we've got a double session. It's taken off massively...”
SH: “I'm the number two player here. We tried to get the gaffer into Premier League 3 and we can see why he didn't enter at the minute. He's struggling a bit with his practice. There's ten or twelve of us play and there's only 8 can get in the premier league. Joey Barton has just entered and he's had three games so far and he's struggling, but he's competitive, so if he puts in the hours I'm sure he'll do well.
We've all got nicknames. The gaffer is Deadly Dudley Destroyer, because he comes from Dudley. James is the Machine gun, because he scores heavier than the rest of us, I'm the hitman, because I'm pretty good when I get to the doubles, but I can't see me getting to one tonight...”
Phil Taylor's Verdict on...
Sam 'Deadly Dudley Destroyer' Allardyce
PT Ranking: 1
“I'll have a bet on Sam. He's been playing a long time and he's got hidden talent. He's good and he's bigger than me... Did I mention he should be the next England manager?”
Steve 'Hitman' Harper
PT Ranking: 2
“He's not a bad player. Big Steve is good under pressure and he really performs in front of a crowd. He could play anything – even table tennis - and he'd be good at it.”
James 'Machine Gun' Milner
PT Ranking: 3
“James is quite good. He throws straight because he's got great hand-eye coordination. Mind, he's great in the dressing room, but how will he do in front of a crowd? Notice he's got brown trousers on...”
Worthy Winners
The lads were in action ahead of the Grand Final of the Worthington's Masters. The best eight pub players took on 13 times World Champion Phil Taylor at St James Park following qualifying rounds around the country.