THE Southampton Junior Darts Academy was payed a visit by John O’shea this weekend following the sports youthful resurgence.
The Irish darts player formerly competed in Professional Darts Cooperation events, winning the World Masters in 2019.
Since Luke Littler’s rise to fame, the sport has become the fastest growing among young children. The Southampton Junior Darts Academy has definitely felt these effects.
“Obviously everyone talks about the Luke Littler effect” says academy director Laurence Dowding.
“I think what it showed was an ordinary kid from an ordinary house suddenly become phenomenal in darts so all the other youngsters are going ‘well, why can’t that be me?” says academy director Laurence Dowding.
“When you look around here at what Laurence has done here at Southampton and the academy for the kids, it’s just gone through the roof. There is no ceiling there now for the kids” says John O’shea.
John O’shea commends the facilities available and praises Laurence for promoting a more traditional practice of darts.
“They have all the computer systems and they have the tablets and stuff but he still chooses the chalk boards for the younger kids so that they learn their maths” says John O’shea.
“It’s not just about throwing the darts. There’s a lot behind the game as well” says John O’shea.
The growth of the sport continues and young aspiring ‘littlers’ are becoming more keen to get involved.
Written by Heaven Vicencio and Alfie Faulkner
