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Murder on the Darts Board
Phil "The Power" Taylor. Eric "The Crafty Cockney" Bristow. Andy "The Viking" Fordham. To this great hall of fame, add another Justin Irwin. Or, to give him his darts Justin "The Bachelor of Darts" Irwin".
Justin Irwin used to have another moniker - that of the Director of England at the children's charity, Childline. However, in December 2004, he suddenly resigned, giving up his well-paid job in order to...... play darts. His aim was to qualify for the World Darts Championship in one year's time in December 2005.
As a child, Justin had wanted to become a sportsman. But as the sportsman got younger, Justin just got older, until he realised that in his mid-thirties he was old enough to be Wayne Rooney's father. So, professional footballer was out the window. However, he remembered that in 1987 he once hit treble 20 - darts nirvana! So, why couldn't he do that again, just on a more regular basis?
And so began his journey. From playing with friends, he graduated to pub teams, moving on to Open Tournaments in Essex and Hampshire. From backroom bars to the glamour of the Novotel in Southampton, he learnt the difference between a "Bull-up" and "Bullseye". Between a "Double-in" and "Double Trouble". Justin immersed himself completely in the darts community, getting to know the players, the players' wives and entourages, the strange rules and language as well as earning himself the sobriquet of "The Bachelor of Darts" (so christened because he was the only darts player with a Degree......). Until finally, he found himself playing to qualify for the Darts World Championship in December 2005.
Justin Irwin used to have another moniker - that of the Director of England at the children's charity, Childline. However, in December 2004, he suddenly resigned, giving up his well-paid job in order to...... play darts. His aim was to qualify for the World Darts Championship in one year's time in December 2005.
As a child, Justin had wanted to become a sportsman. But as the sportsman got younger, Justin just got older, until he realised that in his mid-thirties he was old enough to be Wayne Rooney's father. So, professional footballer was out the window. However, he remembered that in 1987 he once hit treble 20 - darts nirvana! So, why couldn't he do that again, just on a more regular basis?
And so began his journey. From playing with friends, he graduated to pub teams, moving on to Open Tournaments in Essex and Hampshire. From backroom bars to the glamour of the Novotel in Southampton, he learnt the difference between a "Bull-up" and "Bullseye". Between a "Double-in" and "Double Trouble". Justin immersed himself completely in the darts community, getting to know the players, the players' wives and entourages, the strange rules and language as well as earning himself the sobriquet of "The Bachelor of Darts" (so christened because he was the only darts player with a Degree......). Until finally, he found himself playing to qualify for the Darts World Championship in December 2005.
- GenresNonfiction
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 13, 2021
The kind of sports reading (and music for that matter) that I love. The book about the "everyman" with, truth to be told, not much talent but just has to have a go.
Justin Irwin has written a marvellous story of a CEO giving it all away to play darts for a year with the goal to make the world champs. The book delves into lots of details of what sounded like a fun year, but nonetheless a year that had Justin learning a lot about himself. He gets misquoted by the press. He then has the professionals getting annoyed at what seems his dismissal of their ability.
But he practises hard, plays a lot and learns to drink. Darts, it is that type of sport. It is also competitive and humiliating at all its levels. But as Justin rightly explains, it is in the end a very egalitarian sport. What other sport can offer the duffer the opportunity to play in tournaments with the world-class?
Recommended to those who like to dream.
Justin Irwin has written a marvellous story of a CEO giving it all away to play darts for a year with the goal to make the world champs. The book delves into lots of details of what sounded like a fun year, but nonetheless a year that had Justin learning a lot about himself. He gets misquoted by the press. He then has the professionals getting annoyed at what seems his dismissal of their ability.
But he practises hard, plays a lot and learns to drink. Darts, it is that type of sport. It is also competitive and humiliating at all its levels. But as Justin rightly explains, it is in the end a very egalitarian sport. What other sport can offer the duffer the opportunity to play in tournaments with the world-class?
Recommended to those who like to dream.
January 9, 2024
We all need a passion in our lives; that one thing that is of unique interest to you and provides that all important line across work and responsibilities. In my time, I've had acting, stand-up comedy, football, writing and, as is the subject of this book, darts. But Justin Irwin's Murder on the Darts Board (2008) is more than just a historic breakdown of the sport (yes, it is a sport!) but the true story of Irwin's decision to give up his day job and devote himself to darts for an entire year in the hope of qualifying for the world championships.
As is our style as a species, Irwin encountered a lot of negative press at the time, from dart professionals and the public alike, but I found his story to be both inspirational and entertaining and I believe that, within reason (the only person hurt in the process was Irwin himself with an painful incident where dart met face), people that chase their dreams should be applauded. Along the way, Irwin also makes excellent observations about the darts circuit, the culture and those who play it and it resonated with me quite deeply.
Irwin plays in the same singles darts league as I do (albeit at a higher level) and hope to share with him my thoughts in person some day. For the rest of you, I recommend this quite highly, darts fans or not.
As is our style as a species, Irwin encountered a lot of negative press at the time, from dart professionals and the public alike, but I found his story to be both inspirational and entertaining and I believe that, within reason (the only person hurt in the process was Irwin himself with an painful incident where dart met face), people that chase their dreams should be applauded. Along the way, Irwin also makes excellent observations about the darts circuit, the culture and those who play it and it resonated with me quite deeply.
Irwin plays in the same singles darts league as I do (albeit at a higher level) and hope to share with him my thoughts in person some day. For the rest of you, I recommend this quite highly, darts fans or not.
July 17, 2012
Brilliant book about a man giving up his job and trying to make it as a professional darts player. A great insight for anyone trying to make it in the Sport. A must read for all fans.
October 7, 2020
An excellent read!
After recently starting to play darts again after a 30 year hiatus, I found this book.
I absolutely loved it! The league nights, the tournament nerves, the 'sweet' spot of the correct number of pints, so many things that ring true for dartists across the country.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful adventure!
After recently starting to play darts again after a 30 year hiatus, I found this book.
I absolutely loved it! The league nights, the tournament nerves, the 'sweet' spot of the correct number of pints, so many things that ring true for dartists across the country.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful adventure!
July 3, 2024
I read this a while ago. The author attempts something that all aspiring darts players think about. To see how far they can get if they devote their all to the game. For a similar approach see Bring Me the Head of Sergio Garcia by Tom Cox in which that author takes on golf
August 4, 2020
Only for Darts fans!! We all wants to be Justin on their journey road to world cup. it's interesting knowing about the under pubs darts
May 4, 2013
An enjoyable man challenge in the vein of Dave Gorman and Danny Wallace. Irwin ditches his job to become a pro darts player - ruffling feathers and taking many beatings along the way. 'Doubles' as a good introduction to darts for the novice but despite only being published a few years ago already feels out of date as the darts boom continues.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews