TAYLOR CHARGED NEIGHBOURS £5 TO SEE HIS SHOWER!

PHIL TAYLOR revealed he once charged his neighbours a fiver to have a look at his SHOWER after his first taste of darts prize money.

The 16-time world champion admitted money was his main motivation in the early days, before his career exploded into one of the greatest in sporting history.

The Power recalled how his first tournament win saw him pocket £500, which he used to splash out on a luxury power shower.

And it quickly turned into a local attraction. 

He told the Double Tops Podcast: “Money was my motivation in the beginning, because obviously I ain’t got no money.

“Then the first time I won, I think it was £500, I bought a shower from British Gas. Nobody had a shower. 

“So, I had this power shower, which you press the button, it’s enormous. The whole street were knocking.

“‘Phil, can I have a look at your shower?’ Yeah, come in, I was dead, thank you.”

Presenter JaackMaate then joked that Taylor should have charged people £5 for a look at the shower. 

Taylor replied: “I did! It’s great. £500, that was a lot of money then. And then when I won the worlds, the first one, it was £24,000. 

“And my neighbours again were knocking on, ‘Phil, can we have a look at that money? I’ve never seen £24,000.’ I said, ‘I haven’t got it, it’s in the bank, it’s a cheque.’

“He thought they’d give me a suitcase full of money, like I was a bank robber or something, it was brilliant. I said, ‘I haven’t got it.’” 

The legendary Stoke thrower also revealed the relentless, no-nonsense mentality that drove his success on the oche, opening up on the tough upbringing and mindset instilled by his parents. 

He added: “Well, my dad with my mother, I mean, if I’d have said I got mental health, she’d have said, are you a man or a mouse? Get on with it. 

“Yeah, suck it up and get on with it. You’ve got a family to look after. 

“You couldn’t lie in bed either. When I was working, I was working seven days a week. 

“If I said to my mother, she did it once, it only happens once. Get up. I’m up and I’m banging my foot on the ceiling. 

“You’re banging your foot again, you little swine. Get up. The next thing you know, bucket of water. 

“My dad’s forte was, right, you’ve won that, put the trophy over there, get ready for your next one. Because you’re only as good as your next tournament. 

“If you win the world championship and then you’re playing a players and get beat, you’re going to be plastered.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.