Anderson will play on to keep “upsetting people”
By Phil Lanning
GARY ANDERSON has vowed to keep on playing as long as he can keep “upsetting people”.
The two-time World Champion admits that he was thinking of hanging up the arrows until he had a spat with Sky Sports pundits Wayne Mardle and Rod Harrington at the Ally Pally last December.
Ando called Mardle a “numpty” after the former player criticised the Scot over the ‘Tablegate’ incident with Mensur Suljovic.
Now that has spurred Anderson to stay on the oche for a few more years. Talking of retirement, he admitted: “I was hoping to do it soon but Mardle piped up didn’t he. I have kind of wind down a bit, I think it’s just because of the mess we’ve been in over the last 12 months. As long as I can keep upsetting people, I’ll keep playing.”
Anderson will be back playing on Monday in the Super Series in Milton Keynes after a low-key Premier League campaign.
But he also revealed that his ‘Flying Scotsman’ nickname came from Dartan Army idol Jocky Wilson.
He added: “I think the PDC came up with it. I never met Jocky because I think he was called The Flying Scotsman as well so he kind of handed it over to me. I can remember my dad watching Jocky on the telly, it was when Keith (Deller) beat Eric (Bristow).
“I think that was the only time I sat and watched a game of darts and I wasn’t really into it.
“And it’s a train so I don’t know why Sky always puts an aeroplane in it, it’s got nothing to do with Top Gun.”
Anderson, 50, has also vowed not to get another tattoo although he was tempted to recently.
He said: “I never got a tattoo until I was well into my 30’s and then I got about 13 in my first year. I was actually thinking the other week about getting another but too old now I think.”
His old foe Gerwyn Price returns to the oche next week after a three-month absence, but he added: “I wouldn’t say we’re the best of mates. He wouldn’t send me a Christmas card and I wouldn’t send him one. At the end of the day, we’re players.”
Images by Taylor Lanning.