ASPINALL: “I LITERALLY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR A TRAIN”

By Aaron Nijjar 

NATHAN ASPINALL has opened up about his journey from aspiring footballer to Major-winning darts star and revealed how financial struggles almost led him to quit the sport in 2018.  

The Stockport thrower has established himself as one of the PDC’s biggest stars, winning multiple titles, including five Players Championships, the UK Open and World Matchplay.

Before making a name for himself on the oche, Aspinall initially pursued a career in football and was part of Manchester United’s academy as a goalkeeper.  

Speaking on the Tops & Tales podcast with Huw Ware, Aspinall opened up on his time as an ex-footballer. He said: “My dad used to take me to private goalkeeper training on a Saturday. On a Sunday, I trained with my team. Tuesday, Thursday, played games. 

“And then obviously I got scouted. I was at the United Academy, then got released and did trials with different clubs. I thought I was good enough at the time with the other keepers that were around me, but the problem I had against me was my height.”

He added: “So even though I’m six foot now, and when anyone ever meets me, they go, ‘You’re a lot bigger than I thought you’d be.’ I was quite small when I was like 14, 15. 

“No one would offer me a contract because of my height, because obviously goalkeepers predominantly are tall. And then, when it kind of came to the end, I had the biggest growth spurt you’ve ever seen in your life.” 

With his football dreams dashed, Aspinall turned his focus to darts – but his early years in the sport were far from easy.  

‘The Asp’ initially earned his PDC Tour Card in 2015, but after failing to make an impact at the highest level, he lost it at the end of 2016. 

Over the next two years, he struggled to make ends meet, playing on the Challenge Tour and competing in Q-School to regain his professional status.  

By 2018, Aspinall was considering walking away from professional darts altogether.  

World No.11 Aspinall said: “So what happened was in September, I was on holiday, and I had a tournament in Barnsley, Metrodome.  

“And I phoned my manager the day before and said, ‘Mate, I can’t go. I’ve got 20 quid. I haven’t got enough money to get there, let alone have a drink and food and this, that and the other. I’m not going.’  

“I said, ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done, but it isn’t for me. I’m not good enough.’ So this was September 2018.” 

At that moment, his manager, Martin, stepped in and changed everything.  

Aspinall admitted: “Next minute, I get a bank transfer for £3,000. Martin, so he’s in Greece and all, living his best life, him, with all the money he’s made from his other business. 

“So just casually chucking £3,000 my way. Just like, ‘Yeah, I’ve sent you three grand.’ He’s like, ‘Mate, don’t worry about money. I’ve got your back. Go and do what I know you can do.’ 

“I turned up to Barnsley, played Ryan Searle and got beat in the first round. I was like, ‘Jesus, I knew I shouldn’t have come.’ 

“Anyway, day after I beat Ryan Searle in the final of the Pro Tour and I won the tournament. So there’s the happy ending. And I won £10,000.” 

He added: “In that year, I made the semi-final of the Worlds—£100,000, won the UK Open two months later—£100,000, won Vegas—which was £25,000.

“So then in six months, I could have won the best part of a quarter of a million quid. Whereas six months prior, I literally didn’t have enough money for a train.” 

Aspinall returns to action today on the ProTour at the Players Championship 4 in Rosmalen, Netherlands.

Image by Taylor Lanning.