CLAYTON: I’VE LOST MY NO1 FAN
22/12/2023 By Phil Lanning
JONNY CLAYTON has revealed the heartache behind his patchy form this winter.
The hugely-popular Welsh star has exited the last four TV majors in either the first or second rounds.
But off-the-oche Clayton has been grieving after losing his father John, aged 80, shortly after the World Matchplay in July.
The Ferret admits that he is struggling to deal with the loss on the eve of the Paddy Power World Championship.
He said: “Losing my dad has hit me hard, 100 per cent.
“I’m a family man. We were very close. It happened suddenly.
“He was just my biggest fan. He was my No.1.
“He was everything to me. In his eyes, I was everything to him.
“I miss him. It’s tough. You try to work through it but it’s difficult.
“I’m walking on stage with a heavy heart and my mind has just not been on darts.
“I don’t know how long I’m going to feel like this but I now know how Gerwyn Price and Joe Cullen felt when they lost close relatives. It’s a difficult time.”
Two years ago, Clayton won four majors; the Masters, Premier League, World Grand Prix and World Series of Darts Finals and each success was celebrated with his dad.
He faces Steve Lennon on Saturday afternoon at the Ally Pally and added: “My dad believed in sitting in front of the TV in peace and quiet, just watching the darts.
“He didn’t like the noise of the crowd. But he was probably swearing at the TV when I was playing!
“Win or lose, I’d always phone him straight afterwards and he would always say something daft.
“We were very close. A phone call every morning and night.
“Even though it’s my job, I need to get back to where I was.
“I need to get back to thinking about my job and not everything else but it’s difficult.
“Maybe it would be ideal to go and see somebody for counselling but I’m trying to soldier on.
“You say that you don’t overthink things but that is something you do think about.
“I will go up there and try to win a game of darts any way I can. The untidy way or the pretty way. But I’m just not the same.”
Images by Taylor Lanning.
