Fireman Soots admits work is hard juggle

By Phil Lanning

SCOTS sensational Alan Soutar admits being a full-time fireman and red-hot oche ace is a juggling act.

The Angus star roared up to 85th in the world after just a fortnight in the PDC with a brilliant run to the last 16 of the Ladbrokes UK Open. 

Soots, 43, eventually went down narrowly 10-8 to World Championship semi-finalist Dave Chisnall but is delighted with his start to life in the PDC.

He admitted: “I’m still finding my feet a little bit. I’ve known a lot of the guys a long time. It’s sinking in but the travelling is a reality check.

“I’m back in the Super Series next Monday but before that I’ve got to do four shifts at work. It’s pretty manic but we’ll just have to juggle it and see how we get on.

“If you told me in December this would be me up to 85th in the world rankings already I can’t ever be disappointed with that.

“I’m just the kind of person who doesn’t like to lose and also want to prepare myself properly.

This is only the start. We want to be in the elite group of players. I’ll keep pushing and practicing and try to go higher.

“I have two goals now, to make the top 64 after two years. It’s a modest target. The second is to qualify for the Ally Pally World Championship.”

Soutar had KO’d legend Raymond van Barneveld, Mickey Mansell, Stephen Bunting and Ron Meulenkamp before his Chizzy exit.

He added: “I always look back and analyse games and I was 8-6 up and didn’t perform in the last few legs. 

“Chizzy did play well in the last four legs, I’m disappointed but it was a good run.

“I think maybe it was finishing line syndrome, maybe thinking too much that “you’ve got a chance’, just thinking I’ve got to get two legs to win.

“Obviously for whatever reason the wheels just fell off. It’s something to think about, something to practice. On the big occasions I need to know how to close the big games out.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.