MADDISON REVEALS BEST FOOTBALLER AT DARTS

JAMES MADDISON admits Jamie Vardy was the GOAT of darts in the Leicester City dressing room.

The England playmaker revealed the Foxes had their own darts school during his time at the club, with a board travelling with them to away games and even European trips.

The midfielder says the standard at the oche was surprisingly high, with several team-mates capable of banging in big scores. 

Maddison, who now plays for Tottenham Hotspur, explained the players even had a favourite format that turned friendly games into fierce contests. 

He told the Double Tops podcast: “We had a good darts school actually. We take the board every away game, so like every week. 

“Obviously, we were in Europe as well, so we would get it up on the plane. It would always go with us. 

“The night before a game we would have a few chucks. 

“Micky van de Ven is pretty good. But at Leicester we had a high standard. Jamie Vardy is very good. 

“Jamie Vardy, Danny Ward, myself, Harvey Barnes, Luke Thomas and [Kiernan] Dewsbury Hall — we would all be playing. There would be 180s flying in. 

“We play a game called ‘Tactics’, commonly known as cricket. That was very popular because it was 2 v 2, so four players could play at once. 

“It got really serious. The standard was high at Leicester.” 

Maddison often marks his goals with a darts-themed gesture, pretending to throw an arrow at an imaginary board. 

The 29-year-old revealed the celebration has even caught the attention of two-time world champion Gary Anderson, who reached out to him after spotting it. 

He added: “The celebration started, I think I first did it six years ago now. I think it was lockdown. 

“It was around the World’s time. I think it was the game we played Newcastle away on New Year’s Day. And obviously, the night before we were battering the darts. 

“We won 2-0 and I scored. I think it might have been the World Final that night. 

“I thought I’d do a dart celebration. So, I used the line as my oche when I scored. 

“There I was rooting for Gary Anderson. I’m sure it was the Gezzy final. I just thought, I’m going to do a darts celebration. 

“I got a few interactions with a few darts players, which I was chuffed about at the time. 

“I had a few messages from darts players saying, ‘I love this cele,’ whatever. 

“I remember speaking to Gary Anderson, because I think I said in the interview after that, I wanted him to win. 

“So, I love Gary. I spoke to him and then I just took off from there and I started doing it more and more. And now it’s kind of become a bit of a staple for me.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.