MANBY BACK ON THE BRICKS

CHARLIE MANBY has gone straight back to work on the building site just days after pocketing a career-changing £60,000 payday.

‘Champagne Charlie’ reached the fourth round of the World Championship before falling to Ally Pally finalist Gian van Veen.

The 20-year-old is a freelance bricklayer and has stayed grounded, already on the graft early in January.

Manby reflected on his experience under the lights and his day job away from the oche.

He told ITV News: “It was a bit surreal to start with, then game by game I felt a lot more comfortable.

“I was very nervous at the start but I got used to it.

“It was a great feeling and the crowd were always on my side which is always a good thing.

“There was 4,000 people shouting my name. It’s a great feeling.

“For the past three years I have been doing this job it has been my main income and I actually enjoy it.

“It’s a good laugh on the site and you are getting a good weeks wage at the end of it as well.

“You’ve always got something to fall back on if the darts doesn’t go your way.”

World No81 Manby is now set to treat himself after the Worlds, with plans to splash his winnings on a few flashy items.

He added: “I need a new car, so probably look at one of them and maybe a watch.”

Sam Booth, Charlie’s boss on site, heaped praise on the Huddersfield thrower’s positive .

He continued: “He’s just a character. He’s that guy who brings a smile to everybody’s face.

“When things might be getting a bit tough, he will be there making everybody laugh. That is what he is like. Just a good all-round guy.”

When asked whether Manby was better at darts or laying bricks, Booth quipped, “That’s a good question. I’d say darts—he’s still got a bit of work to do.”

Manby is currently competing at Q-School as he aims to earn a two-year spot on the PDC tour.

Image by Taylor Lanning.