NOBLE BREAKS SILENCE AFTER PDC RETIREMENT REVELATION

LEGENDARY referee George Noble revealed that a heartfelt desire to reclaim lost time with family was behind his decision to retire after the 2026 World Championship. 

‘The Puppy’ has officiated at many of the biggest tournaments over the last three decades. 

Noble made his first appearance on the big stage at Lakeside, calling every final there between 1995 and 2007.  

The 56-year-old joined the PDC in 2007 and had the honour of calling the first nine-darter in PDC World Championship history by Raymond van Barneveld against Jelle Klaasen at Ally Pally in 2009.   

But Noble revealed the grueling travel and constant time away from home has led him to hang up the mic.  

He explained: “Many aspects, really. 31 years I’ve been refereeing televised darts tournaments. I still enjoy it, but I’ve got quite a few other interests now.  

“My daughter is 21 now, I’ve missed 17 of her birthdays. I’ve now got grandchildren, and missed their birthdays, so it’s all about a little bit more quality of life. 

“I’m not retiring full time from everything. I wish I was, but I’m not, but it’s just the refereeing side and being away.  

“It’s the days you’re away and living in and out of hotels, on aeroplanes and things like that. 

“I’ve enjoyed my time doing it, but I’m getting on a bit, so I think it’s more of a younger person’s game nowadays. 

“The PDC have been great to me, they’ve been fantastic, but I think everyone runs their course of what they’ve done and I want to go out whilst I’m still capable of doing the job.” 

Noble has witnessed countless iconic moments on the oche — but singled out two of the most memorable matches he had the honour of officiating. 

He said: “There’s loads of matches, really. I say when I get asked this question a lot, the night Phil Taylor won the Premier League when he hit two nine-darters in one match.  

“I think it’s been done since, but on the floor, but never on live TV. He actually missed the eighth treble attempting a third one in the same match.  

“So that would probably be one of the highlights of the matches that stuck out.” 

He added: “I refereed a great game between Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor at the Grand Slam that broke the record for 180s.  

“There have been numerous big matches but they’re the ones that really stand out. There is more, but they’d probably be two of the biggest ones.” 

Noble says the emotion of his decision hasn’t fully hit home yet. 

He revealed: “I wouldn’t say it’s sinking in because I actually think it’s the correct decision. 

“So, have I stood on the stage at the O2 last week and thought: ‘This is the last time I’m going to be standing here?’  

“Maybe I did. But it wasn’t emotional — I just think it’s the correct decision. 

“Obviously I’m going to New York in a couple of weeks time for the World Series of Darts and then I’m on to Blackpool for the World Matchplay.  

“I’m not doing the Grand Slam in Wolverhampton and then I believe I’ve got the Players Championship Finals at Butlins Minehead and then onto the World’s and then that’s me.  

“So, who knows how I’ll feel? I don’t know!”

Image by Taylor Lanning.