PRICE: I’D DO IT AGAIN!
11/12/2023 By Phil Lanning
GERWYN PRICE insists he would wear ear defenders again to block out the haters.
The 2021 world champ caused a storm last year when he put on earphones to drown out the crowd noise in his quarter-final defeat to Gabriel Clemens.
The PDC have since banned the use of headgear but he says they didn’t even work anyway!
However one positive side-effect of his unusual tactic was the fact mums with autistic kids got in touch with him to say thank you.
The Iceman, 38, had had enough of the Ally Pally fans’ abuse and he put on the wacky headgear for one set of his 5-1 loss.
Price says he had been contacted online by parents that use them for their autistic kids, who might be sensitive to loud noises in public spaces.
The World No.5 said: “It’s something I’d do again it was proving a point that it shouldn’t happen on that stage but I did what I did.
“I can’t do it again because they are banned now. The PDC said no more headphones.
“I actually wanted to do a walk-on wearing them and with a hi-vis top and glow sticks then take them off to play but the PDC wouldn’t know which way it would go. I don’t know.
“But don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret it footballers lead out mascots with autism wearing headphones.
“And I had so many messages off parents with autistic kids who absolutely loved it.
“There were obviously more negatives than positives but if there were one or two positives to come out of it, happy days. It is what it is.
“I would do exactly the same thing again, but did it block out the crowd?
“No if anything, it was ten times worse. But I was just trying to prove a point.”
Though he has lost in four TV finals this year – including in the finales of the Premier League and World Grand Prix – the highlight of 2023 was retaining the World Cup of Darts for Wales alongside Jonny Clayton.
Meanwhile, Price is hugely impressed by Beau Greaves.
The Doncaster ace, 19, made it back-to-back women’s World Darts Championship titles at Frimley Green on Sunday.
It came on the back of last month’s superb show at the Grand Slam.
He added: “Beau’s a fantastic player. I think she is doing everything right.
“I think she knows where her game is at the minute. She isn’t jumping too far ahead.
“She isn’t competing at the PDC World Championship. She wants to go her own route, which is right for her.
“She is good enough to go deep in our tournament but realistically winning it? I would say probably no.
“Maybe when she is a bit more experienced. On a given day she can beat anyone.
“When you play the likes of Beau or Fallon Sherrock, the crowd are on your back, obviously they will get the support off everyone. Those are difficult games to play in.”
Images by Taylor Lanning.
