RAMSDALE OPENS UP ON ENGLAND DARTS SHOWDOWN WITH LITTLER
21/05/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
AARON RAMSDALE has revealed his heart was “through the roof” after winning a darts showdown to earn the chance to face Luke Littler.
World No.1 Littler visited St George’s Park in March ahead of England’s friendly double-header against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley.
The Newcastle goalkeeper beat Phil Foden in the inaugural Three Lions Darts Championship before stepping up to take on The Nuke himself.
Ramsdale admitted the pressure got to him after pinning double 10 to seal victory over Foden and set up the showdown with Littler.
He told the Double Tops Podcast: “No, but so obviously to play Luke, it was a match, whoever won got to play Luke.
“So, I played Phil Foden and then I’ve checked out, I had 42 left, it too went low on Tops and I hit double 10 first dart.
“I went gwaaarn. I wish I’d have gone for it a bit more.
“But I sat next to John Stones, I was like, feel my heart and you see on the video, he feels it and he just starts laughing his head off.
“So, my heart rate was through the roof, my adrenaline was through the roof and then they asked me to try and throw darts against Luke Littler. I was like, I got no chance.”
Ramsdale also opened up on his own struggles at the oche despite finally hitting his first 180 earlier this year.
He added: “I’ve only got one and it came this year.
“I really struggled with like mental blockage. That’s what Luke said to me.
“So, when he came in, I was hitting like one and then, or I remember hitting two on that night.
“Then the last one was like a wild one or a wild five.”
Ramsdale laughed while recalling his first ever visit to Ally Pally during Littler’s maiden World Championship triumph.
He continued: “I did the Worlds semi-final, Littler the first time he won it.
“I don’t remember too much. I just remember seeing myself on Sky a day later, just falling over the thing, hugging Luke, never really met him before.
“I’d spoke to him. We played obviously pro clubs against Ginge and stuff like that.
“If you actually see footage, it looks like we’re best mates. We definitely weren’t.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
