jamie clark

By Phil Lanning

JAMIE CLARK admits that English fans chanting “Scotland get battered everywhere they go” fired him up to get a PDC Tour Card.

The Fife flinger delivered a solid Q-School week of performances to make it into the big time elite of the sport. 

Clark, 25, is in the same Scottish management stable as Gary Anderson under the stewardship of Tommy Gilmour. Now he wants to follow his idol Ando to the very top of the oche and play at the Ally Pally.

He revealed: “It was in my head for a week after the Worlds, the fans singing ‘Scotland get battered everywhere they go’.

“Fortunately that’s not the case. I definitely used that as a motivation. But I definitely wouldn’t want to be on the stage when they are singing that. It would add a bit more nerves and pressure. 

“Gary has always been my inspiration, even before I played. I used to watch him on the telly all the time. I’m now in the same management as Gary, it doesn’t feel real to be honest. It feels like a blur.

“It’s so good to have Tommy Gilmour as a manager along with his daughter Stephanie. They are only a phone call away from advice. If it wasn’t for Tommy I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.

“Hopefully I’ll draw Gary in my first ProTour, fate can work like that. I played him in an exhibition and beat him, so he’ll want revenge!”

Clark also knows he’s in good company on the tour with Scottish players now so successful, especially during the recent Worlds. 

He said: “It’s not sunk in, not at all. It might take a few more days I think.

“To be fair, you have to have the right mindset. In previous years, I wouldn’t say I wasn’t ready, but maybe not mentally ready.

“In darts your mind has always got to be right. But this year I felt I was stronger in mind. 

“I’ve got to try and ride the wave and get to all the Players’ Championships and then hopefully the Worlds. Hopefully it will be a good year.

“I get on really well with Alan (Soutar), he’s only half an hour away in the car. He showed what can be done and I have to look up to him. He’s done it and I think that’s what has made me focus.

“I know that he can do it now and there’s no reason why I can’t either. 

“I’m always going to be in good company. I’ll always have people around me to have a chat with some good advice. 

“There’s no better advice than having two World Champions in Gary and Peter on the tour.”

Clark also revealed he will have to find a new schedule for practice along with looking after his four kids – all under the age of six!

He added: “The Ally Pally crowd has nothing on the noise in my house.

“My missus works in a cafe but we’ve got four kids, so it’s balancing schooling along with an eight-month old baby. It’s quite a thing to juggle with darts!

“The kids are six, five, two and eight months. I just practice when I can. But I play on Monday and Friday so that keeps the arm in. Obviously I’ll have to up the practice more now to challenge the big boys.”