Luke Littler opens up about his pride in being a Warringtonian

IT’S throwing it down outside and while it’s only mid-afternoon, the darkness has long since drawn in.

Fittingly, the weather took a distinctly Warringtonian turn on the day we were invited to meet the teenager who has become our town’s biggest sporting star.

While Luke Littler may have been a regular on our sports pages long before his phenomenal breakthrough, this was to be our first sit-down with the darting phenom since he hit superstardom.

Those visiting The Village Hotel on Centre Park on Thursday afternoon must have been mystified as to the scene and if they peered through the growing crowd of photographers and on-lookers, they would have seen the local hero opening a new darts section in the hotel’s sports bar with the help of Warrington Wolves stars Ben Currie and Danny Walker.

Luke Littler with Warrington Wolves stars Ben Currie and Danny Walker (Image: Dave Gillespie) As he’s ushered through said crowd to meet us in a quieter corner of the bar, however, we’re greeted like old friends by arguably the nation’s most recognisable sporting youngster.

He asks us about the latest updates in the heartbreaking Brianna Ghey case, and recalls fondly the recent Warrington Town football match he took in.

Clearly, Littler is happiest when home.

“It’s always good to have a bit of a break at home,” he tells us.

“It’s been mental, but it’s good to be home with the family and going out with my friends.

“Then when the time comes, it’s back to work.

“With the Worlds around the corner, there’s a lot of media to do and plenty of people to speak to but it’s all part of it.”

Littler in conversation with Warrington Guardian sports reporter Matt Turner (Image: Dave Gillespie) As the 17-year-old Padgate lad alludes to, this is his sport’s most wonderful time of the year – “Merry Darts-mas” as the saying goes.

The World Championships at the iconic Alexandra Palace are a little over a week away, with Littler’s first game coming on December 21 in the second round against either Ryan Meikle or Ally Pally history-maker Fallon Sherrock.

The fact he is among those to go straight through the opening stages is off the back of an extraordinary first year as a senior professional that showed the run to last year’s Worlds final where he eventually succumbed to world number one Luke Humphries was no fluke.

It was a run that saw him go from a name unknown outside of those with knowledge of the sport – and, of course, his hometown where whispers of his prodigious talent have been doing the rounds for years – to a national sporting icon pretty much overnight.

That, of course, means media commitments. And lots of them. Our interview, we are told, is to be his last before he dedicates this period of time off – perhaps the longest he has been able to spend at home this year – to practice and recharging.

Luke Littler captured the nation's hearts by reaching the World Darts Championship final earlier this year on his debut at the age of just 16 (Image: PA Wire) “It’s about balancing it out,” he says.

“There have been a lot of media commitments, but I had to make time to practice, and also to see my friends and family and play a bit of Xbox.

“Doing this is what I love – there’s been a bit of media and then an exhibition but after that, it’s chilling out until the 20th.”

Clearly, he is grateful for this quieter period.

Darts’ most in-demand star has featured in 55 separate events during this calendar year all over the world, encompassing all 18 nights of the invitational PDC Premier League – which, of course, he won – as well as the other major ranking events, ProTour, EuroTour and World Series tournaments.

At its peak during the spring, it meant for an incredibly demanding schedule.

“That period was the toughest,” he admits.

“When the Premier League was on, that would be a late finish on a Thursday then you’d be up at four or five in the morning to catch a flight to Europe.

“It was certainly tough but I pulled through it, won the Premier League and then at this back end of the year, it’s been a lot more chilled out.”

Having been invited to compete in this year's PDC Premier League, Littler dominated the competition to take home the trophy (Image: PA Wire) There were concerns about the toll such a busy schedule would take on such a young man, but he has proved them to be unfounded.

Ten titles won and £1million of prize money earnt during the year, including a first major ranking crown at the Grand Slam of Darts last month, have elevated him to world number four and status as the bookies’ favourite for the World Championships.

What it has meant, however, is that time spent on the local darts scene he still loves playing on has been limited.

As we talk, however, he raised the prospect of dropping in on his “Bogey Flickers” team for their Runcorn Darts League game against Beechwood Cavaliers. Naturally, they won.

He has also been known to turn out for the Tavern Sports Bar on Church Street.

It is a scene that moulded him and one he credits with keeping him as grounded as he is.

“I’ve not had chance to play much around here but I enjoy going back to it,” he says.

“My brother still plays for the Tavern team, my Thursday team have got a game tonight in Runcorn so I might go and see the lads.

“I do still love going down – it’s not just for myself but it shows people that I’m still a normal person despite everything that’s happened this year.

“I’ll still do the little things that people might not expect me to do.

“There’s all sorts of memories coming up on Facebook from five or six years ago, of me being in finals of Saturday and Sunday comps.

“Playing in those kinds of competitions around town really helped me out. I’ve been winning since a young age and now I’m winning at a slightly older age.”

Last month's Grand Slam of Darts - his first major ranking title - was the last of Littler's 10 tournament wins this year (Image: Kieran Cleeves/PDC) Life has clearly changed immeasurably for this humble Warrington lad – his success has brought new fans, new responsibilities and a new house in a quieter part of town for him and his family including parents Antony and Lisa, who remain steadfast rocks of support for him.

And what is clear is that our town can count on its new most famous son to continue flying the flag and being one of their own.

“I’ve moved house to Appleton – I didn’t want to move too far,” he said.

“I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t more than half an hour away from my friends or take my Mum and Dad too far away from their parents.

“It’s good to still be local, even if it’s a little more out of the way.

“There’s been a lot of support from Warrington Wolves – I know all of the lads are into it and it’s good to see them.

“For myself, they’re big achievements and then people will have a look at where I’ve come from.

“We’re not the biggest place but we’ve got a cracking rugby team in Warrington Wolves, and a cracking football team in Warrington Town – even though Town aren’t doing too well of late, they’ll be back up there. I’ll always go and watch both whenever I can.

“Having that support from my hometown is massive. You always want support on the road but it’s great to come home.”

Should all go to plan, Littler will be back in Warrington for Christmas with his place in the later stages of the World Championships safely booked.

After that, the great hope of all of us is that his next return is with the Sid Waddell Trophy in tow for what would be the biggest of Warrington welcomes.

(Image: Dave Gillespie)