Product Description

Eric Bristow MBE is considered to be the greatest darts player of all time and one who pioneered the game's move from the pub on to the nation's TV screens. He was an unmistakable figure on the oche during his 1980s heyday, with his trademark blonde highlights and red Crafty Cockney t-shirt, and became renowned not just for the number of world titles he won but for his arrogance on stage and off it. His autobiography is a candid account of his rise to the top and reveals his humble beginnings in London's East End, where gangs like the Richardsons ruled the streets through a mix of fear and torture. Eric would often walk home at night with a claw hammer stuffed down his pants for protection.Cat burglar, shoplifter, thug: Bristow was all of these during his early street-fighting years, but it was darts that proved to be his salvation, introducing him to a new world of beer, babes and undreamed of success. He won his first world title in 1980 and dominated the scene for the next decade, winning four more. In his rapid rise to the top he gives fascinating insights into the characters that pioneered darts in those early days and helped establish it as a major TV spectacle. Players like Jocky Wilson, a hard-drinking Scot who now lives his life penniless and as a recluse; John Lowe, the stoney-faced Englishman who was Bristow's main rival; Cliff Lazarenko, who Bristow one tried to match drink for drink and ended up with alcohol poisoning; and Keith Deller, the young upstart who caused the biggest upset in darts when, unseeded, he beat Bristow in the 1983 Embassy World Final.When Bristow's career finally began to slide at the end of the decade he trained his protege Phil 'The Power' Taylor, turning him into the most successful player darts has ever known. Bristow holds nothing back as he reveals his battle with dartitis, a psychological condition which left him unable to let go of the dart and almost destroyed his career; his relationship with girlfriend and former women's world darts champion Maureen Flowers; and, his occasional all-to-public falls from grace. Bristow's life story is a thrill-a-minute ride through the raucous world of darts and how it has helped to shape and drive his life over the past forty years.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #138910 in Books
• Published on: 2008-12-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 344 pages

From the Inside Flap
ERIC BRISTOW MBE is considered to be the greatest darts player of all time and one who pioneered the game’s move from the pub on to the nation’s TV screens. He was an unmistakable figure on the oche during his 1980s heyday, with his trademark blonde highlights and red Crafty Cockney t-shirt, and became renowned not just for the number of world titles he won but for his arrogance on stage and off it.

His autobiography is a candid account of his rise to the top and reveals his humble beginnings in London’s East End, where gangs like the Richardsons ruled the streets through a mix of fear and torture. Eric would often walk home at night with a claw hammer stuffed down his pants for protection. Cat burglar, shoplifter, thug: Bristow was all of these during his early street-fighting years, but it was darts that proved to be his salvation, introducing him to a new world of beer, babes and undreamed of success.

He won his first world title in 1980 and dominated the scene for the next decade, winning four more. In his rapid rise to the top he gives fascinating insights into the characters that pioneered darts in those early days and helped establish it as a major TV spectacle. Players like Jocky Wilson, a hard-drinking Scot who now lives his life penniless and as a recluse; John Lowe, the stoney-faced Englishman who was Bristow’s main rival; Cliff Lazarenko, who Bristow one tried to match drink for drink and ended up with alcohol poisoning; and Keith Deller, the young upstart who caused the biggest upset in darts when, unseeded, he beat Bristow in the 1983 Embassy World Final. When Bristow’s career finally began to slide at the end of the decade he trained his protégé Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, turning him into the most successful player darts has ever known.

Bristow holds nothing back as he reveals his battle with dartitis, a psychological condition which left him unable to let go of the dart and almost destroyed his career; his relationship with girlfriend and former women’s world darts champion Maureen Flowers; and his occasional all-to-public falls from grace.

Bristow’s life story is a thrill-a-minute ride through the raucous world of darts and how it has helped to shape and drive his life over the past forty years.

About the Author
ERIC BRISTOW MBE was the most successful darts player of the 1980s and single-handedly turned the game into a worldwide spectator sport. He won five World Championships between 1980 and 1986, five World Masters, and has won almost every tournament in the game at least once. Between 1980 and 1987 he reigned as number one in the world and in 1989 was given an MBE for his services to the sport. He currently works as a pundit and commentator for Sky Sports and tours Britain with other famous darts names such as John Lowe as part of the Legends Tour. PAUL CARTER began his career in journalism in 1990 at the Oldham Advertiser. He has worked as a sports reporter for the Sunday Times, feature writer for the Sun and also at Sky News. In 1996 Paul joined Sport Newspapers and was made editor of the Sunday Sport in 2001. He quit in September 2007 to pursue a career as a writer. Paul has had one other book published in 2006, Behind Palace Doors, the story of the Queen Mother as told through the eyes of her equerry Major Colin Burgess.

Customer Reviews

Politically Incorrect


From the very first line, "You play like a poof" to the conclusion that "the way I've lived my life I should have been gone long ago" it's clear that Eric Bristow's autobiography is not aimed at the politically correct market. In between Bristow seems to have adopted the simple philosophy of the Schuyler and Knobloch song, "Life's a Bitch And Then You Die".

Autobiographies are supposed to be about the person and this one is. Bristow comes across as self centred but easy going, unless roused, with an untapped intelligence which prevents him from looking beneath the veneer of life. He had enough nous to find a girl friend with less interest in drinking than himself but not enough wisdom to consider reducing the drinking itself.

Bristow's commitment and dedication to darts cost him relationships and his marriage, on each occasion the women in his life wanting more from life than darts. Although he admits his divorce is his biggest regret he hasn't let such an inconvenience interfere with the lifestyle he has chosen for himself.

Bristow's talent for darts probably saved him from a life of crime. The buzz he got from doing things wrong and getting in trouble with the law was replaced by the rush he got from playing darts. It helped that he was naturally good with the arrows - and the maths - but it never completely took the irresponsible edge off his lifestyle. It wasn't only the darts Bristow landed in the beds.

The smoky boozing atmosphere of darts in the 1970's and 1980's, both on and off the stage, suited Bristow and he admits to preferring those days to the sanitised twentyfirst century version. According to Bristow's account he burned the candle at both ends and in the middle as well. The lessons of Leighton Rees's early death and Jocky Wilson's decline into alcoholic obscurity went over his head. His mother's death from cancer made no impact on his smoking habits although he admits smoking and drinking is not a healthy mix.

Bristow knows what it takes to be successful in any sphere of life correctly identifying professionalism in terms of commitment and dedication. Beaten unexpectedly by the slow playing style of American Conrad Daniels in the 1978 World Championship he promptly went round the leagues taking on all the slow players he could find. Unfortunately the desire for perfection may have given him the yips that finally finished his career.

What he clearly doesn't understand is that life is best lived in balance rather than in focus. The reason he inadvertently causes trouble is because of the disrespect he has for other people. Of course this had its funny moments. When he turned around in breach of protocol having received his MBE he quickly corrected himself with the words, "Sorry Darling'" to the Queen. Similarly when he said to a good looking women, "Excuse me, darling, will you ask Mohammad Ali for his autograph for me? Cheers love" he put her curt response down to attitude until he discovered she was Princess Caroline of Monaco.

When Bristow began in darts it was a working class pastime in an environment of suppressed working class violence. The alcohol fueled settings may have changed but the atmosphere hasn't. Bristow is inordinately proud of his achievements but gives too little thought to how things appear to those who do not share his love of darts or its people. He knows the torch has moved on to the next generation but he's satisfied with knowing that he's done it his way and he doesn't give a toss about anyone who doesn't approve.

The book was an interesting read and gives an insight into a strand of British culture which is too often overlooked. It does capture Bristow's personality and I'm sure there are many who will identify with his background and attitude, which is why it's received five stars.

Double Top!
This is a fantastic read and a great behind the scenes insight into the crazy world of darts.
Bristow is a genius story-teller whose anecdotes are peppered with wit and hilarity.
The stories involving legends of darts such as Jocky Wilson, Cliff Lazarenko and Keith Deller have to be read to be believed.
From the moment I picked it up I couldn't put it down. It was a thrilling read and Bristow really has had a rollercoaster ride of a life.
I can thoroughly recommend this to every fan of darts and even those not familiar with the sport will find the stories and tales quite absorbing.
What a great book.

What A Life This Guy Has Had!!
Before reading this I always had a negative opinion of Eric Bristow, mainly due to his almost arrogant on screen persona. Although his arrogance has not diminished in my eyes, I now have nothing but admiration for the guy; mainly due to his colossal ability on the oche, and to a lesser extent his ability in the bar, though compared to some of the players in this book he's a lightweight!!

Put simply, if you're anyway into darts and remember the heady days of the 80's when the players drank & smoked their way through some of the greatest games that the game has witnessed; and if you'd like a bit of background on the debauchery & superb anecdotes that went on behind the scenes, then buy this book.

Eric, you're a legend!