Product Description

Phil "The Power" Taylor, Eric "The Crafty Cockney" Bristow, and Andy "The Viking" Fordham - to this great hall of fame, add another name: Justin Irwin - or, to give him his darts moniker: "The Bachelor of Darts". Justin Irwin used to have another moniker - that of the Director of England at the children's charity, ChildLine. However, in January 2005, he suddenly resigned, giving up his well-paid job in order to...play darts. His aim was simple: to qualify for the World Darts Championship in just one year. As a child, Justin had wanted to become a sports star. But as the sportsmen got younger, Justin realised in his mid-thirties he was old enough to be Wayne Rooney's father. Professional footballer was out the window. However, he remembered that in 1987 he once hit treble 20 - darts nirvana! Why couldn't he do that again, just on a more regular basis? And so began his journey. From playing with friends, he graduated to pub teams, moving on to Open Tournaments in Essex and Hampshire. From backroom bars to the glamour of the Novotel in Southampton, he learnt the difference between 'Double-in' and 'Double-Trouble'. Justin immersed himself completely in the darts community, getting to know the players, their wives and entourages, the strange rules and language, as well as earning himself the sobriquet of "The Bachelor of Darts" (so christened because he had that most unusual of attributes for a darts player - his Degree...). Until finally, in December 2005, he found himself playing to qualify for the Darts World Championship.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #82847 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Maxim Magazine, Feb 2008
"Brave, boozy banter for bedroom Bristows of all ages"

The Independent on Sunday, Sunday 13 January 2008
"Irwin chronicles his "journey to the heart of dartness" - and darkness, in the form of oceans of Guinness - with humour and perception. He may have been found wanting on the oche but he's hit the bull's-eye here."

About the Author
A former director of Childline, this is Justin's first book.

Customer Reviews

Murder on the darts board
I enjoyed this book a lot. As well as learning a lot about darts trivia and about both the pub & the pro darts scene, but there is also a lot of fond recognition in glimpsing an England that many remember from their childhood, that most think is gone now, but that does still exists in not-very-well-publicised places. Great to hear the stories of hard core language, unapologetic consumption of alcohol on a grand scale, and quaint mini-traditions of darts that are adhered to and adored. Some moments of true humour as well; Justin's descriptions of his middle classness and consequent feeling out of place in the world of darts yet then realising that this only bothers one person - himself - made me laugh out loud. The incident of a fellow player cracking open a lager can at 8.45am on the way to a tournament only to be followed by Justin opening his bottle of Benylin to cries of disgust from his fellow travellers was also funny, as was the story of his drunken hug (barely reciprocated, it seemed) with Keith Deller. I think that most 30something middle class men in England would relate to a lot on this book and I recommend it. A mate of mine who finished it before he did, rediscovered his darts and then threw a 160 checkout the next day playing a mate at work, so maybe the book will help your darts as well!

One word for this - magic darts
I met this guy when he played at a tournament in Southampton, and it turns out he writes much better than he plays darts. Parts of the book are genuinely funny - such as when he stabbed himself in the face with his dart - but what was more surprising was that this turned out to be quite a touching story about following your dream. I loved it.

Vaguely opaque to a yank, but a fun read nevertheless
Directed to this book by a UK friend due to my recreational interest in darts and my attraction to the stories of those striking out in new directions. Although I'm sure I had a blank stare during some of the cultural references that I don't have the background to understand, Justin's narrative is an interesting, leisurely read expounding on darts (and a bit of its professional history), class, instant celebrity (and its fallout), the media, and the traditional pub scene in Britain that I wish I'd experienced. Justin has an easy style and a fine wit that brought me along for a fun ride. I look forward to his next project, maybe something with granite.