sportskeeda
Whether it’s Ali G and Super Mario costumes or fans showing up as fried eggs, Smurfs, and traffic cones, the fancy dress at dart tournaments always brings a smile.
The fun continues this Friday at the PDC World Darts Championship final taking place at Alexandra Palace in North London.
8
8
A substantial part of the entertainment can be credited to one person—the oche legend Bobby George. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was as famous for his extravagant outfits as he was for his darts skill.
His unique flair, including a cape and sequins while entering to Queen’s “We Are The Champions,” set a precedent that encouraged fans to embrace similarly wild costumes.
At 79 years old, Bobby features in the new Sky Documentaries series, Dart Kings, which delves into the legends of the sport and premieres on Saturday.
He considers the pivotal moment in darts history to be the 1980 Embassy World Darts Championship final against Eric “The Crafty Cockney” Bristow.
Wearing a sequined shirt, Bobby made headlines when officials handed him a candelabra to hold—a nod to the legendary performer Liberace, who was known for using one in his shows.
He shared with The Sun: “I thought, if I dress up more—more than just a T-shirt—people would never forget me.
“People would say, ‘Did you see that Bobby George and his ridiculous outfit last night?’.
Fist pumps
“I came out with the candelabra, and the crowd lit their lighters.
“Later, I added the cape and the entrance music.”
While walk-on music is now a staple in darts, the fashion has become notably more reserved compared to Bobby’s eye-catching style, which continues to inspire the fans’ extravagant dress.
Nathan Aspinall vows to ‘prove you lot wrong’ against Luke Littler in World Championship tie
He adds: “Today, darts would not be what it is without walk-on music. But it took guts to dress like I did back in the day.”
Bobby was no stranger to victory, having won many notable tournaments and reaching the World Championship finals in both 1980—where he lost to Bristow—and in 1994.
What set him apart from many others in the sport was not only his achievements but also his lifestyle.
He didn’t partake in heavy drinking like many of his compatriots and instead maintained a physique resembling that of a bodybuilder, along with matinee idol looks.
These traits made him a well-known figure beyond the darting arena, frequently appearing on television talk shows and even starring in BBC’s reality series, The Real Marigold Hotel.
Having achieved considerable success, Bobby now lives in a lavish 17-room mansion in Colchester, Essex, which is set on 12 acres and features a fishing lake.
However, before attaining fame and wealth through his darts career, Bobby took on various jobs, including nightclub bouncer, floor layer, and builder, even assisting with tunneling for the London Underground’s Victoria Line during the 1960s.
Before turning professional, he found his stride in pubs and clubs, and he now argues that today’s players have it somewhat easier.
They have security detail to protect them from fans and are even banned from having pints at the oche.
Bobby remarks: “The current players are sheltered.
“They have constant support and protection. You can’t mingle with the crowd. To meet them requires a paid meet-and-greet.
“You can’t even step outside for a smoke with them; it’s against the rules.
“When I was performing, I had security around me.
“And they don’t drink while wearing their darts shirts—they’ve cleaned all that up.”
Bobby, who was raised in Newham, East London, faced numerous challenges early in life—losing his mother at three and having a blind father. He took various labor-intensive jobs until he discovered his talent for darts at age 30.
His interest sparked during a fishing expedition off the Irish coast near Cork when bad weather forced him to find a different way to pass the time.
A friend named Malcolm suggested a game of darts at a nearby pub, and to his surprise, Bobby quickly showed extraordinary skill as a newcomer.
He reflects: “Malcolm encouraged me, saying, ‘You should take this up—you’re better than me, and I’ve been playing for 16 years.’ I thought, ‘This is easy’. We played nonstop—people came from various pubs to join us, and they all bought me drinks. I thought, ‘What a fantastic game this is’.”
8
8
Prior to that, Bobby had little interest in darts, considering it too unmanly.
However, he suspects that his early experience with throwing knives at targets helped him adapt quickly to the game of darts.
He clarifies: “I didn’t throw knives at anyone; I just aimed at a target.” Yet, within just a few years of going professional, he was accumulating wealth.
Aspiring superstar
In 1979, he achieved victory at the esteemed News of the World tournament—recognized as the UK’s first nationally aired darts event on ITV from 1972 to 1985, which returned in 1987 and 1988—as the first player to capture a major title without losing a single leg.
Today, he is noted among the greatest players who have never bagged a world championship title, having come close on two occasions.
From an early age, he was close friends with fellow East Londoner Bristow, often providing rides for the young prodigy to matches when he was too young to drive himself.
As their careers soared, their matches were as electrifying as Bobby’s flamboyant outfits—especially memorable during the legendary 1980 final.
They would energize each other with fist pumps after successful shots.
Bobby reminisces: “We truly entertained out there—both of us.”
Eric, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 60, often stirred up animosity among players with his self-assured demeanor.
Bobby recalls: “He was a cocky little git. He could be a bit rude, but he really knew how to play the game.”
Unfortunately for Bobby, Eric was often at his prime, particularly during the 1980 final where he secured a remarkable prize of £4,500, now valued at around £20,000, and planted a kiss on Bobby’s cheek at the match’s conclusion.
Yet underneath Eric’s brash exterior was a player who struggled with the sport’s intensity.
He once experienced “dartitis,” a condition causing jitters, and would sometimes get emotional during wins.
Bobby jokes: “He was a bit of a baby, wasn’t he? What would he have done had he lost?”
The debut episode of the three-part series Dart Kings will highlight world champion Eric.
He undoubtedly ranks as one of the sport’s legends, but during a landmark BBC broadcast viewed by eight million in 1983, he faced an unexpected defeat against qualifier Keith Deller in the BDO World Championship final.
The underdog Deller, aged 23, commented that Eric “had no respect for me.”
Recently, the spotlight has shifted to newcomer Luke Littler, who at just 16 reached the PDC World Darts Championship final in January, though he ultimately lost to world No. 1 Luke Humphries.
At 17, and now ranked No. 4 in the world, this kebab-loving teen from Runcorn, Cheshire, has quickly risen to success.
Broken back
Nonetheless, Bobby offers a word of caution: “He’s a gifted young player, but you can fall from grace in darts if you aren’t careful.”
Indeed, the sport can be unpredictable, with surprises cropping up regularly.
However, a notable change in contemporary darts is the enhanced fitness of its players.
8
In the 1980s, players like two-time world champion Jocky Wilson, who passed away in 2012 at 62 and is featured in the Sky series, made their marks through excessive drinking on stage.
Bobby fondly recalls his friendship with the Scottish legend, noting an instance when Jocky was so intoxicated that he lost track of which side of the board his score was on.
Conversely, Bobby, who has two sons with his wife Marie and a son and daughter from a prior marriage, chose to revel in life without heavy drinking.
He comments: “I enjoy a drink, but you cannot perform at your best if you’re drunk.”
It was his strength, not his stature, that drew attention.
Chuckling, he says: “I was muscular—I used to dig tunnels but never stepped foot in a gym. When I arrived on the darts scene, people noted I didn’t correspond to the typical darts player image. But nowadays, few players are overweight.”
Unfortunately, two injuries—one a ruptured spleen in 1981, and the other a broken back incurred while jumping in celebration during a quarter-final match leading to the 1994 finals—took a toll on his career.
He only discovered he had a broken back weeks after the finals, necessitating the insertion of eight titanium screws to keep his spine aligned.
Despite this, Bobby still reflects fondly on the thrill of performing before a lively audience.
He explains: “The energy from the crowd fuels your performance. You can’t replicate that thrill alone at home. It’s indescribable unless you’ve felt it.”
8
8
8
