How Luke Littler’s dad persuaded him to ditch sport he ‘loved’ to focus on darts aged NINE

LUKE LITTLER admits he wanted to become a FOOTBALLER when he was a kid.

And it’s all thanks to his dad that he’s now the biggest name in darts.

Luke Littler’s dad convinced the darts star to give up football when he was nine years oldInstagram @lukethenukelittler

PA

The advice paid off with Littler reaching the WDC final on his senior debut[/caption]

LIttler, 16, is the man of the moment after reaching the World Darts Championship final.

He KO’d big names like Rob Cross and Raymond van Barneveld on his incredible senior debut.

Littler was unable to clinch a fairytale ending as he suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Luke Humphries on Wednesday.

But he is now set to rake in a fortune after getting the nod alongside Michael van Gerwen and Co for the upcoming Premier League tour.

However, things could have turned out very differently had the Warrington-born lad had his way as a child.

That’s because Littler was fixated on making it as a professional footballer.

He showed great promise at the sport while also building up his reputation as a darts prodigy.

And Manchester United fan Littler dreamed of emulating his footy idols by making it big in the beautiful game.

However, dad Anthony Buckley recognised that his son was more likely to crack the top as a darts player.

Littler revealed the pair had an uncomfortable chat when he was nine years old, with the ace eventually convinced to drop football and concentrate on the oche.

And even though it was a tough choice to make at the time, his dad’s advice turned out to be correct.

Littler told BBC Radio 2: “I didn’t realise i was going to be this good, I played football beforehand, every kid, every young person wants to be a footballer.

“My dad said, ‘hang your boots up let’s focus on darts’. I was like, ‘I love it though’.

“My dad said, ‘I think your ability to be a professional, you’ve got high chances.’ Six year later here I am.”

Littler has previously opened up on his brief stint in football.

He told the Times: “My dad just knew. I stopped playing football and just focused on darts and this is where I am now, playing on the greatest stage of them all.”

Dad Anthony added: “He was a good footballer. He loved football. All kids do. But I said to him at nine, hang your boots up.

“Concentrate on darts. You can still play football here and there. But if there’s a darts comp on at the weekends, go to darts first.

“Make that your priority, because I thought he could make it at darts — and he has done.

“When I said to him, you need to keep playing darts, he was OK with it. We put him in every competition that was online.

“Sometimes you’re getting up at 7am on a Saturday — my only day off — just to play darts. There were no lie-ins.”