Who is he?
Andy 'The
Viking' Fordham is a
World Champion darts player. Born in
Charlton, South East
London on 2nd February 1962, the first of four children, his initial sporting achievements were playing for the Angerstine Hotel Football Team
1 and
track and field events that earned him the early
nickname 'The
Whippet'. The Andy Fordham of
2004 is much less 'whippetlike', and his time as a
pub landlord have no doubt contributed to his
image as 'The Viking'. According to the
BBC: "Fordham earned the Viking tag largely thanks to his large frame, fuzzy beard and a remarkably coiffured lengthy brown
mullet hairstyle."
2
"I am just a big friendly giant," said father-of-two Fordham. "What you see is what you get with me."
from http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/world_darts_2004/3388641.stm
Andy lives with his
wife Jenny in
The Rose in Dartford,
Kent. Their two
children are called
Raymond and
Emily.
Darting Achievements
From his early days making up numbers in the pub darts and being signed up to the team: "the lad's got
potential3", Andy has played in the Kent Super League and at
County level in
Kent,
Renfrewshire and
London. Most notable are Andy's
international achievements. He has represented
England at four world cups, winning the
Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship on
11th January 2004.
Andy's champion honours include:
Andy's big tournament record:
He has previously won the
British Darts Organisation Sports Person of the Year.
After the hectic weeks leading up to the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship, Andy's first
comment upon winning was:
"I can hardly talk, I'm just over the moon," a tearful Fordham told the BBC after the match. "When you get to four semis and you lose them all, you think your chance might have gone. On the outside I might have looked cool, but when I knew it was getting close I was nearly bursting into tears."
from http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/world_darts_2004/3387837.stm
As well as now being a World Champion, Andy has also been tagged the '
People's Champion'. After his victory the crowd gave a rousing rendition of '
There's only one Andy Fordham'. He is popular with fans and officials alike, summed up in a remark made by Robert Holmes of the British Darts Organisation:
"Andy is one of the nicest people in the sport of darts. A true character who is respected by his fellow players and loved by the fans."
Book the Viking
Andy's popularity on the darts circuit is huge, so huge that you can "book him to play darts at your establishment and treat your customers to a darting spectacular."
4
Exactly what a 'darting spectacular' involves is not made completely clear, but an evening with Andy Fordham can include:
- Special exhibition throwing by the World Champion
- "Challenge The World Champion" competitions over three or five legs
- Darts the Champion Way - an insight into tournament play and coping with the pressure
More information and pictures of Andy meeting his adoring
fans available at
http://www.andythevikingfordham.com.
Andy's Favourites
A brief insight into what makes Andy tick when he's not at the
oche.
from http://www.andythevikingfordham.com/index.php?pageval=andytheman.php
1 There is no information on the web for 'Angerstine Hotel', but www.regularsreunited.com lists The Angerstein Hotel in Greenwich, London, which suggests that 'Angerstine' is a typo.
2 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/world_darts_2004/3388641.stm
3 http://www.andythevikingfordham.com/index.php?pageval=biography.php
4 http://www.andythevikingfordham.com/index.php?pageval=exhibitions.php
Written for Everything Quests: Athletes and Sports Figures