Two-time world darts champion Gary Anderson is giving four Angus arrows aces the shirt off his back.
The Flying Scotsman put a signed Scotland Darts World Cup shirt up for auction and has agreed to also match what it sells for.
The Scotland youth team competing at the JDC Junior Darts Corporation World Cup in Gibraltar in September is made up entirely of players from the Arbroath-based Angus Darts Academy.
These boys are representing Scotland in the jdc World Cup in gib. So we are helping them raise money to go, I’m auctioning off my 2018 World Cup shirt. Only 2 made for that year. Who’s going to start the bidding off! Ends Monday after World Cup finishes. @fordey180 please RT pic.twitter.com/qWDwH1zpuS
— Gary Anderson (@GaryAnderson180) June 4, 2019
The trip is going to cost £3,500 and Anderson said he was keen to give something back to the youth of the game and especially his native Scottish youths.
The team will comprise Nathan Girvan, from Forfar, Johnny Gallazzi, from Arbroath, Kyle Walker from Brechin and Connor Mitchell from Montrose.
Connor’s dad Craig has been proactive on social media to try and help find funds for the team’s trip.
“It’s a brilliant gesture from Gary and his partner Rachel and it’s going to be a massive help,” he said.
“They are four great kids so it’s great to see someone like Gary helping out.
“It makes the kids feel special knowing he is helping them.
“He also has a load of old calenders he will personally sign to anyone who wants one for £10.”
Nathan, Johnny, Kyle and Connor all attend the Angus Darts Academy which has been run by Arbroath and Scotland international player Alan “Soots” Soutar since 2012.
Soots said: “Gary very kindly has put one of his PDC Scotland World Cup 2018 signed shirts up on Twitter for auction and it runs until Monday.
“That’s amazing in itself but then Gary has said whatever is raised online he will personally match to help the boys out.
“The trip is going to cost in excess of £3,500 so this will go a long way to helping plan the trip to give the lads another great opportunity.
“As an academy we have been actively looking for shirt sponsors and carrying out fundraisers to get us there.
“If any local companies would like space on the Scotland Shirts then contact Alan Soutar on 07967 218790 or alsoutar@yahoo.co.uk.”
Soots started the academy to pass on his love of the game to the county’s youngsters and Nathan has been his biggest success story to date.
The Forfar Academy pupil has competed in two junior world finals at Lakeside in the past three years and is being hailed as a future arrows ace.
