A darts academy in Angus is going from strength to strength with record-breaking turnouts.
Arbroath man and Scotland international Alan Soutar said the standard is so high he believes the academy could produce future champions.
Alan, who played at the Lakeside in the BDO World Championship in 2011, decided to introduce the sport to young people in the area.
On the opening night of the Angus Darts Academy in February last year, 46 youngsters aged nine to 21 turned up to play.
Angus Darts Academy has been in operation for nearly a year and has grown so much it had to relocate upstairs in the Cafe Project in Arbroath and acquire extra dartboards.
A record 94 youngsters attended the academy earlier this year, and the standard of play continues to impress the coaches.
The academy has also been praised on social networking sites by World Championship quarter-finalist Robbie Green and legendary Lakeside MC Martin Fitzmaurice.
Alan told The Courier: “The darts academy is superb for local kids to interact in a safe environment with other kids.
“Some of the youngsters had no confidence to count and score matches at first but the difference now is incredible and this will also assist them at school and later in life.
“It has amazed me how keen and interested the kids are in darts and it shows in the large numbers that attend each week.
“A huge emphasis is placed on discipline and sportsmanship.”
The darts academy has been entering players into Scottish Youth Darts events since it got under way with great results.
The standout performer is Jamie Roy (16) from Arbroath, who won three youth competitions in 2012 including the Scottish Grand Prix at under-18 and under-21 level.
In the under-18s final, Jamie beat fellow academy player Graeme Hamilton, who is only 14.
Jamie also represented Angus Darts Academy at the 2012 Winmau World Youth Championships in Hull and made it to the last 32 on his World Youth debut.
Angus Darts Academy has 10 boys ranked in the top 30 in Scotland under-18s and one girl is already impressing the Scotland Youth Team selectors.
Rebecca Graham (10) from Arbroath reached the final of the Scottish Grand Prix under 18s event held in Stirling in October and lost 3-1 to the reigning world youth champion.
Alan said: “We have boys that are nine,10 and 11 years old that have the potential to go all the way to the top.
“The youngest player to score a 180 was Leon Gibson (11) until December this year when this record was taken by eight-year-old Logan Guthrie just incredible at that young age. The potential of some of these youngsters is frightening and I predict a few will go on to become local champions, national champions and play for Scotland at youth level.
“I would like to think that one or more of the lads at the academy now will at some point in the future become the Arbroath and Angus singles champions.
“The success will not stop at youth level, however.
“The work being done at the darts academy will invariably produce the Angus players of the future and who knows maybe one or more of the kids can go on to emulate myself and play at international level or on the world-famous stage at the Lakeside.”
gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk