Nathan Aspinall, 2023 World Matchplay Champion
By Phil Lanning
NATHAN ASPINALL admits he thought his career was over but is now in the darting big time.
The Stockport star sealed the biggest victory of his life, beating Jonny Clayton 18-6 to win the World Matchplay on Sunday night.
But The Asp, 32, was close to tears when recalling that he thought he was finished with a torn tendon, ligament and hole in the cartilage of his right wrist. Now he’s the new World No.5 and revealed: “When it all started happening a year last January with my arm I doubted I could ever play the game again.
“But I’ve had the right treatment and the right support and I got over that.
“Once I did that it was trying to get the belief and will to win again. The type of guy I am, I want to succeed at everything I do.
“I’ve so bloody hard behind the scenes. People don’t understand, they think we just go up there and throw darts.
“The sacrifices, the will to win, practice, the time away. It’s been really really hard.
“But because of that I know now I can overcome anything in life. Before I was a dart player, I was a little rebel.
“I’ve overcome so much in my life. I just don’t like failing, simple as that. That’s me in a nutshell, I don’t like to fail.”
Aspinall was down to the last £20 in his account at the end of 2018 and contemplated quitting then. But he produced a sensational run to the semi-finals of the World Championship to save his skin then.
He admits he performs better with his back to the wall, adding: “Yes, 100 per cent. This week I’ve bought a new house. I put a massive deposit down, wiped myself out. But there’s no better than bricks and mortar.
“But I’ve used that as motivation to win this tournament. I’ve had my back against the wall so many times in life.
“I just think that makes you stronger as a human being.
“I want to make sure my family is secure for the future. That’s why I do this game.
“We’ve bought a place in Glossop out in the sticks away from the town which is what I wanted to do for the family.
“It’s a beautiful house but it was a little bit out of my price range. But it’s OK now because I’ve won this!
“Anyone reading this, if you believe enough, you can make it happen.”
Aspinall delivered a run of ELEVEN successive leg wins in the final to blow away Clayton.
But he added: “At the start, I was bricking it. I'm not going to lie. I was so nervous.
“All day I've been throwing up. I've been so nervous. I got up there and maybe that's why I was so poor the first 10 legs.
“But then I hit that 180 and it settled me so much. To get the kids on stage, that's all I've wanted to do all weekend especially Milly, she's only five, she's like I want to get on stage and get a picture with you. They've been great all week and I'm just so happy for me and my family.”
Follow Phil Lanning on Twitter HERE.