A Blackburn darts academy has ramped up its sessions, crediting teen phenom Luke Littler for sparking a wild surge in the sport’s appeal.
Even kids at Park Primary School in Colne are hooked on the “Luke Littler effect,” where a new darts club has taken off.
Keith Brunt, head of Blackburn Youth Darts Academy, added a Saturday morning slot after a waitlist ballooned past 60 kids. “We had 70 in the afternoon session, but with over 60 more waiting, we kicked off an 11am-to-1pm class,” he said. “It’s still not enough—there’s still a line, but we’re here for every kid we can reach.”
Littler, the 18-year-old world No. 2 on the PDC Order of Merit, is the fire behind this boom, says Keith. Parents are scrambling to mold their little sharpshooters into the next big thing. “We’ve always been busy, but Luke’s blown it up. Some of our kids could be the next him—veterans and newbies alike,” he noted.
Since 2017, the academy’s swelled—“bigger and bigger,” Keith says, fielding up to 10 daily emails from eager parents. “I’ve got 18 volunteers now. Parents flood my inbox—10 a day—hoping their kid’s the next Littler. His shine led them straight to us.” Ages 6 to 18 are welcome, though Keith’s turning away 4- and 5-year-olds—“too young.”
Littler’s UK Open win in Minehead this month? “A game-changer,” Keith raves. “He’s dragging kids off Xboxes into darts—boosting math, social skills. It’s gold.”
The academy’s soaring—TV’s *Bullseye* even jumped in, sponsoring 10 events this year after tracking them, then upping the ante. “We’re plotting a darts fest in October—kids, women, everyone,” Keith adds. One star, Joe, just nabbed a spot at Gibraltar’s World Darts Championships.
Across Lancashire, Park Primary’s Mr. Thompson launched a darts club, fueled by his own passion. It’s a lunchtime and after-school hit, giving kids a blast while honing their aim. A school rep said, “Littler’s magic’s got them buzzing—kids want his path. Mr. Thompson’s coaching is clutch, building skills and grit.”
“The club’s a freebie fave here,” they added. “It’s tight-knit, fun, and we’re stoked to see them grow. Big props to Mr. Thompson for firing them up to aim big!”
