AN Atherton man who started playing darts in his parents' Alma Street kitchen has hit the bullseye after earning the opportunity to play on the professional tournament circuit.

Scott Darbyshire has won a Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Pro Tour card for the first time after competing against more than 450 hopefuls in the four-day qualifying school at Wigan's Robin Park Tennis Centre.

The 37-year-old former Hesketh Fletcher CE High School pupil claimed one of the 28 cards up for grabs last week and will now rub shoulders with the likes of arrows legend Phil Taylor playing in a series of non-televised darts tournaments organised by the PDC over the next two years.

He said: "Gaining a tour card validates people's belief in me and I am so happy to prove them right.

"I now have two years to work harder than ever before.

"My game has improved a lot recently and mixing with some of the best darts players in the world will only improve it further.

"My aim is to take this opportunity, give it 100 per cent, get better and better at darts and progress up the rankings."

Scott was an apprentice forklift truck engineer after leaving school and then served as a marine engineer in the Royal Noval for seven years.

He is now a service manager for a forklift truck company but darts is his main passion having developed a love for the game playing with his dad Keith as a child.

Scott said: "I first started playing darts at home in the kitchen with my dad when I was about 10 years old.

"He was a good player in the local pub league and I used to play round the board with him, me going for the singles and him for the doubles.

"I must admit it was a great feeling the first time I beat him round the board.

"My dad doesn't play as much these days and it's now my turn to go round in doubles and for him to go for the singles.

"I have always enjoyed watching and playing darts but I stopped playing for a long time before I joined the Royal Navy.

"A few of us would play regularly on my first ship HMS Ocean. It was great fun, especially in rough seas when you had to time each chuck between the waves as the ship was being thrown around.

"I stopped playing again for a while and then five years ago I was with a few friends in the Botanical Gardens pub in Atherton.

"They encouraged me to play in a knockout competition and I ended up getting to the final, beating some very good local players along the way.

"I was asked to join the pub team and I have never looked back.

"After playing in the local league I joined the Leigh Super League team two years ago as well as playing in the individual's league at the 180 Club in the town.

"Then last year I played for my first Pro Tour card.

"I suffered from nerves and had a few heavy defeats but I knew I could play at that level.

"Over the past 12 months the mental side of the game has become easier and my confidence has grown.

"Knowing I can is now turning into believing I will."

Scott, who lives in Atherton with partner Louise and four-year-old son Samuel, is looking for sponsors to help him fulfil his potential on the Pro Tour.

Any businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring him should e-mail scottdarbyshiredarts@yahoo.com