Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
Goldfinger
Andrew ‘Goldfinger’ Gilding, 43 started out in darts at just
eight years of age. Now is set to be playing on the big stage in
Blackpool at the World Match Play Championships in July.
Gilding started playing darts
between the ages of eight and nine
going to play with his older sister
who played in a pub darts team.
Andrew started playing regularly
at the age of 16, practising every
day finding a love for darts. Then
after a lengthy delay from the
game he decided to join a pub
team at the age of 37.
where he would prove himself
on a regional level. Back then his
friend from the darts team was
Andrew Gilding
Talks To Scott
Taylor
After some matches Andrew
moved his way up making him
eligible for local tournaments
When Goldfinger received his first
tour card he described it as: “a
great feeling, the standard was
paying his entry fee and in return
he would take half the winnings.
so high with the likes of Darren
Webster, who unfortunately didn’t
receive one but he has now shown
his talent by reaching the top 38
in the world.”
Now ranked 47 in the PDC rankings
(at the time of writing) Gilding is
looking forward to playing at the
famous Alexandra Palace later on
in the year. “All the tournaments
are building up to the Ally Pally
later this year, I’m really looking
forward to playing on the big
stage.”
It hasn’t been all rise so far
though for Andrew, towards the
end of 2012, beginning of 2013
Gilding picked up an injury which
hampered his career. He developed
tennis elbow and was struggling to
win a game, sponsors dropped out
leaving Gilding struggling to pay
entry fees:
“It was a really tough time I just
couldn’t win, I couldn’t afford to
pay entry fees but that’s when
good old mum stepped in and
bailed me out. I had to go to
physiotherapy, it was a horrible
time but it made me even more
Photo: Carlsten Aarlt/PDC Europe