Darts legend retires from Premier League Darts immediately after Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries final
The referee has stepped down after officiating the 2025 final between
Advertisement
2
Referee George Noble has quit Premier League Darts
Credit: Getty
2
His last Premier League match was the final between Luke Humphries and Luke Littler
Credit: PA
Noble, 56, has been one of the top callers in
darts
for the last three decades.
He has worked on the PDC Tour since 2007 - prior to that he was part of the BDO team.
That means he has witnessed the best in the world over the past three decades, culminating in the two biggest stars fighting it out to win the Premier League.
Noble began his career as a referee in 1992 and he has been a regular caller on the Pro Tour ever since.
Advertisement
READ MORE IN DARTS
He called every BDO World
Championship
final between 1995 and 2007.
He joined the PDC Tour later in 2007 , where he called the first ever nine-dart finish in PDC World Darts Championship
history
when
Since then he has been
the voice
of a total of 21 televised nine-darters - more than any other referee.
While he has taken part in 18 World Darts Championships.
Advertisement
Most read in Darts
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
'The Puppy'
already called time on his work as a referee on the European Tour, stepping away after the
Dutch Darts Championship
last week.
After confirming his retirement plans, Noble spoke about the
future
of
refereeing
, saying: "I think it's time we had the first female referee at a major tournament…and maybe even the first non-British one, too."
Fans sing along to Luke Littler's walk-on song as darts star shares footage from stage
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
40 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Viktor Gyokeres, wearing a weighty Arsenal number, aims to create his own narrative
The number 14 shirt of Viktor Gyokeres is already breaking sales records at Arsenal , just days after he signed to his new club. For Arsenal fans, the jersey has a special significance: their new centre forward will wear the same number as the club's record goal scorer, Thierry Henry. But Gyokeres has rejected comparisons with Henry, insisting that he wants to write his own story in north London. 'Of course I know about the history,' said Gyokeres, the 27-year-old from Sweden, speaking at Arsenal's Hong Kong hotel during its preseason tour through Asia. 'But, to be honest, there weren't too many numbers to pick from. But of course, that one was available, so when I knew that, it was an easy choice to take it. 'It's not really my intention to be compared with what he's achieved in his career, especially here. I just want to do my own thing and show my qualities. Of course, he was an amazing player, but different from me.' READ MORE Manager Mikel Arteta saw Gyokeres's willingness to take number 14 as a sign of self-belief. 'I use the word conviction,' Arteta told a news conference after open training at the Kai Tak Stadium. 'That's the first thing that I noticed when I spoke to him. 'Someone very determined, someone that was already really attached to the club, the way he was talking about the club, the history and, in this case, Thierry and what the shirt represented. He straight away felt it, and when you feel it, go for it.' Speaking to the media for the first time since joining Arsenal for an initial fee of €63.5 million, Gyokeres gave the impression of a player laser-focused on his on-field performance. Gyokeres's reputation and his goalscoring record, along with that iconic number 14 shirt, come with certain expectations. But he shows no signs of feeling external pressure. 'I think I have enough expectations on myself,' he said. 'I'll just try to perform, to be honest. It's not really up to me how people think or expect.' Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal playing against Tottenham Hotspur. Photograph: Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty There is a quiet assurance to Gyokeres. On the field, he can be a dominant force. Off it, his size and stature are striking, but they are contrasted with a more reserved nature. When the conversation centres on his individual qualities, he prefers to deflect, emphasising the importance of self-improvement and the team ethic. Gyokeres was presented to fans on July 27th before the team's 3-2 friendly win over Newcastle United in Singapore, and received a rapturous ovation. 'Of course, it's great to see,' he said of the reception at the Singapore National Stadium. 'That gives you extra motivation coming into it. I'm just looking forward to starting even more.' Gyokeres then made his first appearance for Arsenal on Thursday against Tottenham Hotspur, when he came on in the 77th minute of a 1-0 loss in Hong Kong. He had to wait patiently for that moment. The latter stages of his move from Sporting Lisbon became contentious, as the two teams haggled over terms. 'It's been a new experience,' he said. 'I haven't really been in that situation before. It's been a lot of waiting from my side. I wanted to come here, but it wasn't that easy. But I'm finally here and it feels great.' Throughout those tense negotiations, Arsenal's hand was strengthened by Gyokeres's insistence on joining them. 'I felt that they wanted me here,' he said. 'But also because it's a very big club with a lot of history. I just felt that I really wanted to come here and be a part of this club.' There were other interested parties. Sporting fielded a late inquiry from Manchester United, but Gyokeres was determined to join Arsenal. Gyokeres's transfer brings him back to the UK, where he had spells with Brighton, Swansea City and Coventry City. He left Brighton in 2021 without playing a single minute of Premier League soccer in three years on their books, and now returns to the competition as a star. Viktor Gyokeres, when at Sporting Lisbon, celebrates. Photograph: Patricio De Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty 'Obviously, it's the best league in the world, so of course that was always a goal to play in the Premier League,' he said. 'So when I felt it was the right time, I didn't hesitate to come back.' Gyokeres believes that his previous five years' experience of English soccer could accelerate his adaptation. 'I think it makes it easier,' he said. 'I'm used to the weather and everything around, so some aspects I think it helps. 'But of course, there are a lot of new things as well: a new group, a new idea of playing. I think I need to adapt to that as well.' Gyokeres scored 97 goals in 104 appearances for Sporting, but he has not set any specific goalscoring targets for the coming season. He said he had already spoken to Arteta about the plans for him. 'He just said to try to use my qualities as much as I can,' Gyokeres said, adding: 'So far, it's been feeling great. I'm looking forward to doing even more.' The club captain Martin Odegaard, from Norway, has played his part helping Gyokeres to settle in. 'With the language and everything, it is a bit easier for me to help him,' Odegaard said. 'We can speak our own languages. And Scandinavians always bond well together – in that way it has been really natural. Every new player we always try to help them in the best possible way.' Gyokeres has watched Arsenal in recent months, but he rejected the idea that he is the missing piece of a trophy-winning jigsaw. He believes that if Arsenal is to achieve its targets, it will be a collective effort. 'I think you need everyone on the pitch, to be honest,' he said. 'You need 11 on the pitch and people on the bench as well that can make an impact. You need a whole team that are together and play together. Then I think you have a very good chance to have a great season.' – New York Times 2025 The New York Times Company
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Arsenal and Liverpool's transfer plans rocked as Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi look likely to stay at Crystal Palace
MARC GUEHI and Eberechi Eze could both end up STAYING at Crystal Palace this season. Liverpool, Newcastle and Spurs want England defender Guehi while Arsenal remain interested in Eze. 3 Marc Guehi could well stay at Crystal Palace despite interest from Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham Credit: Getty 3 Eberechi Eze may also stay put at Selhurst Park in spite of Arsenal's keen interest Credit: Getty Although there is still a month left of the transfer window, it seems increasingly likely that both stars will remain at Selhurst Park. Palace have not received any firm offers for either player and are in no rush to sell. This is good news for the club's fans who are still reeling from their European heartbreak and the fact they look set to be demoted into the Conference League. Liverpool have been favourites to land centre-back Guehi and have been in talks with his representatives. READ MORE SPORT STORIES LOOKING TO SCORE? Single Sydney Sweeney inundated with DMs from randy Prem aces after split The centre-back has just one year left of his contract but has not been pushing for a move. And the Premier League champions rate him at around £40million - £10m short of Palace's asking price. Spurs are still interested having failed with a £70m bid in January while Newcastle had three offers turned down a year ago. Toon have revived their interest this summer, but are still £10m below Palace's valuation. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS That mean, as SunSport revealed in May, Guehi could now run down the final year of his contract and leave on a free transfer, opening up a potential switch to Barcelona or Real Madrid. And the Eagles are increasingly confident of keeping him this summer. Crystal Palace legend Geoff Thomas slams Uefa for denying them a Europa League place 3 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW Attacking midfielder Eze has been in line for a move to Arsenal and is keen to move to the Emirates. Yet the Gunners are not prepared to trigger his £68m release clause. With Palace not needing to sell financially, they are unlikely to lower their demands and Arsenal could look at other targets. The club's fans are still stunned at Uefa's decision to drop them into this season's Conference League despite qualifying for the Europa League after winning the FA Cup. Palace's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will be on Friday. They were demoted to the third-tier Conference League by Uefa's Club Financial Control Body in a multi-club ownership case.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Alexander Isak returns to Newcastle amid Liverpool transfer interest
The 25-year-old Sweden international headed back to Tyneside over the weekend after spending time working on his fitness at former club Real Sociedad as Premier League champions Liverpool formalised their interest in him with a £110million bid, which was swiftly rejected by the Magpies. He reported to the club's training headquarters on Monday morning as the rest of the squad returned from their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea. Isak missed the tour having cited a thigh injury amid fevered speculation over his future. Newcastle have repeatedly insisted they have no intention of selling their star striker - who they value at around £150m - this summer. But his indication that he wanted to explore the possibility of a move away from St James' Park, where he still has three years remaining on his contract, has brought matters to a head. Head coach Howe, who desperately wants to keep a player who has been a key figure in the club's recent return to prominence, has been diplomatic about the situation in public but he is unlikely to take kindly to a disruption of the team ethic he has tried to build during him time at the helm. Indeed, speaking to reporters before leaving Seoul after Sunday's 1-1 friendly draw with Tottenham, he said: "You have to earn the right to train with us. "We are Newcastle United. The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad - you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here. "We will make sure that any player does that to earn the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal." It has proved a difficult summer for Newcastle, who have added Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga and Southampton keeper Aaron Ramsdale - on loan - to their squad while seeing midfielder Sean Longstaff and striker Callum Wilson leave. However, they have also seen targets Dean Huijsen, Bryan Mbeumo, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, James Trafford and Liam Delap move elsewhere. Another frontman was a priority even before Liverpool's interest in Isak with inexperienced 22-year-old Will Osula currently the only back-up to the Swede. The Magpies have tabled a bid for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko - also a target for Manchester United - and remain in discussions with the Bundesliga club while pursuing an interest in Brentford's Yoane Wissa. The success or otherwise of that mission could have a significant say in what happens with Isak, although the spending power of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the majority shareholder at St James', and the player's contractual situation would allow them to dig in their heels if they chose to do so. That said, the profitability and sustainability issues which have hamstrung Newcastle in recent seasons would be eased significantly by a major cash injection and a suitable offer could leave the club with a difficult decision to make. Former Magpies striker Alan Shearer is taking a philosophical view and admits that if the player is dead-set on leaving, there is little alternative but to sell him at the right price. Shearer, who described the club's summer to date as "disastrous", told the Rest is Football podcast: "Do I like it? Do I understand it? They are probably two different things. "But I know what football's about and I know how it works. Obviously Liverpool have been into him or his agent. I just thought it might have happened next year. "If it really is impossible for Eddie to turn him around and he says 'No' - and it sounds like that is the case - 'I want to be out now', you get your big money for him, whoever's prepared to pay that and you get other people in, hopefully beforehand, and then you move on. "No individual is bigger than any football club and if he doesn't want to be there, fine, get what you can and get him out and say, 'Thanks very much for the memories, off you go'."
