‘I'm close to losing my card' – Darts cult hero reveals moment he got job in a bar and almost ran out of money
money treble 'I'm close to losing my card' – Darts cult hero reveals moment he got job in a bar and almost ran out of money
DARTS star Paul Nicholson has revealed that he had to get a job behind a golf club bar and was close to running out of money during a slump in his career.
The English thrower is as well-known for his commentary career as he is for his playing one, but there was a time where it looked as though he would have no career at all.
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Paul Nicholson has opened up on the peak of his financial struggles as his playing career stalled out a decade ago
Credit: Getty
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'The Asset' would follow the end of his playing career with a presence on commentary for the PDC
Credit: Getty - Contributor
In 2013, 'The Asset' seemed set to become a mainstay at the top of professional darts after strong showings in several major tournaments.
His 2011 performances alone had brought him to three major quarter-finals, as well as a second-place finish in the Championship League.
But a downturn in form would follow for the Newcastle native, which would see him fall into dire financial straits by 2016.
He told the Tops and Tales podcast: 'I wouldn't qualify for the Worlds for a while.
"The European Tour was very, very difficult to get on all of a sudden after being a seed for the first two, three seasons and tour life was different.
"I was earning a lot less money and around 2016, I'm close to losing my card. I'm close to running out of money.
"I had to sell my house and went into rented accommodation with my girlfriend. She had to support me for a little bit of time."
It had reached a point that Nicholson was at risk of leaving the world of darts altogether.
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Nicholson is a cult hero for his eccentric persona and explosive actions on stage
Credit: PA:Press Association
He had to consider finding other work, and even arranged a job pulling pints at a local golf club.
'There was a time in the summer of 2016, where I swallowed my pride whole, like it was a five pound pill. I said 'go and get a job then.' I haven't had a job since 2008.
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"So, eight years, what do I do? I was one of the best 10 players in the world at one point. But this is a massive reality check.
"So I actually got a job to work at a golf club in the bar. I got the job and I thought, right, okay, we're going to do this.'
Luckily for The Asset, he would receive a call that week offering him a spot on commentary for the upcoming Austrian Open in 2016.
The move would kick off a career on commentary for Nicholson that endures today.
He explained: "That was my big break. Vienna 2016. That tournament was brilliant and it coincided that was the last European tour event Phil Taylor would play.
"He won that one. It was his last one, but it was my first one. That was where things sort of tipped towards the media side.'
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