I was a trainee accountant with just £20 to my name.. now I’m one of world’s best darts stars raking it in
NATHAN ASPINALL could cap a superb rags-to-riches tale this weekend – almost five years since having just £20 in his bank account.
The Asp takes on close pal Joe Cullen on Saturday night over the best-of-33 legs in the semi-finals of the Betfred World Matchplay.
The Stockport star won the 2019 UK Open but if he goes the whole way this weekend in Blackpool and lifts the Phil Taylor Trophy, it would represent the biggest moment of his career.
It would also see him receive the biggest oche pay cheque in the shape of £200,000.
The former accountant has won more than £1million in career prize money – close to £500,000 of that has come over the past two years alone – as throwing darts has transformed his life and that of his family, too.
But the world No.9 has not always been in a very secure place financially.
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Speaking to SunSport in November 2019, father-of-two Aspinall revealed how he had hit rock bottom in the months before his maiden appearance at the PDC World Darts Championship.
A run to the semi-finals that Christmas saw him earn £100,000 and essentially turned his life around.
The 32-year-old said: “In September (in 2018), I was down to my last £20. That’s all I had to my name. I’m not going to lie. It was a big worry.
“I’ve two daughters and I was going into games thinking: ‘If I hit this double, I win £1,000 and that pays a month’s rent.’ That’s how bad it was.
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“I had quit my job, living off the sponsorship, but I wasn’t performing well. I wasn’t getting results.
“I always knew I could play darts and make money from it but when you are effectively playing for the survival of your family there’s so much pressure.
“I remember it clearly. I had £21.98 in the bank and I wanted to use a cash machine in a Holiday Inn hotel which charged £1.99 to make a cash withdrawal.
“A mate transferred a penny into my account so I could withdraw £20 – I went to the tournament and won £10,000.
“At that stage, I was thinking of going back to work as a trainee accountant and even that darts wasn’t a road I should be going down.
“Three months later I had a hundred grand in the bank, which changed my whole mindset.
“I was no longer playing for money – I was playing for titles and ranking points.
“When it got to the stage where I was guaranteed £35,000 in prize money, I thought: ‘Jeez, that’s a year’s salary.’
'When I got to the semi, and it was up to £100,000, it took 24 hours to sink in what it meant. I was sat with my other half, just staring in disbelief.”
Aspinall – who has a roulette wheel and the words “Life a gamble” tattooed on his arm – was a promising goalkeeper growing up.
He spent five years at a Sale-based academy which was run by Manchester United and turned down a deal to move to Rangers aged 11 for family reasons.
But Aspinall claims he was “never going to be the next Fabian Barthez, Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar” and the furthest he got with football was semi-pro with Cheadle Town.
If he ends up lifting the World Matchplay live on Sky Sports on Sunday night, then he will cement himself as one of the world’s best darts player.
And the cash will go some way towards paying off the first mortgage payment on his new home.
Speaking on Thursday after his 16-12 quarter-final win over best mate Chris Dobey, Aspinall said: “My house (sale) went through on Wednesday. Finally, though it has been three months of stress with that.
“I think I have a bit more motivation because I have to pay for it and I am absolutely skint now!
“This week has probably been the best I have felt in my darting career on the board.
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“It’s tough for me this week. If I have to win this tournament, I have to take cash off some good mates.
“But they don’t pay my bills, only winning darts matches does that.”