WHILE the rest of darts wonderkid Luke Littler’s family were at Ally Pally last night to support him, his older brother was cheering him on from a Warrington pub.
New dad Leon, who is 20 tomorrow, was said to be a better player than Luke but he gave up the game and now works as a barman.
On New Year’s Day, he watched the 16-year-old thrash Brendan Dolan on TV in the bar of The Millhouse pub, near the Littler family’s smart semi in Padgate.
Leon was with girlfriend Katie Williams, 21, and their 12-week-old baby George, who is doted on by uncle Luke.
He said: “When George was born, he bought him his very own dartboard and can’t wait for him to be old enough to play. He’s also just bought him a new pram.
“We’ve already got George a pair of ear defenders and hope to take him to watch Luke very soon.
“We’re sure that George knows when Luke is on the TV as he smiles and gurgles in front of the screen!
“I haven’t had a chance to go down to watch but both my parents are there to support him — although mum’s the nervous one who gets extremely anxious when Luke is playing.”
Lisa, who works for Yankee Candles, brought up Leon, Luke and their sister Caitlin, 21, with partner Anthony Buckley, 43, a keen darts player.
He is now expected to give up his job as a taxi driver to work full-time ferrying Luke to tournaments.
Despite his teenage brother’s incredible rise to stardom, Leon is convinced fame and fortune will not go to his head.
He said: “Nothing’s changed Luke and I know nothing ever will. He’s very down to earth, and keeps his feet on the ground.
“He’s still the caring and devoted brother who grew up with me.”
Luke was a toddler when he got his first dartboard — with magnetic arrows from a pound shop — and was hooked.
Leon said: “There are videos of Luke as young as just 18 months old in a nappy throwing darts and copying the celebrations of then-champions such as Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld, who he beat on Sunday.
"But my first clear memories are when Luke was about five. He’d play darts whenever he could — sometimes just stopping for a meal before starting again.
“If Mum and Dad tried to take the darts away from him there’d be a real scene with him crying loudly.
“My dad was a very keen player and, as soon as he realised Luke had a talent, he wanted to nurture this.”
Aged nine, Luke would regularly go to local pubs with Anthony to play.
Leon added: “Dad always pushed Luke towards darts and thought this was a great interest for him to continue rather than spending all his time on an Xbox.”
Bulls Head landlady Alison Canning said: “Luke’s been in here as he plays in the local darts’ league. Apparently Argos in the town has completely sold out of darts and boards. I hope he’ll put Warrington on the map.”
Luke left his local school Padgate Academy this summer after his GCSEs and decided to concentrate on becoming a darts pro.
Leon revealed that Luke used some of his tournament winnings to buy boards for the school just before he left.
He was planning to watch last night’s semi against Rob Cross on TV with regulars at The Millhouse. Leon added: “Whatever happens, it will be a great night for us all.”
It comes as the mum of Luke girlfriend has hit back at "money grabber" comments made about the couple's five-year age gap.
Luke celebrated his semi-final win with girlfriend Eloise Milburn, 21, in the crowd.
