I fell in love with Fallon Sherrock over a KFC bucket, now we’re both eyeing glory at Ally Pally, says Cameron Menzies

CAMERON MENZIES fell for Fallon Sherrock at KFC and believes she’s given him the secret recipe to darting glory.

The World No39 faces dangerous American Leonard Gates in his opening clash at the Ally Pally on Monday, the winner facing a prize clash with Nathan Aspinall.

But Menzies is quick to admit that he has been winging his way to stardom since a post-pandemic date with the ‘Queen of the Palace’ in her favourite fast food restaurant.

The Scottish ace, 35, revealed: “Covid was a hard time for a lot of people. I didn’t pick a dart up, I hated it. I started playing golf instead. It was the only thing we could play because it was outside.

“Covid was a bad time. I lost my love for darts. When it calmed down and darts came back again, that’s when I started seeing Fallon. Then it was darts crazy. Practice all the time and that definitely helped.

“We were friends for years and then I was down at the Modus Series. On the way back up we went for something to eat that day.

“We were just friends but that was the start of it. It was a KFC. It was her choice, she likes a KFC.”

On falling in love over a Bargain Bucket? He laughed: “It was just a couple of mini fillets. Love at first sight!”

Rangers-daft Menzies also admits that Sherrock is a huge inspiration to his rise to success over the past year.

He added: “I remember being with Fallon when she was getting all the cameras and autographs and remember thinking: ‘I want that’.

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“She will always beat me on that side because of who she is. It’s quite an inspirational sort of thing. It pushes me as well because at these events she’s always loved.

“The dartboard was in the living room, it’s not a big house we’re in at the moment.

“My PlayStation is in front of the dartboard. She was getting annoyed because when I was playing on the PlayStation, she can practice but the darts can hit me!

“So I had to move it all around to the other side of the room so we can get practising more.”

Menzies was relieved to avoid Sherrock in the Worlds draw, she will face Luke Littler in the glamour tie of the second round if she gets past Ryan Meikle.

We were just friends but that was the start of it. It was a KFC. It was her choice, she likes a KFC.

Cameron Menzies

But who would he prefer to win the Worlds the most in his household? He added: “That’s a hard one. I feel like if she won it, there would be more from that than me winning it.

“As in for darts, as the first woman to do it. Much more massive. From a selfish point of view, I obviously want me to win it! But if Fallon won it, it would be great for darts.”

Menzies, a plumber by trade, has had the most prolific season of his career, including a run to the Grand Slam quarters. Now he is hoping to deliver on the biggest stage of all.

He said: “At first I was just happy to be there. I think that showed sometimes, the way I carried on stage. That’s just me enjoying the moment sometimes.

Big plans

“I feel like I’m at a level now not just to take part. I’m there to try and do some damage. That’s the aim.

“The big stage is different from the floor stuff. But you’ve got to do it on the floor before you can on the big stage. Although there are some guys these days winning their first titles as majors!

“But sometimes it’s a long process. Hopefully this is the start of something.

“I just remember practising before the Worlds last year, I know it’s only in the house, but some of the darts I was throwing even for me, I was so chuffed.

“Then it started coming together early in the season in the ProTours.

“Then it was halfway through the season I had a spell of four or five tours in a row I was getting to the quarters, I was winning games all the time.

“Then I realised some of the darts I was throwing was up there with the best, in that spell anyway.”