Inside Luke Littler’s family life with mum who worked for Yankee Candle and dad who made sacrifices for darts career
LUKE LITTLER still lives at home with his family and their pet Frenchie.
He has earned over £1million in his debut year on the Pro Tour, winning Premier League Darts and the Grand Slam of Darts before he’s even turned 18.
But his success at the oche was only made possible thanks to the sacrifices and commitment of his dad Anthony Buckley.
His mum Lisa worked at Yankee Candle while his dad was a taxi driver, and he would often take time off work to take Littler to darts tournaments.
Littler, 17, made sacrifices himself, forgoing his GCSEs in order to play in tournaments around Europe.
But it has paid off for the teenager and now his dad no longer drives a cab, and he does not miss it either.
Littler told Sky Sports’ Game of Throws documentary: “My dad’s just done so much for me. Funding me. Petrol, hotels, paying my entry fees for whatever I’m playing in.
“Taking time off work to come and travel with me everywhere. He helps me balance everything.”
The Littler’s made a big decision to pull the darts star out of school, but it has proved a wise decision.
Anthony said: “As much as the education want you in school, he had a good start on the development tour to become professional so we pulled him out of his exams.
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“We went to Germany instead of doing his English [GCSE] and if he needs to go back and do anything later on in life he can go back to college.”
Littler is now the favourite to win the World Darts Championship which starts next month, and he is on the shortlist for the Sports Personality of the Year award.
PDC owner Barry Hearn described Littler as his “Christmas present” and thanked the youngster for his help in boosting the popularity of darts.
Hearn said: “He was my Christmas present.
“I am so difficult to buy for cause I’m older, and I have got most of the things I want.
“And then someone gave me Luke Littler, and it is the ultimate Christmas present I could have had.
“Luke Humphries and him are going to just dominate these darts events.
“But be careful because there is half a dozen really top youngsters that are following in the footsteps of Littler.
“So he may not have it as easy as he thinks.”
Littler’s success at the oche has enabled him to rent a swanky new house in Warrington, where he grew up.
The Nuke moved his folks and pet Frenchie Nala from their £180,000 two-bed semi to a £6,000-a-month flashy property he rents on “Millionaires Row”.
GAME OF THROWS: INSIDE DARTS from 30 November and the PDC World Championship from 15 December on Sky and NOW