EXCLUSIVE: Hard-up folk are rooting through the attic for darts souvenirs to flog to pay off festive bills as memorabilia prices soar due to Luke Littler’s oche antics
Brits are cashing in on the ‘Littler effect’ to bail themselves out of a new year credit crisis. Hard-up folk are rooting through the attic for darts souvenirs to flog to pay off festive bills.
Back-to-back world champ Luke Littler’s oche antics have triggered a global frenzy surrounding the sport – and the darts memorabilia market is rocketing, with suggestions it could become the nation’s favourite sport.
Internet auction site eBay has exploded with page-upon-page of folk flogging weird and wacky arrows-linked souvenirs. They include trinkets from decades ago when the game was played by burly beer-suppers in backstreet pubs and clubs.
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Among odd items up for grabs were a pair of tournament sponsor Paddy Power’s underpants, a flight from one of world No4 Stephen Bunting’s old arrows and Littler ‘shoe charms’.
Fans were clamouring to get signed photos of not only their favourite players but telly darts presenter Emma Paton – and even tournament referee Huw Ware.
Someone else was flogging a 3D ‘Sky Sports Darts’ sign they said would be perfect for a fan’s ‘mancave’.
One seller was auctioning off one of former two-time world champion Dennis Priestley’s broken darts. Another was flogging a certificate awarded for reaching the county finals of the 1983 Double Diamond Masters.
Souvenirs from cult ‘80s’ darts telly quiz Bullseye were also flying – including a ‘Merry Christmas ’ jumper, signed photo of host Jim Bowen with late double world champ Jocky Wilson and red and white shirt matching the one worn by the Bully toys given away as prizes on the show.
An ‘I’m Sexy & I Throw It’ TV shirt – a hit at the 2023 world championship – was up for grabs along with a ‘#LetsGoBuntingMental’ sign.
Littler souvenirs ranged from cardboard face masks of the star, offered for £2.95, to a set of his Topps cards for £1,128.
Cheeky traders were even selling copies of the Daily Star’s Legends Of Darts supplement we produced last year.
Its cover price was just £3.99 but it is now going on eBay for £15.61 – plus a £2.94 delivery charge.
Our world championship supplement previewing the tournament was on sale for £18.95.
Darts is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports with the world championship so successful it will next year move from the Ally Pally’s 2,500-seater West Hall to its Great neighbour so 7,000 supporters can watch each session.
The sport pumps £50m-a-year into the UK economy. And its explosion has created a worldwide audience for souvenirs.
The rocketing price of memorabilia has even stunned stars like Littler. The 18-year-old – who pocketed a record £1m prize for Saturday’s victory – shared a screenshot on his Instagram story showing a signed Panini trading card featuring his image had sold for £1,230.68.
Luke ‘The Nuke’ wrote: “Fair enough to whoever bought this.”
Earlier this year, one of his signed shirts sold for £14,667.
The great darts rush comes after finance company CredAbility warned one-in-three Brits slumped into debt funding Christmas and face missing payments and a new year cash crisis.
The company’s credit score expert Aaron Peake said: “Christmas is expensive, life is expensive. Emotional spending in December is incredibly common and January can feel like the month when all the fun catches up.
“Late payments or extra borrowing will leave a mark that can follow you for years if you do nothing. The most important move now is tackling things early.”
He suggested folk should do all they can to ‘bring balances down’ below ‘50% of your limit’ by settling debts as quickly as possible.
Many are trying to claw themselves back into credit by selling anything they can get their hands on – and nothing is hotter than darts relics.
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