From MVG to Laura Woods! Here are 13 darts celebrities and the soccer clubs they support

Seb Sternik
3 January 2023

Fans with World Champion Darts Michael van Gerwen (R) during the game PSV - Feyenoord .

From Michael Smith and Wayne Mardle to Laura Woods and Russ Bray, Planet Sport takes a look at favourite football clubs of darts players and personalities.

Darts and football have a lot in common. Ok, perhaps not when it comes to the actual sport.

However, the carnival atmosphere and chanting at the darts often gives off a soccer vibe. The relationship between the two sports also spills out onto the oche as many darts players are also massive soccer fans themselves.

Here, we take a look at 13 darting personalities and the clubs they support.

Michael van Gerwen - PSV

As a three-time world champion, Michael van Gerwen is rightfully regarded as one of the sport's best ever players.

The 33-year-old was born in Vlijmen, Netherlands - a town situated 25 miles away from the city of Eindhoven. No surprise then that MVG is a massive fan of PSV Eindhoven.

The Green Machine has previously been invited to the Philips Stadium as a guest of honour following his world title victories. Each time he was given a rapturous welcome by the supporters.

Phil Taylor - Port Vale

Next, we go from one of the best players to THE best player in the history of darts.

The 16-time world champion Phil 'The Power' Taylor is a lifelong supporter of Port Vale and was even ready to invest in the club in 2011.

Taylor retired from the PDC Tour in 2018 although he still competes in exhibition events.

Michael Smith - Manchester United

Michael Smith might be from St Helens, but his football allegiance may surprise you as the 32-year-old 2023 World Champion supports Manchester United.

Smith claimed his first World Championship win after beating Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in the 2023 final at Alexandra Palace, and is now ranked world number 1.

Before an event in Liverpool back in 2019, Smith was asked about getting a mixed reaction from his home crowd.

He said: "I think being in Liverpool, most of them know I'm a [Manchester] United fan so I get some stick. It's the same in Leeds, for being a Saints [St Helens] fan and a United fan. I don't mind it."

Laura Woods - Arsenal

Laura Woods has been involved in darts for a number of years now. The Sky Sports presenter started out as a backstage interviewer before working her way up and fronting the coverage.

The 35-year-old is an avid Arsenal fan and often talks about her beloved Gunners while working as a host on talkSPORT.

🙏 “Listen, I really wanted to defend Mikel Arteta last year but…”

😩 “There are lots of things you can tear apart about this Arsenal side.”

😡 “You’re Arsenal! Why can’t you at least look like you wanted to win!?”

Laura Woods slams her beloved #AFC after their Brentford loss pic.twitter.com/3A8IKiSEM9
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) August 16, 2021

Russ Bray - West Ham United

Darts simply wouldn't be the same without the raspy voice of Russ Bray.

The man who keeps count of all the scores and graces us with his famous 'one hundred and eighty' line is a big West Ham supporter.

The 65-year-old referee has followed the Irons from childhood and was once interviewed by the club about his love affair with the Hammers.

When asked about his favourite player, he told them: "I'm from the Bobby Moore era but I like Billy Bonds, Frankie Lampard Senior, Harry Redknapp, Hurst and Peters obviously, but my real true favourite was Bobby. He epitomised what the game was."

Wayne Mardle - Tottenham

Let's face it, Wayne Mardle is the man who makes the darts coverage tick.

The five-time world championship semi-finalist is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur and once even went as far as comparing his career with the London outfit.

In 2008 he told the Metro: "You could say I'm like Tottenham. I'm capable of beating anyone when I'm on my top form but I have these lapses now and again which make me a little inconsistent. Just like Tottenham."

Gary Anderson - Hibernian

As things stand, Gary Anderson is not at the peak of his powers. Nevertheless, the Flying Scotsman is a darting great having won the world title on two occasions.

The 51-year-old was born in Musselburgh but he's a lifelong Hibernian supporter.

Despite his love for the club, Anderson's first line of duty is always darts. The player even missed Hibernian's 2015/16 Scottish Cup triumph as he was simply too busy.

Raymond van Barneveld - ADO Den Haag

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld is another man who is far from his top form - his recent defeat to Rob Cross at the world championships certainly underlined that.

RVB is a household name in the Netherlands and coming from the Hague, it's no surprise that he is an ADO Den Haag supporter.

The 55-year-old has previously made entrances with the club's scarf and, in 2017, he even showcased his skills with a few of the club's players.

Willie Borland - Rangers

Willie Borland found fame at the 2022 World Championships but didn't last past Christmas, but his nine-dart effort will live long in the memory.

There's a lot we've got to learn about the 26-year-old but the one thing we know for sure is that his soccer allegiance lie with Rangers.

In fact, Borland's enthusiasm for his side can sometimes go a little too far. That's according to his friend and YouTuber Matthew Edgar.

Before everyone gets too much respect for Willie Borland I must point out just a few months ago he was trying to compare Ryan Kent and Kevin De Bruyne 👀
— Matthew Edgar (@theedgar501) December 17, 2021

John McDonald - Fulham

"It's time to meet… the players!"

That infamous darting line is delivered by the one and only master of ceremonies, John McDonald.

The 62-year-old has been introducing players at the PDC World Championships ever since the competition moved to the Alexandra Palace.

Away from darts, his second love is Fulham.

Dave Chisnall - Liverpool

Despite playing in five major finals since joining the PDC Tour, Dave Chisnall is yet to get over the finishing line and get his hands on a big piece of silverware.

Nevertheless, the 42-year-old remains one of the biggest names in darts and currently boasts a world ranking of 6.

Away from the glamour of the darting life, Chisnall is a big Liverpool supporter. The St Helens native even made an appearance on LFCTV in April 2017.

Steven Bunting - Liverpool

Speaking of Liverpool, Stephen Bunting is a fellow Reds supporter.

The 37-year-old reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Championship, losing out to champion Michael Smith. The one-time BDO world champion is a big name on the PDC Tour.

The Liverpool-born player is a big fan of Jurgen Klopp and even predicted a major transfer during an interview with Coral back in 2016.

He said: I think I would like to see [Liverpool sign] a defender and striker. Maybe Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, who looks great, and also Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund."

Who knows, perhaps his second prediction is yet to transpire.

Adrian Lewis - Stoke City

We end the list with two-time world champion Adrian Lewis.

Jackpot has fallen down the rankings over the years and is struggling to reignite his career.

Just a few years ago, Lewis seemed like the only man who could stop the rampant Michael van Gerwen from dominating the sport. However, the darting veteran has since fallen on hard times.

His beloved Stoke City appear to have gone in the same direction at precisely the same time. Just as Lewis' dominance began to wane, Stoke endured relegation to the Championship - a league they've been stuck in for three-and-a-half years now.