Andy Fordham
Encyclopedia
Andy "The Viking" Fordham (born 2 February 1962 in Charlton, London
) is an English
darts
player. He won the 2004 BDO World Darts Championship, beating Mervyn King in the final. He is also a four-time semi-finalist at the Lakeside, and the 1999 Winmau World Masters
champion.
in 1995 and made it to the semi-finals before losing to Richie Burnett
. Another semi-final defeat followed in 1996, this time to Steve Beaton
. On both occasions, his victor went on to claim the title. Second round defeats followed in 1997 (to Marshall James) and 1998 (to Raymond van Barneveld
) before he made it a hat-trick of semi-final defeats in 1999, this time to Ronnie Baxter
.
His 2000 campaign ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of Chris Mason
and his fourth semi-final loss in 2001 was to Ted Hankey
. In 2002 and 2003 he went out in the first and second rounds respectively, before he finally managed to end his jinx in the 2004 World Championship. His run in the 2004 World Championship saw him win his first match 3-0 against unknown Brian Derbyshire. He then beat former Masters champion Tony West 3-0, and teased a 9-dart leg in the third set. He defeated Darryl Fitton
in the quarter-finals 5-4, and then stunned Van Barneveld, the defending champion and strong tournament favourite, by recovering from 0-3 and 2-4 down to win 5-4 in what is considered one of the most dramatic matches in BDO history.
Fordham defeated King in the final, hitting a 139 checkout to take the eighth set 3-2 when Mervyn had reached a double-18, and then recovering from 2-0 down in the next set to take it 3-2 with double-8, and win the match by 6 sets to 3.
He has failed to win a single match at Lakeside in the three years since his title victory. The BDO World Champion receives an exemption from qualifying for a three-year period but that has now expired. His world ranking has slipped dramatically and major concerns about his health have meant that the chance of him returning to the heights of that 2004 success have receded.
Fordham's health has long been a concern. At one point he weighed 31 stone
(197 kilograms, 434 lbs) and was in the habit of consuming 25 bottles of lager
before going on stage to play. The scare during the head-to-head game led Fordham to seek help via the television
programme Celebrity Fit Club, where he became friends with the journalist and TV presenter Paul Ross
. While getting a regime underway to try to lose some weight, he was defeated in the first round of the 2005 Lakeside World championship by Dutchman Vincent van der Voort
. Fordham made another Lakeside appearance in 2006 but again suffered a first round exit, this time losing to Australia
's Simon Whitlock.
Fordham was due to face Whitlock again in the first round of the 2007 BDO World Darts Championship
, but was once again hospitalised after complaining of chest pains and breathing difficulties. He was forced to pull out of the tournament as a result and Whitlock received a walkover and went through to the second round without throwing a single dart.
Weeks after pulling out of the BDO World Championship, Fordham suffered what was initially thought to be a stroke
, which turned out to be severe breathing difficulties caused by massive fluid build-up in his lungs. The incident was described as "minor" by his agent, and he is expected to make a full recovery. In 2008, Fordham applied for a liver transplant. Although initially on an emergency liver transplant list, he subsequently lost 17 st (108 kg, 238 lbs) in weight and stopping drinking leading to an announcement in December that he probably would not require a transplant for five years.
He won one match in an attempt to qualify for the 2008 Lakeside World Championship
, but went out in the last 128 and also lost in his opening match at the last 136 stage of the Winmau World Masters
. He then received an invitation to play at the Zuiderduin Masters
in December 2007 - but lost both matches 0-5, to Mark Barilli
(averaging 53.43) and to Co Stompé
(averaging 76.20). On 10 January 2009 it was announced that Fordham will move to the PDC.
in the last 64 stage. He also won £200 in Austria and a combined total of £400 over two tournaments in Nuland. As of October 2011, Fordham is ranked 303 in the PDC Order of Merit having not won any prize money since October 2009.
, south-east London and attended Charlton Manor Primary School and Eaglesfield Secondary School. He was a keen track-and-field athlete in his younger days and was nicknamed 'The Whippet' at school.
Fordham is a huge fan of Scottish
football club Rangers
, and even paraded his Lakeside trophy before a game at Ibrox Stadium
in 2004, he is also a fan of Millwall F.C.
and paraded his trophy at half time. A keen footballer himself, Fordham played for the Angerstein
Hotel in east Greenwich
after leaving school and this was where his love of darts was sparked. The Angerstein Hotel football team made up most of the resident darts team and after a training night the lads were a man short and asked 'The Whippet' to join them.
At the 2011 BDO World Darts Championship at the Lakeside, Mark Williams a former snooker world champion announced that Fordham had broke his leg.
Fordham is married to Jenny, and they have two children, Raymond and Emily. Fordham and Jenny run "The Cutty Sark" in Thamesmead having previously run The Queen's Arms in Woolwich
and The Rose public house in Dartford
Kent.
Charlton, London
Charlton is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Greenwich. It is located east-southeast of Charing Cross. Charlton next Woolwich was an ancient parish in the county of Kent, which became part of the metropolitan area of London in 1855. It is home to Charlton...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
darts
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
player. He won the 2004 BDO World Darts Championship, beating Mervyn King in the final. He is also a four-time semi-finalist at the Lakeside, and the 1999 Winmau World Masters
Winmau World Masters
The Winmau World Masters is one of the longest running and most prestigious professional darts tournaments, which began in 1974 - even before the current World Professional Championship...
champion.
Darts career
Fordham made his first appearance on the stage at LakesideLakeside Leisure Complex
The Lakeside Leisure Complex is a hotel, entertainment and leisure complex in Frimley Green near Camberley in Surrey. It is most famous as being the venue of the BDO World Darts Championship.-History:...
in 1995 and made it to the semi-finals before losing to Richie Burnett
Richie Burnett
Richie Burnett is a Welsh darts player who was the 1995 Embassy World Darts Champion and currently plays in Professional Darts Corporation events. His nickname is The Prince of Wales.-BDO career:...
. Another semi-final defeat followed in 1996, this time to Steve Beaton
Steve Beaton
Steve Beaton is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation...
. On both occasions, his victor went on to claim the title. Second round defeats followed in 1997 (to Marshall James) and 1998 (to Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
) before he made it a hat-trick of semi-final defeats in 1999, this time to Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
.
His 2000 campaign ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of Chris Mason
Chris Mason (darts player)
Christopher John Mason is an English darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. He uses the nickname Mace the Ace for his matches.- BDO and first PDC spell :...
and his fourth semi-final loss in 2001 was to Ted Hankey
Ted Hankey
Edward "Ted" Hankey is an English darts player who is a two-time BDO World Professional Darts Champion. His nickname is The Count and his walk on music is Be On Your Way by DJ Zany. Hankey built up a large following due to his obsession with and resemblance to Dracula...
. In 2002 and 2003 he went out in the first and second rounds respectively, before he finally managed to end his jinx in the 2004 World Championship. His run in the 2004 World Championship saw him win his first match 3-0 against unknown Brian Derbyshire. He then beat former Masters champion Tony West 3-0, and teased a 9-dart leg in the third set. He defeated Darryl Fitton
Darryl Fitton
Darryl Fitton is an English professional darts player currently playing in BDO events. He is nicknamed The Dazzler and comes to the stage dancing to the Madness song "One Step Beyond" wearing sunglasses. It is one of the most popular walk-ons with the audience...
in the quarter-finals 5-4, and then stunned Van Barneveld, the defending champion and strong tournament favourite, by recovering from 0-3 and 2-4 down to win 5-4 in what is considered one of the most dramatic matches in BDO history.
Fordham defeated King in the final, hitting a 139 checkout to take the eighth set 3-2 when Mervyn had reached a double-18, and then recovering from 2-0 down in the next set to take it 3-2 with double-8, and win the match by 6 sets to 3.
He has failed to win a single match at Lakeside in the three years since his title victory. The BDO World Champion receives an exemption from qualifying for a three-year period but that has now expired. His world ranking has slipped dramatically and major concerns about his health have meant that the chance of him returning to the heights of that 2004 success have receded.
BDO World Championship Results
- 1995: Semi-Finals (lost to Richie BurnettRichie BurnettRichie Burnett is a Welsh darts player who was the 1995 Embassy World Darts Champion and currently plays in Professional Darts Corporation events. His nickname is The Prince of Wales.-BDO career:...
2-5) - 1996: Semi-Finals (lost to Steve BeatonSteve BeatonSteve Beaton is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation...
3-5) - 1997: Second Round (lost to Marshall JamesMarshall JamesMarshall James is a professional darts player from Wales, whose only high-profile success in the game so far was being runner-up in the 1997 BDO World Championship, in his debut year at the championships. He is also known for his slow, deliberate throwing style....
2-3) - 1998: Second Round (lost to Raymond van BarneveldRaymond van BarneveldRaymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
2-3) - 1999: Semi-Finals (lost to Ronnie BaxterRonnie BaxterRonnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
1-5) - 2000: Quarter-Finals (lost to Chris MasonChris Mason (darts player)Christopher John Mason is an English darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. He uses the nickname Mace the Ace for his matches.- BDO and first PDC spell :...
3-5) - 2001: Semi-Finals (lost to Ted HankeyTed HankeyEdward "Ted" Hankey is an English darts player who is a two-time BDO World Professional Darts Champion. His nickname is The Count and his walk on music is Be On Your Way by DJ Zany. Hankey built up a large following due to his obsession with and resemblance to Dracula...
2-5) - 2002: First Round (lost to John WaltonJohn Walton (darts player)John Michael Walton is an English darts player who is a former World Champion. He has adopted the nickname The Boy and uses the song Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex as his walk-on theme.-Darts career:...
0-3) - 2003: Second Round (lost to Gary AndersonGary Anderson (darts player)Gary Anderson is a Scottish professional darts player from Eyemouth, Scottish Borders, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation, and a former BDO and WDF world number one. His nickname is The Flying Scotsman...
1-3) - 2004: Won (beat Mervyn King 6-3)
- 2005: 1st round (lost to Vincent van der VoortVincent van der VoortVincent van der Voort is a professional darts player.-Playing style:Vincent is well known for his spasmodic style and machine-gun speed of play which has gained him a reputation in both the BDO and the PDC for being one of the more erratic throwers in the darting world...
2-3) - 2006: 1st round (lost to Simon WhitlockSimon WhitlockSimon Whitlock is an Australian professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation tournaments, although he did have a spell playing in the rival organisation, the British Darts Organisation. He uses the nickname The Wizard for his matches...
0-3) - 2007: Withdrew from competition due to ill health
Health concerns
In 2004, he was forced to withdraw from a best-of-13-sets match at Purfleet's Circus Tavern which pitted the two world darts champions of that time (Fordham representing the BDO and Phil Taylor representing the PDC) due to heat intensity. Taylor was subsequently declared the victor having been leading the contest by 5 sets to 2. After the incident Fordham visited a doctor, who told him his liver was 75% dead and the other 25% was in bad shape and urged him to stop drinking alcohol immediately.Fordham's health has long been a concern. At one point he weighed 31 stone
Stone (weight)
The stone is a units of measurement that was used in many North European countries until the advent of metrication. It value, which ranged from 3 kg to 12 kg, varied from city to city and also often from commodity to commodity...
(197 kilograms, 434 lbs) and was in the habit of consuming 25 bottles of lager
Lager
Lager is a type of beer made from malted barley that is brewed and stored at low temperatures. There are many types of lager; pale lager is the most widely-consumed and commercially available style of beer in the world; Pilsner, Bock, Dortmunder Export and Märzen are all styles of lager...
before going on stage to play. The scare during the head-to-head game led Fordham to seek help via the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programme Celebrity Fit Club, where he became friends with the journalist and TV presenter Paul Ross
Paul Ross
Paul Ross is an English television and radio presenter, journalist, and media personality. He is the son of Martha Ross and the elder brother of Jonathan Ross.-Early life:...
. While getting a regime underway to try to lose some weight, he was defeated in the first round of the 2005 Lakeside World championship by Dutchman Vincent van der Voort
Vincent van der Voort
Vincent van der Voort is a professional darts player.-Playing style:Vincent is well known for his spasmodic style and machine-gun speed of play which has gained him a reputation in both the BDO and the PDC for being one of the more erratic throwers in the darting world...
. Fordham made another Lakeside appearance in 2006 but again suffered a first round exit, this time losing to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's Simon Whitlock.
Fordham was due to face Whitlock again in the first round of the 2007 BDO World Darts Championship
2007 BDO World Darts Championship
The 2007 Lakeside World Darts Championship was the 30th Championship and was held between January 6–14, 2007 at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey....
, but was once again hospitalised after complaining of chest pains and breathing difficulties. He was forced to pull out of the tournament as a result and Whitlock received a walkover and went through to the second round without throwing a single dart.
Weeks after pulling out of the BDO World Championship, Fordham suffered what was initially thought to be a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, which turned out to be severe breathing difficulties caused by massive fluid build-up in his lungs. The incident was described as "minor" by his agent, and he is expected to make a full recovery. In 2008, Fordham applied for a liver transplant. Although initially on an emergency liver transplant list, he subsequently lost 17 st (108 kg, 238 lbs) in weight and stopping drinking leading to an announcement in December that he probably would not require a transplant for five years.
Return to darts
In September 2007, after a nine month layoff due to serious health problems, Fordham made an unobtrusive return to the oche at the Turunc Open in Turkey. Fordham reached the semi-final of the singles event, losing to the eventual winner Martin Phillips from Wales. During the lay-off Fordham lost 10 stone (63.5 kg, 140 lbs).He won one match in an attempt to qualify for the 2008 Lakeside World Championship
2008 BDO World Darts Championship
*Michael Rosenauer was originally drawn to face Mark Webster, but chose to withdraw from the event to compete in the 2008 PDC World Championship. Jones had won the standby play-off at Bridlington prior to the World Masters-Statistics:- Women's Championship :...
, but went out in the last 128 and also lost in his opening match at the last 136 stage of the Winmau World Masters
Winmau World Masters
The Winmau World Masters is one of the longest running and most prestigious professional darts tournaments, which began in 1974 - even before the current World Professional Championship...
. He then received an invitation to play at the Zuiderduin Masters
Dutch Grand Masters darts
The Zuiderduin Dutch Grand Masters, more commonly referred to as the Zuiderduin Masters, is a major darts tournament held in Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, run by the British Darts Organisation and the World Darts Federation. It is held in December and is traditionally the last BDO event held...
in December 2007 - but lost both matches 0-5, to Mark Barilli
Mark Barilli
Mark Barilli is a Scottish darts player who plays in British Darts Organisation events. He is well known for his throwing style where he changes the speed of his throw from fast to slow alternatively, and also for attempting outrageous outshots including one occasion where he attempted to check...
(averaging 53.43) and to Co Stompé
Co Stompé
Jacobus Wilhelm "Co" Stompé , is a Dutch professional darts player who currently plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. Stompé is nicknamed The Matchstick because of his almost bald head and very thin appearance making him look like a matchstick...
(averaging 76.20). On 10 January 2009 it was announced that Fordham will move to the PDC.
PDC career
Fordham made his PDC debut in March 2009 at a Players Championship in Coventry losing his preliminary round match 6-4 against Gary Scratchley. After ending his first six tournaments with no money and without a single win, Fordham won his first match at the East Midlands Players Championship, beating Jon Archer 6-4 and earned £200 for his efforts. He eventually lost to James WadeJames Wade
James Wade is an English professional darts player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation . He became the youngest player ever to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in July 2007...
in the last 64 stage. He also won £200 in Austria and a combined total of £400 over two tournaments in Nuland. As of October 2011, Fordham is ranked 303 in the PDC Order of Merit having not won any prize money since October 2009.
Outside darts
Fordham is the eldest of four children and has a brother and two sisters. He grew up in CharltonCharlton, London
Charlton is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Greenwich. It is located east-southeast of Charing Cross. Charlton next Woolwich was an ancient parish in the county of Kent, which became part of the metropolitan area of London in 1855. It is home to Charlton...
, south-east London and attended Charlton Manor Primary School and Eaglesfield Secondary School. He was a keen track-and-field athlete in his younger days and was nicknamed 'The Whippet' at school.
Fordham is a huge fan of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football club Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, and even paraded his Lakeside trophy before a game at Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
in 2004, he is also a fan of Millwall F.C.
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
and paraded his trophy at half time. A keen footballer himself, Fordham played for the Angerstein
John Julius Angerstein
John Julius Angerstein , was a London merchant, Lloyd's under-writer, and patron of the fine arts. The imminent prospect that his collection of paintings was about to be sold by his estate, in 1824, galvanized the founding of the National Gallery, London.Angerstein was born in St Petersburg, Russia...
Hotel in east Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
after leaving school and this was where his love of darts was sparked. The Angerstein Hotel football team made up most of the resident darts team and after a training night the lads were a man short and asked 'The Whippet' to join them.
At the 2011 BDO World Darts Championship at the Lakeside, Mark Williams a former snooker world champion announced that Fordham had broke his leg.
Fordham is married to Jenny, and they have two children, Raymond and Emily. Fordham and Jenny run "The Cutty Sark" in Thamesmead having previously run The Queen's Arms in Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
and The Rose public house in Dartford
Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the borough of Dartford. It is situated in the northwest corner of Kent, England, east south-east of central London....
Kent.
External links
- Official Website Andy Fordham's official website.
- modusdarts.tv
- Fordham's first radio interview since falling ill BBC Sportsweek with Garry Richardson
- Andy Fordham's Darts Profile