Martin Fitzmaurice
Encyclopedia
Martin Fitzmaurice is an English darts master of ceremonies, caller, scorer and referee who has operated for one of the game's governing bodies the British Darts Organisation
since 1985.
Martin introduces the players after reciting his catchphrase, "Are you ready? Ladies and Gentlemen... LET'S... PLAY.....DARTS!"
. He spent all but six days of his first five years living in Wales during World War II
. On returning to London he went to Clement Dane's Grammar School where he stayed on to complete his A-levels.
After school he had jobs in a solicitor's office and later worked as an electrician and also a tube train driver. He met his future wife Doreen at Queens Park Rangers football ground and they married in 1964. The Fitzmaurices moved to Colchester
in 1975 where he was asked to chalk a match (keep track of players' scores) in a local pub which was the start of his long career in darts.
asked Fitzmaurice if he would referee for him in exhibition matches when his regular referee Freddie Williams was unavailable. The two ended up working together for around five years.
Then at the World Masters in 1985 regular caller Jack Price was taken ill, Bobby George's persistence with the BDO to use Fitzmaurice paid off and he stood in to fulfil the role.
became the first player to achieve a perfect nine-dart finish
in the World Championships.
Fitzmaurice now fulfils the role as Master of Ceremonies at BDO tournaments - introducing the players onto the stage with his catchphrase, "Let's play darts!"
He is also synonymous with the British Darts Organisation
and has made several disparaging comments about the Professional Darts Corporation
. Asked in 2004 by the BBC web site whether he took any interest in the PDC World Championship he said, "None at all. There's a lot of politics that goes on, and a lot of black propaganda. All we want to do is make our system the best possible for a player."
British Darts Organisation
The British Darts Organisation, or the BDO for short, is a darts organisation founded on 7 January 1973 by Olly Croft, OBE. The BDO is a founder member of the World Darts Federation which was formed in 1976....
since 1985.
Martin introduces the players after reciting his catchphrase, "Are you ready? Ladies and Gentlemen... LET'S... PLAY.....DARTS!"
Early life
Fitzmaurice was born near the Rainbow Suite in Kensington, which would coincidentally be a later venue for the Winmau World MastersWinmau 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 spent all but six days of his first five years living in Wales during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On returning to London he went to Clement Dane's Grammar School where he stayed on to complete his A-levels.
After school he had jobs in a solicitor's office and later worked as an electrician and also a tube train driver. He met his future wife Doreen at Queens Park Rangers football ground and they married in 1964. The Fitzmaurices moved to Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
in 1975 where he was asked to chalk a match (keep track of players' scores) in a local pub which was the start of his long career in darts.
Early darts career
Shortly after refereeing a youth match in Essex, darts player Bobby GeorgeBobby George
Robert Francis George is an English darts player and presenter. He is widely recognised as one of the game's biggest personalities, known for his flamboyant entrances in which the "King of Darts" makes his way to the stage bedecked in jewellery, wearing a crown and cloak and holding a candelabra...
asked Fitzmaurice if he would referee for him in exhibition matches when his regular referee Freddie Williams was unavailable. The two ended up working together for around five years.
Then at the World Masters in 1985 regular caller Jack Price was taken ill, Bobby George's persistence with the BDO to use Fitzmaurice paid off and he stood in to fulfil the role.
BDO career
Fitzmaurice was a chalker at the 1986 Embassy World Final, the first time the tournament had been held at the Lakeside Country Club. He was later the caller/referee and one of his biggest moments came in 1990 when Paul LimPaul Lim
Paul Lim Leong Hwa known simply as Paul Lim is a professional darts player who will be best remembered for being the first player to hit a perfect nine-dart finish during the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship in 1990...
became the first player to achieve a perfect nine-dart finish
Nine dart finish
A nine-dart finish is the ultimate checkout in the game of darts, constituting a perfect game. It is notoriously difficult to achieve, even by the game's top professionals...
in the World Championships.
Fitzmaurice now fulfils the role as Master of Ceremonies at BDO tournaments - introducing the players onto the stage with his catchphrase, "Let's play darts!"
He is also synonymous with the British Darts Organisation
British Darts Organisation
The British Darts Organisation, or the BDO for short, is a darts organisation founded on 7 January 1973 by Olly Croft, OBE. The BDO is a founder member of the World Darts Federation which was formed in 1976....
and has made several disparaging comments about the Professional Darts Corporation
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation is a professional darts organization, established in the United Kingdom during 1992, when a group of leading professional players split from the British Darts Organisation to form what was initially called the World Darts Council...
. Asked in 2004 by the BBC web site whether he took any interest in the PDC World Championship he said, "None at all. There's a lot of politics that goes on, and a lot of black propaganda. All we want to do is make our system the best possible for a player."
Trivia
- When Fitzmaurice married in 1964, he weighed 12 stone (168 pounds), for years however his weight did peak at around 23 to 25 stones (322 to 350 pounds) but his weight is now around 20 stones (280 pounds)
- Martin and wife Doreen have four grown up daughters, Karen, Lisa, Lesley and Angela