Fordham, the darts champion who fought damaging drinking habit

The darts player, who has died aged 59, won the 2004 BDO World Championship at the Lakeside, beating Mervyn King in a thrilling final.

He had reached the top of the game and had the world at his feet.

But that turned out to be a danger.

Fordham, regarded as one of the most popular players in the sport by opponents and fans, later conceded that it was actually the worst thing that could have happened to him – and the manner of the victory tells the real story of his life and career.

Nicknamed the Viking and instantly recognisable for his huge frame, at one point weighing 31 stone, Fordham confessed that he was drunk during that landmark win.

He was a heavy drinker, a habit born out of running a pub with his wife Jenny, and reportedly drained a bottle of brandy and 24 bottles of beer before taking to the oche for the biggest night of his life.

He stormed to a memorable 6-3 win over King to put his name alongside some of the greats of the game.

But that was not without consequence, as the limelight and a raft of personal appearances came with free drinks – and he was not one to turn down a free drink.

“Maybe it was one of the worst things that could have happened to me, becoming world champion,” he said in a newspaper interview in 2009.

“I wasn’t used to the limelight. I was so shocked, I’d drink to cover it. You’d get invited here, there and everywhere and everything’s free. Drink is everywhere.

“I just enjoyed drinking. In the end I pissed away everything I earned.”

That included his health and, after being taken ill during a champion of champions meeting with Phil Taylor several months after his world title win, the full extent of Fordham’s issues were discovered.

In an era when the riches and razzmatazz of the PDC were just taking off, in which Fordham could have been alongside Taylor at the front and centre, he was instead being told by doctors his liver was 75 per cent dead, the remaining 25 per cent was not in great condition, and that he had to stop drinking immediately.

In a bid to get into shape, he enrolled on reality TV show Celebrity Fit Club but continued to struggle with health issues, including the need for a life-saving bowel operation in 2020.

It did not start out like that for Fordham, who was born in Bristol in 1962 as the eldest of four children but grew up in south east London.

He was an active child, had a keen interest in football and athletics and was nicknamed ‘The Whippet’ at school because of his speed.

His interest in darts coincided with the discovery of pubs and the two went hand in hand for much of his life and career.

Fordham’s incredible ability to perform while under the influence helped make him the player he was, but it also stopped him from achieving much more that his talent and friendly persona deserved.

Fordham is survived by his wife Jenny and their children Ray and Emily.

Press Association