A Penarth dad has launched darts club for under 18s, and it is already a hit with youngsters looking to become the next Luke Littler.  

Dean Ford launched the Under 18 Darts Club at Cogan Coronation Club on Monday, January 15 and numbers have already doubled.

Mr Ford, set up the club after his son was inspired by darting sensation Luke Littler, who won his first PDC senior title at the Bahrain Darts Masters at 16 years old after he beat number two in the world Michael Van Gerwyn 8-5.

He said: “My son has been into darts since April last year, we go down the Coronation Club me and him, and he plays with some of the other guys down there and I finally gave in to get a dart board in the house.

Penarth Times: Luke Littler inspires creation of Under 18s darts club at Cogan Conservative club. Picture: BICLuke Littler inspires creation of Under 18s darts club at Cogan Conservative club. Picture: BIC (Image: BIC)“But as it is too small to have people over and certain places or clubs don’t allow kids in there to play, I pitched the idea of an under-18's darts group to the club committee and they loved the idea.

“Last night we doubled in numbers, and it was only the second night, I had parents approach me from Cardiff saying the only place she could take her son was the other side of Newport, so it's great that we have set this up and hopefully it will take off.”

The darts club is for 12-year-old boys and girls, and it caught the attention of Luke Littler after he liked the club's post on social media.

Mr Ford added: “Last night I put out a tweet on X about our darts club and Luke Littler liked it, it was on our official Cogan Coronation account too.

Penarth Times: Luke Littler inspires creation of Under 18s darts club at Cogan Conservative club. Picture: Cogan Conservative Seniors, Juniors and Minis AFCLuke Littler inspires creation of Under 18s darts club at Cogan Conservative club. Picture: Cogan Conservative Seniors, Juniors and Minis AFC (Image: Cogan Coronation Seniors, Juniors and Minis AFC)

“I am hoping we can invite Gerwyn Price to come down for half an hour to chat with the boys as they would love that and would raise our profile a bit more.

“It would be nice if he could have a photo with them, the boys would love that, and it would get more kids through the door.”

To join the Under 18 Darts club it is £2.50 a week with all proceeds going towards new darting equipment for the group.