SKY Sport's decision to turn the recent showdown between darts champions Phil Taylor and Andy Fordham into a pay per view event reflects the upsurge in interest in a sport that in the 90s was thought to be in decline.

And that interest has been reflected locally with an increase in players fancying their chance on the oche in clubs across St Helens - a town that has remained hotbed of arrows.

The St Helens Super League side is currently top of the Premier Division and the town has three players in the Lancashire team, including captain Doug Smith, who has been playing for the Red Rose county since 1986.

Television

Doug, who also skippers the Super League side, has noticed a renewed interest in his sport.

He said: "Darts started dying off a bit in the 1990s and a lot of pubs became free houses and started taking out their dart boards.

"But it seems to be flourishing again. I think television coverage has a lot to do with it.

"There is a lot more shown on Sky now and there are a lot of good players out there.

"When I play across the town a lot of young lads come up to me and ask how they get on to the St Helens Super League team.

"There are a few more lads turning out - especially younger ones who never used to bother.

"Over the last six to 12 months they have started coming up asking how they can get to enter different competitions."

The town team are doing very well at the moment, with top players like Alec Hallwood, Brian Singleton, Dave Chisnall, Craig Nealon, Mark Holbeck, Alan Tabern Junior, Tony Dingsdale and Stuart Maudsley all on top of their game.

Top

"We are top of the league - ahead of sides from Farnworth, Burnley, Oldham, West Craven, Stockport and Lune Valley.

"Our final game in the Super League will be around April and May time, and hopefully we will still be top then," said Doug.

Doug, who throws for the Swan in Earlestown and the Sprayhurst club in Boundary Road, puts his success over the years down to 'Just a bit of nerve and a bit of luck.'

"My advice to players is 'don't get too nervous' because there is a lot of pressure on you.

"You get young players on a night going, 'Am I on against Dougie Smith?' and then they get nervous.

"I say 'you should not let it get to you, just concentrate on your own game and concentrate on the board'.

"That said, I did all that sort of stuff when I was first starting off.

"The best players in town in those days were the likes of Jimmy Houghton, Alan Kearns, Jimmy Lyons, Johnny Carberry, Terry Allen, Jimmy Lawton.

"Captaining Lancashire has given me some of my proudest moments. A couple of months ago I played Andy Fordham, and was 2-0 up and should have won. Unfortunately, he came back and beat me 3-2," Doug said.

Fridays

The Eccleston-based arrows-ace, who runs the Thatto Heath and District Friday night league with Alec Hallwood, says even the advent of Saints switching their Super League games to Fridays has not affected their turnouts.

"I recall a few years ago at the AGM there was a concern that Saints playing on a Friday might affect things. But when it came down to it our players preferred to play darts. A lot of lads used to go to Saints, but they chose to carry on playing. The 301 has always been on a Friday night," Doug said.

On Fridays there are 24 teams, who have nine players each team and then on Thursdays there are another 13 teams.

The local scene thrives on the banter on the circuit especially the rivalry between the likes of Sprayhurst, York and Huntsman.

Doug singled out the Sprayhurst as being the best for facilities, with three or of four boards up.

"There are also good throws at Triplex and Prescot Reform. And the York is not bad little chuck," Doug said.