The Outrageous True Story of Darts

Bellies and Bullseyes

The hilarious and exhilarating true story of darts by the sport's true legend

Sid Waddell's commentaries are the black puddings of sports reporting, savoury, hot and bursting with blood and guts

We are lucky to be alive in the era of Sid

Entertaining ... an enjoyable and important read from the man who has been at the heart of many of the great moments in the history of the sport

A fascinating, well-structured, readable and at times hilarious history of modern darts

Terrific ... a must-read for all darts fans

Waddell's true story is a tragic-comic one of conquerors and casualties, and he tells it with wit and sympathy

[Sid's] knowledge is legendary ... If you're a fan of darts, this is one of the year's must-reads

Sid Waddell, 'The Geordie Lip', the Moses of the game, was born in Northumberland in 1940, the son of a miner. Having graduated with a degree in History from Cambridge University, he started out as a TV producer working on Indoor League in the early 1970s. This led to him receiving the back-handed compliment of being asked to be the BBC's lead commentator on all their major BDO televised darts tournaments. He worked for them in this capacity from 1978 to 1993 during which time he also penned the highly successful children's television series Jossy's Giants. Since 1993 he has worked for Sky Television and commentates on all major PDC televised darts tournaments.

Bellies and Bullseyes is simply the greatest account there will ever be about the sport of darts - as told by one of its most legendary characters - Sid Waddell. It mixes Sid's own personal journey from the coalfields of the North East with the entire history of the sport. What is revealed is a hilarious yet epic Darts Babylon, covering every significant event and every character to walk the oche from Eric 'The Crafty Cockney' Bristow to Phil 'The Power' Taylor. 
 
In words as ripe as his commentaries, Sid brings an authentic whiff of fags, hard drink, hot tungsten and moist polyester to the whole cabaret. Sid has been friend and confidante to most of darts' stars over the years as well as being instrumental in the game's progress himself. Nobody is equipped to tell the story quite like he is. 
 
From the early days of hustling in bars and the 1960s money-race pub competitions that spawned the likes of John Lowe and Leighton Rees, to ITV's brilliantly daft The Indoor League and the glory days of BBC's coverage; from the bling of Bobby George and the belly of Jocky Wilson to the awesome professionalism of Phil Taylor; from smoky Northern working men's clubs to the Houses of Parliament; this is the complete, incredible story of darts.

Sid Waddell

A Northern Childhood

'I had not lived in the former pit village of Lynemouth since 1961 but the winding road north from Newcastle will always be the same nostalgic highway, each twist charged with vivid memories and powerful emotions...' 
 
So begins a story full of wonderful humour, emotional candour and hardy tales of tough times - a quietly epic family saga set amid the pit villages of the North East . It stretches from the 1920s, before Sid's parents had even met, to the final closing of the mine and his mother's death in 1999. 
 
Sid paints a picture of a colourful, tight knit community full of good times and hard work, god-fearing women and hard-drinking men. Always dominating the skyline is Auld Betty, the pit head that took the men away each day and, with a prayer, brought them back each evening. Amongst the unforgettable cast of his extended family and friends, we follow the Waddells' attempts to stay afloat and provide a better future and possible escape for youngsters like Sid.

Sid Waddell

Books by Sid Waddell

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