ALLY McCOIST once said succeeding Walter Smith as Rangers manager was “like taking the mic from Frank Sinatra”. Robert Thornton and John Henderson may feel similarly this week.

The decision by Peter Wright and Gary Anderson not to defend their Bet Victor World Cup of Darts title because of COVID-19 concerns has opened the door for Thornton and Henderson to step in and represent Scotland in Salzburg instead.

Trying to emulate the achievements of Wright and Anderson – current and former world champion respectively – may seem like a daunting task for two players ranked a fair bit further down the rankings.

Thornton, though, instead sees it an unexpected honour as he prepares for his first appearance at this event since 2016 alongside debutant Henderson, a familiar playing partner from back in the day.

That change in personnel means Scotland are no longer seeded in the tournament and Thornton, although setting out with the aim of trying to defend the crown, believes that lack of expectation ought to allow he and Henderson to simply enjoy the experience.

Very few people get the chance to represent their country in any sport and the Saltcoats-based thrower revealed it is a privilege that never gets old.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out there and playing for Scotland again,” he said. “It always fills you with pride to put on the shirt and represent your country. It’s something you never take for granted as you never know when it might come around again.

“If I’m being honest I probably thought my chance had passed so this is a nice bonus. It’s a shame that Peter and Gary won’t be there to defend the title but it’s let me and John in to give it a crack.

“There’s no pressure on us. It was Peter and Gary who won it and we’re a new team so it’s down to us just to perform as well as we can. Hopefully we can bring it back home again.

“It’s John’s first appearance in this event so I’ll try to help him through it if I can. But I’m sure he’ll have a rough idea what to expect. It’s not as if he’s not played on a stage before. It’s just a different event, that’s all.


“We know each other pretty well and have played a couple of times together before. So we know how each other plays. That’s a big help – I know what he’s capable of and vice versa.”

Dutch world number one Michael van Gerwen reportedly described Wright and Anderson’s decision not to travel to Austria as “cowardly”, a surprising stance given the amount of people from all walks of lives currently choosing not to travel because of the pandemic.

Thornton dismissed that disrespectful slight on his compatriots and felt Wright and Anderson were well within their rights to do whatever they felt was right for them and their families.

“You can understand the thinking behind it, especially for Gary who has a young family,” added Thornton.

“He’s got to put them first. And the pair have got heavy schedules so they’re maybe a bit worn out too.

“If Michael has said it’s cowardly for the two of them not to go then I can’t agree with that at all. It’s down to each individual to decide what’s right for then. So it’s not them being cowards.

“I wouldn’t say John and I have no concerns but as long as we wear our masks and use the hand sanitisers and the rest then hopefully we’ll be okay.

“I know the set-up will be a lot different than the previous times I played in this event, just because of all the restrictions. But we all know what we need to do and what to expect and I’m sure the organisers will make sure everything is as safe as possible for everyone taking part.”

This latest call-up is further evidence in Thornton’s eyes that he still has plenty to offer the sport yet. The 53 year-old still climbs the stairs to his loft most nights to put in hour after hour of practise and has no plans to call it a day any time soon.

“Tournaments are few and far between at the moment which is a shame but there’s not much anyone can do about that,” added the former World Grand Prix winner.

“But I’m still practicing as much as before. I still love it and every time I compete you can feel the adrenaline pumping. For as long as that’s still the case I’ll keep going. I’m not finished yet.”