Darts Stars Given Ipswich Treat

KEVIN PAINTER and James Richardson were special guests of Ipswich Town FC last weekend.

The two stars were invited to Portman Road for Ipswich's game with Cardiff City on Saturday, which Town won 3-0.

Both players support Ipswich and were presented to the crowd at Portman Road, with Painter being recognised for winning December's Cash Converters Players Championship event and Richardson having made his name by knocking out Raymond van Barneveld on his debut in the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

Painter, who was born in Essex, is a long-standing Ipswich Town season ticket holder and still gets to as many games as he can when not competing on the PDC circuit.

"I've been on the pitch before, after I reached the World Championship final in 2004, but it was special to be able to show off a trophy this time around," said Painter, who travelled from Thursday's McCoy's Premier League Darts in Aberdeen to get to Ipswich for the game.

"I had a really good day and it was great of Ipswich to invite us both down. The team got a win too which made it even more memorable!"

Image courtesy ITFC/Action Images