Gurney Boost For Local College

Daryl Gurney

DARYL GURNEY has strengthened his links with the Derry community after sponsoring four sports team at the local Lisneal College.

The World Grand Prix champion previously studied at one of the local schools which merged to form Lisneal College, and will sponsor three football teams and the hockey team.

Gurney, the world number four, visited Lisneal College on Friday, where he met with pupils and saw the growing Darts Club in action after being welcomed the choir singing his "Sweet Caroline" walk-on song.

"The kids are absolutely over the moon that Daryl has agreed to sponsor the school teams," Lisneal principal Michael Allen told the Derry Daily.

The college's Darts Club has around 25 pupils playing each lunchtime, with local hero Gurney's success helping to inspire the growth in participation in the sport.

"We were searching for a role model and now we have one," added Allen. "There's one or two [players] who are pretty good."

Gurney's visit on Friday saw him present pupils with the new "Superchin" sponsored kits, as he prepares for his forthcoming challenge at the William Hill World Darts Championship.

"The enthusiasm of the children has been unbelievable, overwhelming," Gurney told BBC Radio Foyle. "It's a good thing and long may it continue - hopefully I can keep on getting more young people into darts.

"It's a growing sport now, probably just behind football, so hopefully it gets more popular and we can get some of them youngsters up doing what I'm doing."

Daryl Gurney