- Manchester United fan Luke Littler is going for darts glory at Alexandra Palace
- Players, past and present, of his favourite team have reached out in support
- The teenage sensation has won lots of new fans – many are amazed at his age
Luke Littler is still pinching himself after being inundated with messages of support from his heroes at Manchester United.
The boyhood United fan is the talk of sport right now as he bids to become the youngest person to ever win the World Darts Championship.
He has bulldozed his way through the competition and the 16-year-old is now one match away from the most improbable of victories on debut.
Littler’s story has captured the attention of the nation and he has been inundated with messages of support from a series of celebrities, not least some of Manchester United’s past and present stars.
‘I’ve got a lot of followers now. I’ve had a message off Luke Shaw, from Manchester United, from Rio Ferdinand, and I had a message off Gary Neville and Jonny Evans before my game against Barney,’ Littler told the BBC.
Luke Littler has received lots of messages of support from some of his footballing idols
The Man United fan got a message from Gary Neville prior to facing Raymond van Barneveld
Jonny Evans (left) and Luke Shaw (right) have also sent Littler messages of support
‘It’s just crazy, people I’ve looked up to, especially my club Man United, wishing me luck.’
Poll
Who will win the PDC World Darts Championship final?
- Luke Littler 16 votes
- Luke Humphries 3 votes
Fans joked that Littler needed to do the opposite to this current Manchester United team if he wanted to continue to win.
Ahead of his clash with idol Raymond van Barneveld in the last-16, his new fans were hoping Neville hadn’t ‘cursed’ the young sensation.
‘I’m with your beloved Manchester United at Nottingham Forest,’ Neville said in a video message to Littler.
‘I hope we get the result that you want and I want ahead of your unbelievable special match tonight against Van Barneveld, your hero.
‘It’s going to be an exciting night for everyone. I’m wishing you all the very best and sending you that Manchester United spirit.’
While United were turned over by Forest – deservedly so on the night – Littler produced the then-latest victory in a string of fine performances to progress.
Littler posed with injured Tottenham midfielder and avid darts fan James Maddison recently
Littler recently posed for a picture with Arsenal superstars Aaron Ramsdale and Declan Rice
The Warrington-based player has beaten Christian Kist, Andrew Gilding, Matthew Campbell, Van Barneveld, Brendan Dolan and Rob Cross en route to tonight’s final.
That fairytale run has captured the attention and hearts of other footballers, with Donny van de Beek, who left Manchester United on loan this week to join Eintracht Frankfurt, among those to ask the 16-year-old for a photo.
Arsenal pair Aaron Ramsdale and Declan Rice also got in on the action, while Tottenham playmaker and darts aficionado James Maddison invited Littler to watch Spurs’ clash with Bournemouth at the weekend.
