Andy rose from an East Greenwich pub to the top of the darts world
Former world darts champion Andy Fordham has died at the age of 59.
Fordham, nicknamed The Viking by commentator Bobby George, and raised in Charlton, won the tournament at the Lakeside 17 years ago, after four previous semi-final defeats.
He also won the 1999 Winmau World Masters. Born in Erith, Fordham was the eldest of four children and had a brother and two sisters.
He went to Charlton Manor Primary School and Eaglesfield Secondary School – now Shooters Hill Sixth Form College.
He was a keen track and-field athlete in his younger days and was nicknamed The Whippet at school.
After school, he carried on playing football for The Angerstein Hotel, East Greenwich. He would train on Wednesdays then go to the pub with his team-mates, some of whom played in a darts team.
Andy was persuaded to play one night when the team were a man down. He says: “I was crap but really enjoyed it. The atmosphere was good, I had a few beers and a good laugh, so I kept at it.”
Over time he progressed to the Kent Super League and then on to Kent County level. Working first as an apprentice plumber and then as an electrician’s mate with his father, Sid, Fordham became more dedicate – he idolised the five times world champion Eric Bristow.
In 2000 he married Jenny Vallely, a dental nurse, and soon took over the running of the Queens Arms pub in Woolwich.
Andy reached the semi-finals of the BDO World Championships for the first time in 1995 before losing to Richie Burnett.
Another semifinal defeat followed in 1996, this time to Steve Beaton. Both times, his victor then went on to claim the title. He made it to the semis for third time in 1999, but was beaten by Ronnie Baxter.
His fourth semi-final loss in 2001 was to Ted Hankey. But he would go all the way in 2004 and take the £50,000 purse. His run saw him win his first match comfortably, 3–0 against qualifier Brian Derbyshire.
He then beat former Masters champion Tony West 3–0. He defeated Darryl Fitton in the quarter-finals 5–4, and then stunned Van Barneveld, the defending world champion and strong favourite, by recovering from 0–3 and 2–4 down to win the match 5–4, in what is still considered one of the most dramatic and exciting matches in British Darts Organisation history.
In the final, Fordham defeated Mervyn King, hitting a 139 checkout to take the eighth set 3–2 when King had reached a double-18, and then recovering from 2–0 down in the next set to take it 3–2 with double-8, and win the match by 6 sets to 3.
In “The Showdown” which followed, against Phil Taylor, the reigning Professional Darts Organisation world champion, in a best-of-13- sets match at Purfleet’s Circus Tavern, he became unwell and complained of shortness of breath.
He took a break after the seventh set and was advised not to continue by medical staff, so had to default with the score at 5-2.
The one-time publican admitted to drinking heavily during matches and collapsed at the 2007 event.
At one stage he weighed 31 stone and admitted regularly consuming 24 bottles of lager before going on stage to play darts. He said he felt more comfortable playing when not fully sober.
But despite battling a number of health issues he played in the 2015 Grand Slam of Darts after coming through qualifying.
A statement on the BDO website said: “The British Darts Organisation is deeply saddened to hear of the loss of the darts legend Andy (The Viking) Fordham, a true gentleman of the game who will be deeply missed by all. “Our hearts and thoughts are with his family at this time.”
Two-time BDO world finalist Bobby George was among those to pay tribute on Twitter. “Just heard the devastating news that Andy Fordham has passed away.
He was a gentle giant and loved by all,” he said. “Our condolences go out to his wife Jenny family and friends.
RIP Andy Fordham the Viking.” Promoter Barry Hearn described him as “a gentleman of whom I have never heard a bad word” and the former world champion John Lowe said he was “a true friend of everyone”.
Fordham, who required a life-saving bowel operation in 2020 and was diagnosed with Covid19 at the start of this year.
He died of major organ failure on July 15. He is survived by Jenny, their two children, Raymond and Emily, siblings John, Julie and Tracy, and eight grandchildren
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