Profile & Biography - Scotty Dog Mitchell

September 87 saw me join the Ringwood League Div 3, with the New Queen B on Mondays, which my godfather ran. Some crazy nights out with his 2 sons Malc an Rich and my future best man Wayne attracted me to the game more. Added to the Thurs with Trev, Allan, Shitty Shuter (he drove tractors and spread muck) Duncan and Turbo Arse Ben, the darts was not the reason I went really. I went on to win my 1st trophy that year and at the Ringwood League Presentation I was handed my trophy by Jane Kempster (now Moulsley, and still plays to an extremely good standard) I remember thinking I have just been kissed by a Dorset and England legend! (she kisses me every time I see her now). Still feels great !!! She's still a big hero of mine.

In late 1988 Trev said "we are going to a competition at the plummers arms in christchurch". I made it to the final and Trev said "you've done great to get to here, but you won't win the final! you're playing that little fella over there". "Don't worry Trev, I'll be fine and beat the midget." I was 2-0 up and ended up losing 3-2 and never got another dart at a double. I asked him what his name was, he said I'm Ricky Forward. That was the closest I've ever been to beating him to this day. He is still a Big "little" hero of mine. 20 years later I now play in the same team. Strange how darts works. In 1989/90, our team members had gone separate ways and 2 weeks before The Ringwood league was due to start, I had no team. Then a call from a guy who made me play darts to win. Ringwood legend Whistle Hayes called saying he wanted me to play for him. He had given me a hard time when we had met before, so I told him to get lost and put the phone down. He called again saying he really wanted me to play and I said no way and put the phone down again. The next night he phoned said this was last time he would ask, he told me he could teach me to play properly and win stuff, so off to the Hunters Lodge I went. Those guys taught me right away, nobody was bigger than the team and if you don't like it go somewhere else. He dropped me for the 1st game and Whistle said you didn't think we wanted you to play did you. We needed a chalker, those fellas taught me lots about playing for each other and you win lots more for your team. We won the league there many times and a few times when we probably wasn't the best team. 20 years on I've found that to be the case.

Mick Randell gave me my break in the Dorset Superleague with St Ives in which I still thank him when I see him. I played with Whistle there too. We played in leagues all over Salisbury Ferndown Christchurch Wimborne Fordingbridge Verwood Blandford and Premier money league at Branksome. Nick Wilson, Kev Sargent and Dave King were there along some of the way teaching me right from wrong in the etiquette of the game. Oh I did all the driving!

Whistle convinced me to play county for Dorset, which is where I still play. Every time I have represented a county in my life up to then it was for Hampshire. I met new people and great friends like Mark and Michelle Porter inside and outside of the darts circle. (they my drivers) ha ha !!! Really struggled with whole county thing at the start. Still do at times. You never know what can happen up on that stage. You can only hope you play just well enough. Back to old saying, if you think your bigger than the team you may get away with it for so long but eventually you get shot down up there. It is a great place to play your darts.