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An archipelago situated between Scotland, Iceland and Norway, the Faroe Islands are known for their quaint fishing villages surrounded by grassy flatlands and dramatic cliffs. Sheep outnumber people by beyond 20,000 and 97 percent of their economy is centred around the fishing industry.
It was where PDC Qualifying School hopeful, John Imrie, was raised to a father who was a Scottish fisherman and a Faroese mother. Despite having lived in Scotland or England for the most part of his life, the Faroese flag is emblazoned on the sleeve of his playing shirt opposite the Tartan pattern.
“Growing up in the Faroe Islands and being a young, young lad, there’s not too much to remember. But when I was there, there was lots of fish, whales and no television, not even a football team like there is now and many other sports,” Imrie explained.
“I moved to Scotland with my mum and dad as he was a Scottish fisherman and in bad weather used to shelter in the Faroe Islands to which my parents met. We came across in the fishing boat and I remember living in a place in Fife. When we – as in me and my two sisters – were older, we moved to a place called Pittenweem where my dad was born, another fishing village not far away.
“Eventually growing up into my teens and watching my mother play at home and for a local team, that’s where I got the passion for darts. I played for the men’s team at the same pub as my mum and then played in a grander league in St Andrew’s against the big county and international players, winning the St Andrew’s singles, before moving to Devon which was the top of what I thought I could ever achieve in darts.
“I travelled all over Scotland with some big players – Danny Cunningham, [Alex] Lister, Jocky [Wilson] and a good old friend Colin McClements – then moved to Barnstaple, North Devon which became my second home for 30 years. But after a couple of years and a relationship break up, I was on my own and on the streets.
“I couldn’t phone home as I was skint and there was no mobile phones in them days so I had to think what to do. It was meant to be only a week in a black bag with newspaper pushed inside to keep me warm and, thanks to people not wanting to finish their burgers, I had something to eat out of the bins and a few puddles to drink from.
“As time went on I found myself getting deeper and deeper into the loneliness and a feeling of helplessness. I walked around looking for money that people had dropped or thrown away, but I never begged or took drugs, which I found a lot of that was happening.”
Darts emerged as Imrie’s incentive towards eventual happiness after seven gruelling months on the streets without a roof over his head, persistently envisaging being back on the dartboard. He remained isolated and vulnerable until receiving a lifeline from a couple who happened to bump into him.
“It got me thinking about what I was like before and wanting to get back to playing darts, meeting lots of great people,” he added. “I said to myself that I wanted to play for Scotland, even play and win everything I could for Devon. Within a short time I was doing that after the amazing help from a man and his wife that I barely knew.
“They got me off the streets and into their home. Although I never got my dream to play for Scotland, that dream I can hold forever in my heart because that got me to where I am aiming now. When I found out that my country of birth had started to play darts, my aim was higher and representing the Faroe Islands is what I have to do. It’s hard to split my heart and head, but both are in my heart.”
Despite never fulfilling a dream and toeing the oche in Scottish colours, Imrie was a force to be reckoned with in local competitions and has come across an array of the sport’s renowned names during his four decades in the sport. It was a late Scottish stalwart who had the most influence on him.
“I have come across many a big name in darts, from watching them on TV to playing in the same pub or county side to playing against them and beating a few of them,” Imrie revealed. “I’ve received advice from each one, from Peter Manley to Wolfie to Ross Montgomery to the old pub bloke that said show how good you are with the darts and not your mouth.
“The person who helped me most in terms of advice and encouragement has got to be ex-Scotland international and close friend, Danny Cunningham. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us, but he always told me to respect the player you are playing like you wish to be yourself. It’s unfortunate some are not like that, but you’re never too old to learn. He said it’s a game of darts and when it becomes more than that, the heart in it has gone.”
Imrie’s relocation to Devon witnessed him experience his greatest years in the sport thus far, from winning the Devon Open to making 50 appearances for Devon A under the county umbrella. He often competed in the same team as Ryan Searle – who has recently broken into the world’s top 16 after a remarkable rise in recent years.
Searle secured professional status via the PDC Challenge Tour alongside soon-to-be world champion Rob Cross more than five years ago. The 34-year-old from Holcombe Rogus has since scooped two ranking accolades and reached the Players Championship Finals final, emerging as an inspiration for his former teammate in the process.
“Ryan is an amazing lad, I’ve got so much respect for the bloke,” Imrie expressed after watching his upsurge from the county scene to becoming an elite professional. “The same goes for the others who have tried from Devon – Paul Milford, Simon Stevenson, Mike Beal and more.
“Ryan’s a great lad on the board and off it, from walking around Welshpool at county and looking in shops to playing him in the final at a competition in Exeter, in which he was 3-0 up and I won 5-3. He said I lured him into a false sense of security – I hope he took that with him to the PDC and knew what to look out for! He’s a great inspiration for me and I want to be on that stage playing him again.”
Whilst Searle was preparing for the most successful season of his short-lived career within the professional echelons, Imrie made his return at Q School last February. Having impressed in breezing through the qualifying hurdle, it was a tremendous performance in overcoming a famous figure that spiralled him into the headlines.
Imrie shattered the hopes of the trailblazing female sensation Fallon Sherrock, recording a scintillating 103.66 average, two 13-darters and limiting her to only three attempts at double. The 58-year-old was not particularly content about playing her, although that spurred him onto a notable victory.
“Last year when I had to play Fallon, they made me wait a long time and I was determined that I was going to beat her,” Imrie reminisced. “I have to be honest and say I was not too pleased [about playing Fallon], which probably gave me the decision that I was not going to let her win.
“She’s a good player though, but I was feeling good and playing well, and this year I hope to emulate that exact eagerness and show other older players that they are never too far over the hill to do the same anytime.”
Qualifying School is commonly alluded to as a dream factory. It’s often a destination that unravels darting stories like nowhere else. Cambridge-based Imrie returns to the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes alongside those happy memories of last year, with the ultimate intention of securing a coveted tour card.
With hundreds of talented throwers attempting to accomplish identical aspirations, achieving professional status is no mean feat. A homecoming at March’s Faroe Islands Open is second resort should the former Baltic Cup champion be unsuccessful in Buckinghamshire, with sealing silverware there at the upper end of his bucket list.
“Q School this year is giving me a chance to do things better. Last year we were locked in the hotel room all day and all night, whereas this time I believe we have freedom,” he laughed. “And, to be honest, if I can’t get the tour card, the experience would’ve been totally amazing.
“I’m out to get a card though so mustn’t talk negatively, however, the WDF tour will be starting soon fingers crossed and, with the Faroe Islands Open in March, I’m so looking forward to it and to win that one would put that final cherry on top of the cake for me. I still have that dream and an understanding wife.”
