Nathan Aspinall is battling for respect on the oche, feeling that he is still not seen as a top player despite everything he has achieved.
A former UK Open and World Matchplay champion and runner-up at the Premier League, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam and World Series Finals, the Asp has done more than most who have ever chucked an arrow.
Often described as a scrapper, a street fighter and praised for his tenacity, he accepts that these are compliments, but feels his talent is seriously undervalued while he is talked up as just a dogged competitor.
‘I say it all the time. I think I’m quite good with my press and how I handle situations, but sometimes I do flip. I’m like, “no one sees me as a good player!”‘ Aspinall told Metro at the launch of a Target Darts pop-up in Manchester.
‘I’ve been number three in the world, number five in the world. I’ve been in the Premier League five years on the bounce. I’ve only missed the play-offs once.
‘I’ve won a major titles with dartitis. I’ve won another major title. I’m f***ing good. You know what I mean?
‘I think maybe because I’m different. The way that I play the game, the way that I am, the way that I dress, the way that I act. I’m not your typical dart player. As I always say, I’m a little chav from Stockport.
‘People write me off all the time and it just gives me that motivation, that hunger to stick two fingers up at you.’
Apsinall mentioned the dartitis that he is still dealing with, but has largely conquered after a nightmare spell in his career.
Still just 34 years old he has been through a lot in terms of injuries and the condition that is every player’s worst fear, as a mental block hinders the throwing arm, hampering the release of the dart.
‘It’s a panic attack,’ Aspinall said of dartitis. ‘You’re scared of missing, you’re scared of losing, you’re scared of letting people down. You’re scared of falling down the rankings, of not having the lifestyle you’ve got. It’s a fear of losing what you’ve got.
‘It was horrific and I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy. But I’m working with the right people and we’re coming out the other end now.’
The Asp is still dealing with elbow, wrist and shoulder injuries, but is keeping on top of the issues through a mix of cortisone injections, chiropractors and physiotherapists.
What has seen him turn a corner more than anything, though, is hypnotherapy which he does twice a week and has helped him dispel the problems of dartitis.
He credits hypnotherapist Chris O’Connor, who also works with Stephen Bunting and former snooker world champion Kyren Wilson, for saving his career as he came close to quitting the game 12 months ago.
‘The day that I rang Chris, if he wouldn’t have dealt with me, I wouldn’t be playing now,’ Aspinall said.
‘September last year I went home, absolutely smashed my house to bits and said, “That’s it. I’m done.”
What does it feel like to be hypnotised?
‘You know you’ve nodded off. It’s so weird. You go into deep trance and you dream and you process everything,’ said Aspinall.
‘I was dead sceptical of it, if I’m honest with you, and until you do it and it actually happens to you, you’re like, wow. What the f**k just happened then? Then you get used to it.
‘It’s called REM state. It’s just about sleeping and processing everything that’s happened and takes it out of that s**t part of the brain to the good part. Apparently.’
On how it has changed him, he said: ‘It’s a way that you approach day-to-day life. I’m walking on that stage, not worrying about losing. I’m there enjoying the game. Not worrying about letting my fans down, because I know if I play well, I won’t let them down. It’s just self-talk.
‘There’s so many factors to it, but I think we’re getting there.’
‘Bunting phoned me and told me to speak to this guy and I was at Chris O’Connor’s house at 7am the next day, once I’d calmed down and sobered up. Then the rest is history. I owe him a hell of a lot.
‘It was a very tough period, but I had a good World Championship on the back of that, then a great Premier League campaign.
‘I think you need setbacks. I’ve had a lot of setbacks. but now I’m back playing well, I’ve found the love for the game again.
‘I’m in a happy place and I’m going to win lots more.’
Aspinall plays world number one Luke Humphries in the opening round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester on Monday October 6.