Eric Bristow dies

[Hiber-nation]

Died of a heart attack this evening. Whatever next.

[lord bunberry]

****ing gutted to hear that tonight. His battles with Jocky in the 80’s were absolutely legendary in an age before sky tv and others had robbed sport of their innocence. RIP big man.

[Pretty Boy]

Missed his best years but always enjoyed his straight talking analysis, his cooling relationship with Taylor meant he didn't do the typical Sky sycophantic thing everyone else did.

Whilst it's a shock to read the news and it's all very sudden, he was in the paper recently boasting he was 'still on 40 fags a day' so it's probably not that surprising really.

[Babyshamble]

Has sadly passed away RIP CRAFTY COCKNEY

[MyJo]

And Aaron Ramsey scored again :eek:

[Babyshamble]

And Aaron Ramsey scored again :eek:

No need for that

[Scottie]

****ing gutted to hear that tonight. His battles with Jocky in the 80’s were absolutely legendary in an age before sky tv and others had robbed sport of their innocence. RIP big man.
:agree: Really disliked Eric with a passion in his hey-day against Jocky but warmed to his humour after he retired and his dedication to getting the sport to where it is today. He dominated darts in his day and was a fantastic champion. RIP Eric

[Tobias Funke]

Missed his best years but always enjoyed his straight talking analysis, his cooling relationship with Taylor meant he didn't do the typical Sky sycophantic thing everyone else did.

Whilst it's a shock to read the news and it's all very sudden, he was in the paper recently boasting he was 'still on 40 fags a day' so it's probably not that surprising really.

I knew he was a heavy smoker and will have been a huge factor in his sudden death. Great player, acquired taste as a person. Sad to hear he passed away.

[Sir David Gray]

No need for that

It's some coincidence.

I've just looked through the list of famous people who have died within days of Aaron Ramsey scoring a goal and there's about 15 or 16 of them, it's really quite spooky.

[Babyshamble]

It's some coincidence.

I've just looked through the list of famous people who have died within days of Aaron Ramsey scoring a goal and there's about 15 or 16 of them, it's really quite spooky.are you really comparing people scoring goals with someone losing their life?

[lord bunberry]

:agree: Really disliked Eric with a passion in his hey-day against Jocky but warmed to his humour after he retired and his dedication to getting the sport to where it is today. He dominated darts in his day and was a fantastic champion. RIP Eric

I absolutely hated him. It was him against Jocky, and all of Scotland were behind Jocky. What can’t be forgotten is his role in moving darts over from the amateur bdo to the professional sport it is today.

[Sauzee16]

It's some coincidence.

I've just looked through the list of famous people who have died within days of Aaron Ramsey scoring a goal and there's about 15 or 16 of them, it's really quite spooky.

Aye no bother. It’s not spooky at all and not even the slightest but humorous.

[lord bunberry]

Aye no bother. It’s not spooky at all and not even the slightest but humorous.

Yes a man has died and people are looking for the non existent humour. Pathetic really.

[Bishop Hibee]

I've tried explaining to my kids how big darts (and snooker) were in the 80's but they don't get it. Eric Bristo was the king of darts then. He was the player people loved to hate because he knew how good he was and was happy to tell people. Vividly remember sitting with all the family cheering Jocky Wilson to victory over him. Great days. RIP.

[Sir David Gray]

are you really comparing people scoring goals with someone losing their life?

Yeah that's what I'm doing. :aok:

[NAE NOOKIE]

RIP Eric

As others have said, it was him v Jocky Wilson back in the day. Its funny how in the 70s and 80s sport seemed to throw up rivalries where you had the unbeatable machines like Borg in tennis, Steve Davis in the snooker and Bristow in the darts .... but there was always the maverick troubled genius you hoped would be their nemesis like McEnroe, Higgins or Wilson. The truth was the machines were just as important as the maverick to the spectacle, they were great days when you look back.

[G B Young]

:agree: Really disliked Eric with a passion in his hey-day against Jocky but warmed to his humour after he retired and his dedication to getting the sport to where it is today. He dominated darts in his day and was a fantastic champion. RIP Eric

Yes, the 'Crafty Cockney' was easy to dislike but as you say it's only after their heyday has passed that you start to mellow towards guys like that and realise what great entertainers and competitors they were. Bristow knew just how to play the crowd and it was characters like him that gave darts its massive popularity back then.

John Lowe was the other really big name at the time. Also a terrific player but a cooler character than Bristow or Wilson.

[heretoday]

He'll be playing darts in heaven with Jocky Wilson.

[One Day Soon]

He'll be playing darts in heaven with Jocky Wilson.

St Peter's gonna need a bigger bar then.

[JeMeSouviens]

He'll be playing darts in heaven with Jocky Wilson.

With Sid Waddell going nuts in the commentary box!

[heretoday]

St Peter's gonna need a bigger bar then.

Alex Higgins and Georgie Best are the barmen.

[blackpoolhibs]

He was a good guy, cocky but could back it up.He played golf at my club with Deller, Mardle and the bald guy who shouts out the scores every year the world championship is in Blackpool.

Talked to anyone who went up to him, and not just a casual hello, seemed to talk to them and take an interest.

Came and sat next to us for a drink while we sat outside in the sun last year, was really interested in our society who'd just had our Monday presentation.

RIP Eric.

[DaveF]

He was a good guy, cocky but could back it up.He played golf at my club with Deller, Mardle and the bald guy who shouts out the scores every year the world championship is in Blackpool.

Talked to anyone who went up to him, and not just a casual hello, seemed to talk to them and take an interest.

Came and sat next to us for a drink while we sat outside in the sun last year, was really interested in our society who'd just had our Monday presentation.

RIP Eric.

Russ Bray.

Met them in a bookies in Wolverhampton years ago. Bookies, fags and darts was his comfort zone.

[Greentinted]

Just noticed that ITV4 are showing his ‘Life Story’ at 9pm. Worth a look to see one of the giants of sport do his thing one more time. I grew up during the halcyon days of Bristow, Wilson, Lowe, et-al and similar to the snooker players of the day (Embassy always backed a winning game), those guys were real household names.
And fair dos to Eric, without him, the resurgent popularity of the game we see now, particularly the phenomenon that is Taylor, may well never have happened.
Found him quite engaging when he did his stint in the jungle, came over as a bloke I’d like to have a pint and a blether with.
RIP The Crafty Cockney.

[lord bunberry]

The funny thing about him was that everyone in Scotland hated him during his prime as we all wanted Jocky to win. He played the pantomime villain very well when he played up here. I remember the old Scotland v England matches in the playhouse. Brilliant stuff. The thing I love about the darts is you still get the characters. I’m going down to the O2 for the final of the premier league, hopefully they do some sort of tribute to Eric.

[Babyshamble]

Bristow & cliff lazerenko came to the statio hotel in Leslie for an exhibition.drunk the bar dry.big cliff had 20 pints haha

[Hiber-nation]

Bristow & cliff lazerenko came to the statio hotel in Leslie for an exhibition.drunk the bar dry.big cliff had 20 pints haha

I see big Cliff is still alive, but I think he was ill for a while. Funny you should mention that as I remember my mate was at an exhibition in Glasgow, probably about the same time and he told me about Cliff's legendary drinking. One of the regulars was trying to keep up with him and the boy fell off his stool eventually while Cliff just kept sinking them.

[NORTHERNHIBBY]

I absolutely hated him. It was him against Jocky, and all of Scotland were behind Jocky. What can’t be forgotten is his role in moving darts over from the amateur bdo to the professional sport it is today.


Bristow attended Jocky Wilson's funeral. There was a mutual respect between them and Bristow was shrewd enough to see the value of pantomime villain and rivalry that would put a spark into games between them. Arguably the most consistent performers of that era were Bristow and Lowe but that never caught the imagination like Bristow and Wilson.

[lord bunberry]

Bristow attended Jocky Wilson's funeral. There was a mutual respect between them and Bristow was shrewd enough to see the value of pantomime villain and rivalry that would put a spark into games between them. Arguably the most consistent performers of that era were Bristow and Lowe but that never caught the imagination like Bristow and Wilson.
I agree, add Bob Anderson into that mix as well. It was a golden time for the darts. These guys were pioneers in bringing about the change in darts that allows today’s players to be multi millionaires.

[heretoday]

Dale Winton died. Supermarket Sweep.

He was OK.

[Hibrandenburg]

Dale Winton died. Supermarket Sweep.

He was OK.

That's a touching eulogy.