Ross Smith using Sir Alex Ferguson and Top Gun as inspiration ahead of Ally Pally bid

On Dec 22, 2022

European champion Ross Smith will be inspired by Fergie time when he swings into action at Ally Pally on Thursday.

The former articulated lorry driver from Dover used to pick his way expertly through the port’s clogged streets – and he will be hoping to navigate a path past dangerous Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas at the PDC World Championship.

Smith, 33, said: “I like watching documentaries. There is one with Sir Alex Ferguson, when Manchester City won the Premier League title (in 2012) and (Sergio) Aguero scored that famous goal.

“Ferguson climbed on the coach in this programme, turned to the players and told them, ‘Remember how you are feeling now… do you want to go through that again? OK, take that into next season.’

“The following year, United won the title. But when I walk on stage, one of the first things that goes through my mind is, ‘Don’t have any regrets, don’ feel bad tomorrow.’

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Smith will be hoping his match doesn’t go into Fergie Time
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)

“I watched Maverick the other day, the new Top Gun movie, and he says in one part of that film, he says to the lad Rooster when he starts panicking: ‘Don’t think – just do.’ Little things like that, they help. I store them for future use.”

Smith will have something of a target on his back after joining the darting immortals and lifting a major in October. Smudger, as he’s otherwise known, sliced through a stacked field to claim the European Championship, defeating the likes of Joe Cullen, Peter Wright and Michael Smith along the way.

Smith won the European Championship at the end of October
(Image: ITV)

However, he’ll need to improve on his past showings at Ally Pally if he wants to have a serious run in north London. Smith has never been beyond the third round at the sport’s annual Christmas party, and he faces a tricky tie against 2020 quarter-finalist Labanauskas first up as he bids to kickstart his bid for the title.