Jonny Clayton needs PDC change in Wales earlier than ‘hectic’ Premier League Darts homecoming
EXCLUSIVE: Jonny Clayton returns for his home Premier League Darts event in Cardiff as the league leader looks to continue his brilliant start in a ‘hectic’ night
Jonny Clayton returns for his home Premier League night in Cardiff
Premier League Darts leader Jonny Clayton returns for his home night in Cardiff buoyed by his brilliant start to the tournament.
Four weeks in and ‘The Ferret’ is top of the table with one nightly win under his belt in Glasgow and three semi-final performances. The 2021 champion can now enjoy his homecoming for the first time since he last featured in the Premier League in 2023.
Clayton, who is an ambassador for leading darts manufacturer, Red Dragon, spoke exclusively to Daily Star Sport ahead of his homecoming night in Cardiff. “I cannot wait to be honest I’ve experienced it before so I know what it’s going to be like,” the world No.5 said.
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“We don’t have anything in Wales. So to have Cardiff Premier League in Wales, it’s going to be hectic, it’s going be noisy, it’s going to be loud, it’s going to be singing everywhere. It is the best.
“Obviously for myself because I’m Welsh and I think Gezzy Price would agree with me, we don’t play enough in Wales. Pity there isn’t a few more tournaments there, a few majors there. I cannot wait, it’s going to be hectic and very exciting.”
Clayton touched on Josh Rock’s incredible nine dart leg in his hometown of Belfast last week, which would have made the night for Northern Irishman despite him losing to Gian van Veen. “If you’re going to lose or if you’re going to win a night, you want to win at your home venue.
“That’s the most important of all but unlucky for Josh last week, he didn’t work out to win the night but to hit the nine darter in his own venue has put pressure on everybody else now through the Premier League!
“It’d be a dream to hit the nine in Cardiff, and obviously it’s going to be a dream if I can win it. I’ve obviously gone to the final in Cardiff, but I lost to Peter Wright. So I need to get that one step better and win Thursday night.”
The reception Clayton is set to receive from the Welsh crowd will be a stark contrast to the boos that Luke Littler has faced in recent weeks. ‘The Ferret’ has got the better of Littler in the last two weeks and the back-to-back world champion gave a fired up reaction the crowd.
However, Clayton feels that emotional reactions from players towards the crowd only happens when there’s frustration from missing doubles.
“I don’t think it help if the crowd are against you, obviously not. But I think we’re more worried about missing a double or us missing a treble, rather than a crowd.
“Maybe if you’re missing a double or missing a treble, missing the scoring patterns, I think that bothers us more as players rather than the crowd whistling.
“I don’t think any of us really cares about the crowd. It’s more about our own performance.”
