EXCLUSIVE: The iconic voice of John McDonald will soon no longer be front and centre of darts as the announcer retires after the upcoming World Championship to embark on the next chapter of his life
The upcoming PDC World Championship will be the final time that the iconic John McDonald calls the sport’s biggest stars to the stage as he prepares to embark on the next chapter in his life.
McDonald, 65, has been the PDC Master of Ceremonies since 2007 and has stamped his famous introductions on the imprint of the sport. But the action at Ally Pally, which kicks off on Thursday, will be his final competition before his retirement. Legendary referee George Noble will also hang up his microphone after the January 3 final.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport at the South London Darts Showdown, McDonald reflected on his final World Championships.
“Well I’m a bit apprehensive, you know, it’d be an emotional day I’m sure. I’ve done it a long time now, 20 years on the darts and 35 years I’ve been doing sports announcements,” McDonald said.
“It’s a tough decision, I didn’t make it overnight. I’ve kind of set myself up for it but it will be emotional. I think you’d be mad if you didn’t think it would be a tough gig.
“The final’s hard. It’s emotional as it is without me worrying about the last time I’m ever going to do it. If I’m a big boy, I’m sure I’ll deliver a good, good job!
‘Mad Dog ’ revealed he will be spending more time with his family following his retirement, but he also opened up on the meaningful projects he will be investing more time in.
“I run a support group along with a very good friend of mine, ex-boxer and ex-boxing champion, Mickey Cantwell. We’ve been banging the drum on future pathways for the last five years.
“We spend our time funding various courses for veterans and retired sports personnel. I’ll continue doing that because that’s a passion of mine for people to try and better themselves through free education.
“It’s a very, very hard thing to do. A lot of people can’t do it, but we have been doing this for 5 years now and I think we’d like to think we’ve made a difference.
“I work for a number of other charities and I’ll carry on supporting a food bank and I’ll carry on doing all I can because that’s what life’s all about. It’s not all about the taking. It’s about giving.”
McDonald’s route into sports announcing came after his life took a dramatic twist following a serious accident as a paratrooper in the British Army.
“I was shocked really because I had a bad accident and had to leave. I had no intention of leaving,” he recalled. “Suddenly one minute I’ve got a great career ahead of me and the next minute I’m in a hospital bed.
“So no, that wasn’t the greatest sort of way to become a civilian. But over the years I’ve grown to use it for an advantage. Life can never get worse for me, can it?
“I’ve been there and when you’ve been that low in your life, there’s only one place to go and that’s up.
“So positive thinking for me, is something that I’ve waved the flag about for years. This is another chapter, isn’t it?
“I’ll take all those skills I’ve learned over the years in various jobs and I’ll take them forward and hopefully I’ll have a happy retirement.”