Crawford hoping to make it onto the big stage at Lakeside

PAUL Crawford is chasing what he calls ^every dart player^s dream^ today.

The Newborough resident, who moved to the area from Oakham a couple of years ago, lines up in the Lakeside International Play-Offs at Bridlington.

Crawford (40) qualified as a result of winning the BDO Gold Cup Pairs with Martin Adams earlier in the year.

He is one of around 300 players chasing four qualifying spots and the experience of a darting lifetime.

Crawford said: "It would mean everything for me to get to Lakeside.

"Every darts player dreams of doing it and I^m no different.

"You don^t expect anything other than tough matches at an event like this, but I have a really hard draw.

"I^m playing well though, I^m really up for it and hopefully it will go well for me."

Crawford has more than a decade of experience in the county game with both Leicestershire and Cambs.



STEVE Roberts is hungry to sample life at the Lakeside World Championship for a second time.

The Fenland tarmac layer made a stunning entrance onto the sport^s biggest stage in 2006 when dumping out former world champion John ^Boy^ Walton.

Roberts^ fairytale quickly turned into a nightmare as he was struck down by flu and beaten by Scotsman Mike Veitch in the second round.

Roberts (52) booked his place at Frimley Green by coming through the International Play-Offs and was only a whisker away from following up by making the cut again a year later.

Now he tackles the play-offs again today, hoping a lack of recent playing time won^t hinder his chances.

Roberts said: "I^ve got great memories of the Lakeside and would love to get there again.

"It was just a shame the way things turned out in 2006 but there is always another day in darts.

"I^m just hoping my experience will get me through in the play-offs. I have been working a lot of nights lately so have been missing matches.

"I^m not the sort of bloke who can practice on his own - that does me no good at all."

Fellow Cambs thrower Paul Newstead is also involved in both the International Play-Offs and the Winmau Masters.

Story By: Peterborough Today