Stoke ace Andy Hamilton was one of the stars from what darts fans refer to as the Golden Generation.

In a successful PDC career spanning around a decade, beginning five years into the turn of the century, the man nicknamed The Hammer was often deeper than a traffic warden’s sense of humour when it came to major TV events.

Out he’d come, inflatable tool (not a euphemism – he isn’t that blessed) and then hang around until the business end. Funny story about the Hammer moniker. Andy had a bit of a B&Q fetish and would often pop in on a Sunday to purchase items.

Soon the staff would say, “Oh, hi mate. Is it another hammer you’re after?” before adding it to their latest collection, whilst all the time believing they would eventually be arrested for being complicit in a gruesome murder enquiry.

Clearly that’s a joke. It’s a play on the first few letters of his surname. Much better than the MC announcing Andy ‘The Hamster’ Hamilton. That said, we do have a Ferret.

But before all the nickname days, the Staffordshire slinger owned a pub. Perhaps the ideal baptism of fire for any aspiring pro darts player.

Tell us about your days running the Skylark, mate?

“Ah, it was a great time. Before darts became my full-time job, I worked there. In fact, I drank there for years before taking it on.

“When I took it over, being a regular in there made it even better. Then when I began playing in the PDC, I was actually earning more money from the pub!

“I was there for around 13 years before leaving, selling up in 2010 and moving on because the timing was right. I could have paid a manager to run it, but that would have just eaten away at the profits.”

Good point. No one goes along to Ally Pally for the first time to compete thinking they’d win it. But on Hamilton’s PDC World Championship debut in 2005, he reached the quarter-finals. Were you surprised, mate?

“Not really. I always knew I could play, and I knew I had the fighting ability. I wasn’t the best player in the world, but my biggest strength was my concentration and belief in myself. I always felt that if I was good enough to qualify, then I deserved to be there. Whatever happened, I’d take it on the chin.” which at the time, chins was something he had plenty of.

Modestly, Hamilton perhaps wasn’t the best player on the plenty, but he did reach number five in the world. Although he jests about that, adding, “Yeah. But only the third best in Stoke.”

A lot of that was down to where Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis hailed from. Two of the greatest to grace the oche. Andy could have moved to Hull or somewhere if he aspired to be the top dog where he lived. But it’s no shame being third to that pair, I guess.

In total title wise, Andy picked up a solitary Players Championship one in Gibraltar – plus a couple of UK qualifiers which, back in those days, were effectively the same thing. Yet, despite having more semis than a hormonal teenager with access to his dad’s YouTube account, there were three major final defeats – notably to Adrian Lewis at Ally Pally in 2012. But any regrets?

“No. I had a good career. I never really think about games I’ve lost. I remember being 5-2 down to Simon Whitlock in that World Championship semi-final and looking completely out of it. But I kept plugging away, never gave in and took my chances.

“In that World’s final, I felt a bit flat. It was a late night and I ended up in a doping test until around 2am. But Aide had more experience and took the opportunities when they came along. A few of the sets went 3-2 though. It’s just, when it mattered the most, he produced the better checkouts.

“Simon always reminds me of the World Matchplay too. A year earlier when I came back from 15-8 down to beat him 17-15 after winning nine legs on the trot. So in that World’s semi – he probably still had that comeback from Blackpool in his head!”

You reckon? If I was the Aussie, I’d be sending hate mail and smacking a voodoo doll on the head with a real hammer on a regular basis!

All in all though, Andy seems happy when reflecting back.

“The only downside was never winning a major. That’s the one thing missing. I reached some major finals, enjoyed a lot of good runs and spent two years in the Premier League, competing against the very best players in the world. I’m proud of everything I achieved, even if that big TV never came.”

Yes, so as Hamilton mentioned – thus pre-empting my next question rather annoyingly – he spent two years in the Premier League. There’s also an amusing tale about his walk-on selection. On a trip to Paris, the Stoke chucker popped into The Louvre. Quite the cultural beast is our Andy, although you wouldn’t think it to look at him.

Anyway, he was trying to get a better look at the Mona Lisa and shoved a few priceless relics out of the way as he tried to contort his giant frame closer to the masterpiece. It was then a gallery official shouted out in French, “Oi mate. You can’t touch that.”

So it was born. MC Hammer’s one-hit wonder became his entrance theme. Who’d have thought it, hey? Again, that is a lie. If anything, once Andy had the nickname, the tune was a no-brainer.

Back to the Premier League and normality. Do you prefer the current format, mate – or were you happier with how it was in your day?

“Personally, I preferred the old format. It felt like a proper league, with knockout nights, and it became more exciting as the weeks went on. That said, I think the current one is great too because fans get to see more matches.

“It’s almost become a glorified exhibition, but supporters certainly get value for money.”

Well, he has a point. Instead of getting the two Lukes square off once in a blue moon, it’s now diluted, and we see it most weeks.

The Hammer did get to venture abroad though in his PDC heyday – trekking wide and far on World Series duty. People from Stoke don’t usually venture further than Crewe. But for this fella, he loved it.

“It’s taken me all over the world. Australia, Singapore, Dubai – places I never imagined I’d ever visit. I simply love darts.”

After losing his tour card status, Andy did what most ageing dart-playing legends seem to do. Shed some timber and bag a hot young missus. Yep Barney, I’m looking at you! Hats off.

Engaged to 32-year-old Chloe, the former Tamworth Open champ – tough to win, let me assure you – Hamilton is loving life. Which makes me wish I could average mid-80s, lay off the cider and have a load of inflatable hammers in the shed. First, we asked his secret to the weight loss:

“Over the last two or three years I’ve lost around five stone. Coming off the tour allowed me to eat properly, become healthier and enjoy regular walks. Everything had a knock-on effect. I was diabetic, but I no longer need injections.”

Amazing. Andy is now curing serious illnesses too. Pity he wasn’t as much on the ball when COVID hit.

Nowadays, it’s a healthy lifestyle for the 59-year old. He sounds less like a former darts player and more like my Uncle Mick, who spends more time in the garden than Fred West did.

“I get up in the morning, have some vegetables and tomatoes for breakfast, then head out for a walk for an hour or so. I like pottering around outside. I don’t really watch much television – it doesn’t really interest me,” said Andy before admitting to watching the England versus Norway match the previous evening.

But does he miss life on the tour? And what does he make of the top players skipping so many Euro Tour events?

“Yes and no. In my day, we played the lot. However, the schedule is much busier now. Yet I do feel for the fans on the Euro Tour. They pay good money to see the biggest names, and sometimes those players don’t turn up. That didn’t really happen when I was on the tour. We rarely skipped anything.

When he does switch on the box to watch the arrows, there’s only one player Andy tunes in for.

“I tend to tune in to any event Luke Littler is playing. He has kinda inspired me.”

You and millions of others, pal. Nowadays, Hamilton spends the majority of his time down in Portsmouth, growing marrows or taking scenic walks around Stoke – if concrete, smashed-up shops and people getting mugged could be considered scenic.

But he’s also busy on the exhibition circuit.

“I do a few in Ireland each year. Then probably around 20 to 30 in total a year. Always sort my own and a one man show”

Good idea. Eliminate the competition mate. Those blow-up hammers won’t sell themselves.

So onto MODUS and, as well as being pencilled in to appear at the end of August, the Stoke star is down at the Live Lounge next week hunting for a third weekly title. Yet still without that elusive Champions Week win, although he has knocked on the door a couple of times:

“I reached Finals Day once. Then in my group, I lost to Jurjen van der Velde and Graham Usher. At this moment in time I still believe I’ve got the game, although I’m realistic enough to know I’m not operating at quite the same level as I once was.”

That said, Hamilton admits he’s chucking some good stuff, with his Red Dragon Marlin Venom 24g flying very nicely. Although the former Unicorn man is open to manufacturer offers, he is close to a deal with Jurassic Points – the company who used to supply dinosaurs with their tungsten.

Yet, despite not being his brilliant circa 2007–2014 best, he’s still hitting some decent averages.

“I honestly think I am currently the best version of me. I’ll never be as good as I was back then. When you look at players like Raymond van Barneveld or Peter Wright, you have to be honest with yourself. The game is getting harder every year. Players simply aren’t scared anymore.”

Maybe they’d fear you more if those hammers were real and the B&Q staff had spread wider rumours back in the day. But for a man who was once taller lying down, he is not only in good shape, but in a great place. Which begged the question: why aren’t he and Chloe tying the knot?

“We’ve been together for seven years. Every time we start planning it, more work comes in.”

It was then Chloe shouted out in the background “No! Together twelve years!”

Good job Andy’s doubles are closer than his relationship length guesses. Yet, the marriage thing is half an hour down at a Registry Office pal! Get it sorted. But the loving couple spend plenty of time together which is health melting stuff.  Although many often think Andy is taking his babysitter to the darts.

“Chloe is always with me and does all the driving. Next week, we’re staying in a Premier Inn in Portsmouth, but she has family in Southampton, so it’s a good time for her to catch up.”

Despite recent treatment to straighten the little finger on his throwing hand – not ideal – he is thankfully lobbing just fine and will be hoping to secure his place in what would be only his second MODUS Super Series Champions Week.

For Andy though, it’s not about the money. It’s not like he’s knocking out his home-grown tomatoes to local supermarket chains and cleaning up. Finances aren’t the concern. He just loves the game – and the game loves him.

Thank you for your time. All the best in Pompey, mate, and take care.