Eric Bristow

ERIC BRISTOW

Name: Eric Bristow
Nickname: The Crafty Cockney
DOB: April 25, 1957
Home Town: London, England
Laterality: Right handed
Walk-on Song: Chas and Dave - Rabbit
Best achievement: 5x BDO World Championship winner

With five world titles to his name, Eric Bristow is remembered as one of the most iconic figures in the history of the sport. ‘The Crafty Cockney’ dominated the darts scene during the 1980s and played a pivotal role in popularising the sport during its first ‘golden era’ on television.

He also won a record five World Masters titles and in 1989 he was awarded an MBE for his services to the sport. Beyond his haul of tournament wins, Bristow’s larger-than-life presence means he left behind a lasting legacy in the game when he passed away in 2018. Play like the legend himself with Eric Bristow’s full range of signature darts, flights, cases and shirts!

Bristow’s Early Career

Eric Bristow was first introduced to darts at the age of 11 by his father George Bristow. After leaving school at 14, darts took over for a teenage Eric. He played for his local team and earned £120 a weekend – 10 times more than the £12 a week he would pick up from his day job as a proof-reader working in London.

His nickname of ‘The Crafty Cockney’ came from a trip to America, when he visited an English-style pub of that name in Santa Monica, California. Bristow decided to adopt it as his own darting nickname and it fit him perfectly, with him being from London. Bristow’s first major success was at the 1977 World Masters and at the age of just 20. He was the youngest-ever winner, a record he held until Michael van Gerwen won the tournament in 2006 at 17 years of age.

Darts enjoyed a golden era in the 1980s and Bristow was at the forefront of it, winning all of his World Championship titles during this period, and appearing in two more world finals. Bristow won the first of his five World Championships in 1980, beating Bobby George 5-3 in the final, which was held at the Jollees Cabaret Club, in Stoke-on-Trent.

Struggling with ‘The Yips’

Following his dominant spell of success on the oche, Eric Bristow saw his game begin to suffer from dartitis. Similar to ‘the yips’ in golf, dartitis meant Eric struggled to release the dart and follow through properly. He was afflicted with this for many years.

During the late 1980s, Bristow took an up-and-coming player by the name of Phil Taylor under his wing and would mentor and coach him. Taylor would go on to win a record 16 world titles and become the most successful player in the history of the game. The first of his 16 World Championship victories came against Bristow, as he whitewashed his mentor 6-0 in the 1990 final at Lakeside.

Eric Bristow Darts

The Eric Bristow darts for sale from Legend Darts come in various designs and colour options. The Legend Darts Eric Bristow Steel Tip Cocked Finger R1 Silver Darts are one of the signature sets in this range made to commemorate one of the greatest players in darts history. This set has a ringed barrel made of 90% tungsten and a unique ‘cocked finger’ legacy hallmark engraved at the rear of the barrels. The hallmark is a permanent reminder of the darts legend.

An Eric Bristow darts set from this page comes in either steel tip or soft tip to suit any player preference. All these darts are made of 90% tungsten, which offers players a refined balance between weight, slimness and durability. Check out Darts Corner’s entire collection of tungsten darts to find a set that suits your style the best.

Eric Bristow Dart Flights

The Eric Bristow Dart Flights from Legend Darts come in the popular standard (no. 2) and shape (no. 6) sizes and in several signature Crafty Cockney-inspired designs. All these flights have Bristow’s year of birth and the year he died printed on them to commemorate his life and contribution to darts.

Adding a set of Eric Bristow flights to your current darts setup is a great way to pay tribute to ‘The Crafty Cockney’. The Eric Bristow No. 2 Dart Flights 1957-2018 is a favourite set of ours and incorporates the design from the back of his playing shirt.

Crafty Cockney Shirts & Accessories

Pay homage to a darting great with the range of Eric Bristow darts shirts and other accessories in this collection. The Legend Darts Eric Bristow Darts Shirt makes for a great collectable item, but is also practical. It is made of a breathable 100% polyester material that is suitable to wear whilst playing darts.

The Legend Darts Eric Bristow Case is another popular choice for players as it can hold a full set of assembled darts and extra accessories inside. The outside of the case features an image of Bristow along with his name and nickname so you can pay tribute to a legend through your own darts equipment.

Darts Corner stocks a large selection of signature products from other well-known players including Wayne Mardle, Gary Anderson and Michael Smith.

Need some help on what to buy from our Eric Bristow darts range? Chat with our expert team in customer services by using the contact us page. Our team can help answer any questions relating to the Eric Bristow darts and other equipment on this page, as well as any queries relating to delivery and returns.