PDC World Darts: Fallon Sherrock reveals a pre-match Nando’s is secret to beating the men
DARTING queen Fallon Sherrock has found a winning formula to beat men — a pre-match Nando’s meal.
Sherrock is now one of the world’s most recognisable sportswomen following her incredible Ally Pally exploits.
On Friday the fairytale run continues when she faces Chris Dobey — a former motorway maintenance man — in the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship.
And before the match, Sherrock, 25, will follow the same routine that saw her stun Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic in previous rounds and become a flag-bearer for women’s sport.
Men are turning chicken on the oche at the sight of the Milton Keynes thrower because she is fuelled by her spicy meal. She said: “My schedule will be exactly the same as before my last two matches. It’s my ideal pre-match meal.
“I’ll have the Nando’s butterfly chicken, mash and coleslaw. And I’ll stick to it. It’s now a winning meal. I’ll eat that before every game.”
Since becoming the first woman to beat a man at world level, Sherrock has appeared on all the major TV and radio networks.
For the PDC, this is the story that keeps on giving, reaching parts of Europe, the US and Australia. Record numbers are tuning in.
FALLON IN LOVE
Sherrock’s social-media following has exploded, her phone constantly buzzing with notifications and mentions.
Her Twitter page has gained 60,000 extra followers within the space of days — and her profile changed to the ‘Queen of the Palace’.
She laughed: “I’ve no idea how many Twitter followers I have now.
“I was shocked how it went up in 24 hours after the first match. I’m really excited to see what happens next.”
Not one to squander a commercial opportunity, PDC chairman Barry Hearn has signed up Sherrock for the US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden in June.
And she is already booked to play alongside Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld at the Circus Tavern in May.
The prospect of playing men on a regular basis, in front of packed audiences, does not faze Sherrock.
The qualified hairdresser said: “When women play men, it brings out our better game. When you play with the men, you know they don’t give up.
I take each game as it comes. I don’t even know who is in the bottom half of the draw!
Fallon Sherrock
“You don’t get any leeway. You need to hit your doubles.
“I try to focus on each leg as it comes. I could be two sets, two legs down but I wouldn’t think that. I take each leg as it comes.
“There have been a couple of games where I have come back to win. I played Lisa Ashton and Anastasia Dobromyslova where I have been down 3-0 in the first to four and I’ve come back.
“That preparation has helped me for these worlds.”
William Hill have slashed her tournament odds from 2,000-1 to 250-1.
It is tempting to try to plot a possible route for Sherrock to world glory if she overcomes No 22 seed Dobey.
Three-time Lakeside champion Glen Durrant or Daryl Gurney would be the fourth-round opponent, while Gerwyn Price would potentially await in the quarter-finals.
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Yet Sherrock is refusing to listen to the hype, saying: “I dare not think about it.
“I have learned from experience with the BDO and the ladies tournament.
“Once I planned it all out — and I went out first or second round. That’s why I take each game as it comes. I don’t even know who is in the bottom half of the draw!
“But I understand they have cut my odds because I’m causing so many shocks.”