I was too scared to leave my house before joining church band but now I’m set to star at World Darts Championships

ANDREW GILDING is proud at how he has gone from being housebound to a household name within darts.

And the shy Goldfinger hopes he can be held up as a  “standard bearer for people who think their life is never going to change”.

One of the most unexpected major winners this century, Gilding, 53, upset three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen to claim the UK Open in Minehead in March.

Before that fairytale success, the Ipswich-born player had only once been beyond the last 16 of a TV major in 25 previous attempts.

Gilding’s life was transformed when he played in the band at the Emmanuel Church in Bungay, Suffolk, after years of being afraid to walk out of his front door.

The world No 20 said: “They got me to join the band.

“I took the first tentative steps outside. I went from a reclusive, stay-at-home, depressed person.

“I was even singing at one point, in a group of four of us doing a cappella.

“It was the most terrifying moment of my life and also great  preparation for the big stage.

“It was in front of 50 in a  congregation. Just the fact that I had to get up there and sing, it was a nerve-racking experience.

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“It was just a simple tune — but I’m a very simple singer.

“That got me started. Then I ended up walking into my local pub team in my mid-30s. The first time I had played in a team.

“That started me going out. A local small businessman started backing me to go to local competitions. He kept backing me until I got into the PDC a few years later.”

Gilding plays at Ally Pally on December 21 against either Holland’s Christian Kist, 37, or 16-year-old Luke Littler, from Runcorn, Cheshire.

And Goldfinger added: “I could be a standard bearer for people who think their life is never going to change.

“Mine completely changed. I went from nothing to something.

“Your life can change, you don’t know what’s going to happen. Don’t just give up hope.

“I remember waking up one morning and just crying. Thinking, ‘I wish I could just go back to sleep’.

“There were many days like that  — and for long periods as well.  Just no end in sight.

“All I can say to people like  that is, ‘Just take a step forward, people will help’.

“ ‘Just keep taking one step when you can. Go and get medication and counselling. Keep it up. And things may change’.

“I think I got on the meds and counselling first. During counselling I had a bit of an epiphany and decided to go to the church.

“I pushed most of my friends away, to be honest, being miserable and not nice to be around. But there were one or two that kept with me.

“It’s very hard on your own because it’s a downward spiral.

“There’s no hope in the darkest moments. There’s no hope of even surviving the year.

“You don’t think there is any light at the end of the tunnel.

“It won’t happen overnight. There’s no miracle cure. You have to do it one step at a time.

“But in 20 years I’ve gone from being  housebound to playing on the big stage and even becoming a household name.”

I wouldn’t change my walk-on to Stairway to Heaven, I don’t think it’s a real crowd-pleaser. We’ll play it when I win at the Ally Pally!

Andrew Gilding

For achieving his breakthrough moment in Somerset, Gilding received £110,000 in prize money.

And he channelled his inner Rock God by spending some of that cash on “a couple of my dream guitars” to fulfil a lifelong musical ambition.

Gilding said: “I bought a Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster, which have been used by Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.

“Not the ones that they actually used — they go for about a million pounds.

"If I could play a tune, I know it’s a cliche but it would be the solo to Stairway to Heaven.

“I’m really not the greatest player in the world. I can’t even play  a song really.

“But I love the sound and the learning process.

“I’ve got a piano as well . . . drum kit, flute and violin.

“I wouldn’t change my walk-on to Stairway to Heaven, I don’t think it’s a real crowd-pleaser.

“We’ll play it when I win at the Ally Pally!”