| Section | Summary |
|---|---|
| Early Life | Eric Bristow was born in Hackney, London, in 1957. He was raised in Stoke Newington. His father was a plasterer, and his mother worked as a telephone operator. He was expelled from school at age 14 for carrying a claw hammer. As a youth, he was involved in gangs and criminal activities such as burglaries and car thefts. He later took a job as a proofreader at an advertising agency. At age 11, his father gave him a dartboard, sparking his interest in darts. He began competing in pubs and was first capped by England before turning 18. Nicknamed “The Crafty Cockney” after visiting a pub in California, he decided to become a full-time professional after earning more money from darts than proofreading. |
| Career | Bristow started playing darts at age 11 and was capped by England before 18. He became a full-time professional after initial success. He dominated darts in the 1980s, winning five World Championships and five World Masters titles. He was instrumental in popularizing the sport during that era. In 1986, he developed dartitis, which affected his performance. He mentored Phil Taylor in the 1980s, supporting his development. Bristow was involved in the split that led to the formation of the PDC in 1993. His last major playing achievement was reaching the semi-finals of the 1997 World Championship. After retiring from professional play in 2007, he worked as a commentator and pundit for Sky Sports. Bristow passed away in 2018. |
| Peak Years | Bristow’s peak years were the 1980s when he was ranked number one and won five World Championships (1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986). He also won the World Masters five times and secured numerous other titles, including the News of the World Championship twice. Despite some losses in finals, he remained one of the most successful and consistent players of his era. |
| Dartitis | In November 1986, Bristow experienced dartitis during the Swedish Open, a psychological condition similar to the yips in golf. It caused him to be unable to release the darts properly, significantly impacting his performance. Although he briefly regained the number-one ranking in 1989-1990, he was never quite the same player afterward. Dartitis marked a turning point in his career. |
| Mentoring Phil Taylor | Bristow sponsored and mentored Phil Taylor during the 1980s, providing financial support to help develop his talent. Taylor later surpassed Bristow as the greatest darts player, becoming a legend in his own right. Bristow’s mentorship was a significant contribution to Taylor’s rise. |
| Later Career and Retirement | Bristow’s performance declined in the early 1990s, leading to his being dropped from teams and the national side. He joined the newly formed PDC after the split in darts. His last major appearance was in 2000 at the World Championship. He then transitioned into a media role, working as a commentator for Sky Sports from 1993 until 2016. He made a brief return to competitive darts in 2008 but without notable success. He officially retired from professional darts in 2007. |
| Rivalries | Bristow had notable rivalries with John Lowe and Jocky Wilson. With Lowe, they often met in finals, and both expressed mutual respect. Lowe admired Bristow’s consistency, and Bristow acknowledged Lowe’s steadiness. The rivalry with Wilson was more volatile, highlighted by an incident where Wilson kicked Bristow before a match. Despite the hostility, Bristow later described their relationship with humor and respect. |
| Personal Life | Bristow was in a relationship with Maureen Flowers from 1978 to 1987. He married Jane Higginbotham in 1989, with whom he had two children. They divorced in 2005. Later, he was in a relationship with Rebecca Gadd. He enjoyed stamp collecting and disliked reading and watching TV, preferring to do crosswords. He participated in the TV show “I’m a Celebrity” in 2012, finishing fourth. He was awarded an MBE in 1989 for his contributions to sport. |
| Controversies | In 2005, Bristow was accused of assaulting his wife but was later cleared. In 2016, he was dismissed by Sky Sports following controversial tweets about the football abuse scandal, where he made insensitive comments about victims. He apologized afterward, acknowledging his wording was wrong. |
| Death | Bristow died on 5 April 2018 from a heart attack during a darts event in Liverpool. He was 60 years old. Fellow players and officials praised his character and influence on the sport. His death was widely mourned in the darts community. |
| World Championship Results | Bristow’s results include five World Championships won (1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986) with multiple runner-up finishes. In the PDC, his best was the semi-final in 1997. He exited early in later years of the PDC World Championship. |
| Career Finals Record | Bristow appeared in 31 major finals across BDO and WDF, winning 22 titles. His major wins included World Championships, World Masters, British Matchplay, and Grand Masters. |
| High Averages | Bristow recorded high televised averages, with a peak of 105.30 in 1983. He was known for his scoring consistency and high scoring ability in matches. |
| References & External Links | The article cites numerous sources, including news outlets, books, sports databases, and documentaries. External links include profiles, media, and a documentary about his life. |
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