Darts star admits he considers career change as he fears major downfall

Ross Smith has admitted that he researches HGV jobs when he feels the pressure in the darts.

The 37-year-old, nicknamed ‘Smudger’, is currently ranked 14th on the PDC Order of Merit and was the 2022 European champion.

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Smith has enjoyed a successful start to 2026 as he beat Chris Dobey to win Players Championship 5 in Leicester last month.

However, when speaking at the UK Open, won by Luke Littler, he honestly reflected on a sense of self-doubt in his own ability.

‘Smudger’ has previous experience in driving lorries for a living, and still browses potential vacancies whilst on the darts tour.

“When you are losing, it’s taking good performances to beat you, that must fill you with confidence at the moment?” a reporter asked him.

Smith replied: “I think at the start of this year, the first few Players Championship and stuff like that, I thought I was rubbish to be fair.

“Bit nervy, get onto a good start and that, put too much pressure on myself. I’m a bit doolally like that, if I’m honest with you.

“I start looking up HGV jobs, I genuinely do, I’m absolutely mental with certain things.”

When asked how he finds consistency in his game, Smith smiled and said: “I don’t know, I genuinely don’t know. I just try and be me.

“I like coming to the darts, I love it. I like playing against the best players in the world, and I pinch myself. But I know I can be one of the best players in the world as well on my day.

“But I’m also that guy who loves going down the local boozer and having a few beers, do you know what I mean?”

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Life with the lorries

Smith is back playing on the PDC Tour after his ninth appearance at the World Championship, where he suffered a shock defeat.

He was beaten by Andreas Harryson during a match that saw the Ally Pally wasp made an appearance on his collar.

But before regularly competing against darts stars including Littler and Luke Humphries, he was a regular behind the wheel.

“I was professional for about three years,” he said in an interview with the Metro in 2022. “Then moved from Bolton back down to Dover and went back on the lorries, HGV driving.

“I was doing that for a couple of years, but then I came back and worked both jobs together.

“It was tough, it was 12 hour days on the lorries, new born kid at home, my son Archie.

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“Then driving straight up from work to Barnsley or Wigan, fly here, fly there, it was really difficult and tiring but it was good.

“It was a year or two of doing both. I used to be up at three or four in the morning, back at six or seven at night.

“It wasn’t just the driving; get back, fuelling up, cleaning down, commute half an hour each way. Long old days.

“I’d then go straight to the pub on the way home, round the corner from me. Pull up in my work uniform, all filthy, smelly, then I’d be on the board till about 9pm, just working for a solid couple of hours.

“Then go home, pass out and be up again at 3am. Hard work. I had so much support from the family, they was all brilliant, so I can’t thank them enough.

“It is gruelling at times, especially when you’re not winning. The main thing is to stay positive, stay focussed.”