Darts star Chris Dobey on a whirlwind 2021 and his love for Newcastle United

I'm Newcastle through and through, supporting them all of my life. I remember my first game was an FA Cup game against Everton. My grandad took me to St. James' Park when I was eight years old, we won 4-1, and it was great to soak up the atmosphere with him.

I love Newcastle. I always had the football strip every Christmas regarding how old I was and if I enjoyed football or not. I had a season ticket for around 12 or 13 years with my mam and uncle. We used to sit three or four seats away from the away fans and it was brilliant. I enjoyed every minute of it because you had some banter with the away supporters.

I've bought two tickets this season with my son but I pick and choose games as it depends on the match times and the weather as he's only four years old and still not 100% on football. It's nice to get out with him - it's a great feeling. I've got him football strips too since he was born and hopefully he follows in my footsteps in getting his own season ticket.

I was absolutely buzzing with the news of the takeover. I sat by my phone every day for weeks when I heard it was back on! To see it get over the line was such a relief after so many years of promise and whether it would go through or not. It kept on failing and you just wanted to see that day happen and now it has and hopefully we're in the right hands. It's going to take a bit of time but hopefully I can actually see the team win something and do well in years to come.

It's massive to be able to go back to St. James' Park after the previous months of no supporters being allowed inside the ground. When I'm playing darts, it's a massive boost when fans are there to watch you play. To be in the stadium for the first game back as a supporter was brilliant and then when the takeover happened, the atmosphere for the Tottenham game made it such a buzz around the ground.

I started playing darts in 2010 just at the off chance when one of my friends was short of a player for his local darts team. He asked me if I could fill in for the one night, I went in and I beat one of the best county players in the league and I hit a 15-dart leg which was something special back then, especially for someone who had only just started playing.

Darts has always ran though my family. My dad and uncle have played all their lives, there's always been a dartboard there. I played for three to four years before my friends told me I should go and better myself. I played at county level, winning local competitions and everything in Northumberland. I then went to get my PDC Tour card in 2015 and luckily I got that in my first attempt. I've never looked back since, quickly climbing the rankings, and hopefully I can stay up there.

​Before turning pro, I would turn up to matches in my shorts, sliders and peaked cap. One of the lads used to joke on saying I used to think I was some sort of 'Hollywood' superstar and the nickname has stuck from there. Everywhere I went, people would shout 'Hollywood!' I didn't think it would stick but I could never get away from it. It's not a bad nickname - there are worse out there!

 I've put a lot more time into darts. I'm practicing my doubles and finishing. I'm playing with my dad in Super Leagues and I think that's helped improve my game massively, competing against each other every week. He's keeping my form up as I don't want him beating me and I think I'm starting to play my best game. I've said once I win that first title, there will be more to follow and I backed that up with another last month.

It was brilliant and such a relief to win my first title! I'd played five finals beforehand and lost all of them, even averaging 110 against the likes of Michael van Gerwen. That was hard to take but I knew the day would come where I would win one. Hopefully, I can kick on and get a major title in the next couple of months or so. Fingers crossed, it's the World Championship!

I'm heading into that competition at the right time. My form couldn't be any better; I think I'm up there with the top five players performance-wise and in terms of averages over the full year. It can't be any better and I'm confident going into the next couple of competitions at the back of this year.

Last year's World Championship was a bit disappointing because the first night was the only one with fans watching live. I was due to play on the second night but to have them back in the venue is going to be brilliant. I've played some of my best darts in front of fans, whether I'm being cheered or booed. It's my kind of atmosphere and it will be nice to see them back.

It's a life-changing competition. The champion wins £500,000 and the money you win also goes onto your ranking. The semi-finalist gets £100,000 so it's mega money.

Considering where Newcastle are currently positioned in the table, I'd like to think I can win a major title before my club lift a Premier League trophy but if we can stay up next year, it would be nice to see them competing towards the top end of the division.