I’m a massive Rangers fan who has earned £157k playing darts - but I still won’t quit my day job
Rangers supporting Cameron Menzies has reached the quarter finals of the 2024 PDC Grand Slam of Darts
Spend ten minutes in the company of candid Cameron Menzies and you’ll come away feeling just as entertained away from the stage as he is on it.
Following his incredible darts victory over veteran James Wade to reach his first ever televised ranking quarter-final, Rangers-daft Menzies has shared the incredible story of how he finished his day job as a plumber merely hours before taking to the Sky Sports stage.
The Muirkirk man - who took up the sport in 2003 and is known for his light-hearted entertainment on stage - pulled off one of the most surprising upsets at the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts on Wednesday night by eliminating three-time finalist Wade in front of the television cameras. In a gripping showdown, Wade pushed Menzies to the limit, with the match reaching a nerve-racking 9-9 scoreline.
Yet, Menzies - the partner of “Queen of the Palace” Fallon Sherrock - displayed exceptional composure and secured victory in the last-leg decider to book his place in the last eight of the tournament.
Balancing day job with darts practice
However, the journey to that memorable moment was anything but conventional. Just hours before stepping onto the oche, the 35-year-old had been hard at work on a construction project near his home in Milton Keynes, practicing his other craft - plumbing. The Scot has managed to juggle his day job and his darts career seamlessly, a testament to his dedication and work ethic.
“Half one I finished (on Wednesday),” Menzies revealed when referring to his morning shift. “The company I work for, we’re working for the council. It’s a project for the community, at what I think is a disabled home, but we’re installing disabled toilets. I’m doing the plastering and rewiring, all the plumbing.”
Despite the pressure of preparing for a high-stakes match after scraping through the group stages, Menzies maintained his humorous side, sharing how he was almost late in arriving at the arena at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton.
“My supervisor told me I could get off at 1:00 to prepare, but I finished at half one,” he laughed.
The playful overtime banter only added to the surreal nature of his journey from worksite to spotlight. Menzies’ commitment to his trade might seem unusual for a player ranked within the world's top 40, having earned £157,000 in prize money from darts over the past two years. To say it’s been quite a couple of the years for World Number 39 would be an understatement.
Pursuing darts career full-time
But when asked why he doesn’t make darts his full-time career, the right-handed thrower’s response was refreshingly modest and genuine. He candidly admitted that his self-belief hasn’t quite caught up with his achievements yet.
"I'm ecstatic to be here,” he explained to GlasgowWorld. “But I don't think I'm good enough to be here. I feel like I'm not there yet. I feel like I'm getting there, but I don't think I'm there yet. I believe my ranking shows my level,” highlighting his humility and hunger for growth.
The financial stability from his darts success could allow him to go full-time should he wish, but for Menzies his plumbing job serves a greater purpose. His day job isn’t just about financial security; it provides a crucial mental and emotional balance.
The camaraderie with his colleagues on site acts has become an integral support system and as a buffer from the stresses of his darts career.
He added: “I've worked since I was 15 and 16 on the site. So, it just kind of gives me that mentality. This is a hobby (darts) that I want to get better at, and I want to be someone, I want to get to that stage where this is my job.
“I could go full-time with the darts, but I like that (his day job) background just to take my mind off it. It helps me take the pressure off. I work now just because of my mates. I could go full-time with darts, but I've got a good bunch of guys behind me and seeing them when I lose helps me because my workmates are my good mates.”
Staying grounded
Despite dreaming of darting glory this week, Menzies remains grounded. Even if he goes all the way and wins the Grand Slam of Darts on Sunday, he won’t be taking time off to bask in his success.
He confessed: “I’ve signed a new part-time contract, so I don’t work Fridays or Mondays. I’ll be back to work on Tuesday!”
Menzies’ story is an inspiring blend of hard work, humility, and a passion for both his crafts. Whether on a dartboard or a construction site, he’s determined to put in the effort to reach his goals. His work ethic isn’t a recent development; it’s deeply ingrained. Even during the COVID pandemic, when trade work dried up, he couldn’t sit idle.
“I do it more for my mental state,” he admitted. “Even during COVID, I worked in a factory on minimum wage making cakes just because I don’t like sitting at the house for more than two days. I have to be out and working.”
Fans will get to soak in Menzies’ electric walk-on music: "I'm Feelin It (In the Air)" by Sunset Bros X & Mark McCabe when he faces England’s Mickey Mansell in the first of four quarter-finals on Friday.
Menzies route to the quarter-finals
Group Stage:
- Martin Schindler 2-5 Cameron Menzies
- Danny Nopper 5-4 Cameron Menzies
- Cameron Menzies 1-5 Beau Greaves
Second Round:
- James Wade 9-10 Cameron Menzies