Eric Bristow - The Autobiography: The Crafty Cockney [Hardcover]

Before reading this I always had a negative opinion of Eric Bristow, mainly due to his almost arrogant on screen persona. Although his arrogance has not diminished in my eyes, I now have nothing but admiration for the guy; mainly due to his colossal ability on the oche, and to a lesser extent his ability in the bar, though compared to some of the players in this book he's a lightweight!!

Put simply, if you're anyway into darts and remember the heady days of the 80's when the players drank & smoked their way through some of the greatest games that the game has witnessed; and if you'd like a bit of background on the debauchery & superb anecdotes that went on behind the scenes, then buy this book.

Eric, you're a legend!

From the very first line, "You play like a poof" to the conclusion that "the way I've lived my life I should have been gone long ago" it's clear that Eric Bristow's autobiography is not aimed at the politically correct market. In between Bristow seems to have adopted the simple philosophy of the Schuyler and Knobloch song, "Life's a Bitch And Then You Die".

Autobiographies are supposed to be about the person and this one is. Bristow comes across as self centred but easy going, unless roused, with an untapped intelligence which prevents him from looking beneath the veneer of life. He had enough nous to find a girl friend with less interest in drinking than himself but not enough wisdom to consider reducing the drinking itself.

Bristow's commitment and dedication to darts cost him relationships and his marriage, on each occasion the women in his life wanting more from life than darts. Although he admits his divorce is his biggest regret he hasn't let such an inconvenience interfere with the lifestyle he has chosen for himself.

Bristow's talent for darts probably saved him from a life of crime. The buzz he got from doing things wrong and getting in trouble with the law was replaced by the rush he got from playing darts. It helped that he was naturally good with the arrows - and the maths - but it never completely took the irresponsible edge off his lifestyle. It wasn't only the darts Bristow landed in the beds.

The smoky boozing atmosphere of darts in the 1970's and 1980's, both on and off the stage, suited Bristow and he admits to preferring those days to the sanitised twentyfirst century version. According to Bristow's account he burned the candle at both ends and in the middle as well. The lessons of Leighton Rees's early death and Jocky Wilson's decline into alcoholic obscurity went over his head. His mother's death from cancer made no impact on his smoking habits although he admits smoking and drinking is not a healthy mix.

Bristow knows what it takes to be successful in any sphere of life correctly identifying professionalism in terms of commitment and dedication. Beaten unexpectedly by the slow playing style of American Conrad Daniels in the 1978 World Championship he promptly went round the leagues taking on all the slow players he could find. Unfortunately the desire for perfection may have given him the yips that finally finished his career.

What he clearly doesn't understand is that life is best lived in balance rather than in focus. The reason he inadvertently causes trouble is because of the disrespect he has for other people. Of course this had its funny moments. When he turned around in breach of protocol having received his MBE he quickly corrected himself with the words, "Sorry Darling'" to the Queen. Similarly when he said to a good looking women, "Excuse me, darling, will you ask Mohammad Ali for his autograph for me? Cheers love" he put her curt response down to attitude until he discovered she was Princess Caroline of Monaco.

When Bristow began in darts it was a working class pastime in an environment of suppressed working class violence. The alcohol fueled settings may have changed but the atmosphere hasn't. Bristow is inordinately proud of his achievements but gives too little thought to how things appear to those who do not share his love of darts or its people. He knows the torch has moved on to the next generation but he's satisfied with knowing that he's done it his way and he doesn't give a toss about anyone who doesn't approve.

The book was an interesting read and gives an insight into a strand of British culture which is too often overlooked. It does capture Bristow's personality and I'm sure there are many who will identify with his background and attitude, which is why it's received five stars.

I read this on holiday recently and couldn't put it down. Laughed out loud on several occasions. The Keith Dellar chapter is hilarious. Bristow is either a really funny guy or an unconcious comic. Very thoughtful and emotive ending. I cant recommend this book enough, darts lover or not.