FROM OCHE TO HOCKEY…Daryl Gurney helping out former school with sports kits for hockey and football teams
BUDDING sports stars at a Derry school are to benefit from the generosity from a local lad who has become one of the world’s leading darts players dubbed.
Derry-born and past pupil Daryl ‘Superchin’ Gurney will pay for new kit for Lisneal College’s hockey team and three football teams.
The darts champion is currently ranked number four in the world.
The school said on its Facebook page:
“We are absolutely buzzing at the news that PDC and World Grand Prix Champion Daryl SUPERCHIN Gurney will be our new football and hockey team sponsor.
“Daryl has also agreed to visit school to meet some of his fans at our Darts Club.
“Everyone at #TEAMLISNEAL wishes to thank Daryl, MDA Promotions and Hayley Gurney for their support and goodwill.”
Lisneal principal Michael Allen said the school was delighted with the backing of the sports star.
“We had an appeal running on the school’s very popular Facebook page and from that, there was an exchange of messages on Twitter with Daryl’s sister Hayley,” he said.
“The kids are absolutely over the moon that Daryl has agreed to sponsor the school teams.”
Daryl’s professional stock has risen over recent years.
In October, Gurney claimed the biggest win of his career by winning the Grand Prix title and sending him to fourth in the World rankings.
A former pupil of Faughan Valley High School in the city – one of the schools which merged to form Lisneal College in 2004 – Gurney has also promised to visit the school to pass on his know how to the darts club.
Mr Allen said the past pupil’s rise up the rankings has sparked a resurgence of interest in the sport at the school.
“We’ve now around 25 pupils throwing every lunchtime, and there’s one or two who are pretty good,” he added.
“We were searching for a role model and now we have one.”
‘Superchin’ face Belgian Ronny Huybrechts in next month’s PDC World Championships.
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