Alan “Soots” Soutar — from one veteran to another, we salute you

🎯 ALAN SOUTAR — RESPECT FOR THE MAN BEHIND THE DARTS Steve here, from Gutters2glory. I’m an RAF veteran whose service included the Gulf War and Northern Ireland. I was doing my job and earning a wage. I’ve never felt I deserved a medal for Northern Ireland; people in both communities endured far more than I did. I’m not taking sides here. I’m speaking with respect for people, and for those who keep giving something back. That brings me to our friend Alan “Soots” Soutar. Arlene and I were proud to donate towards his London Marathon appeal. We’re proud to support him now, too. When you look at what this man fits into his life, he deserves a proper thank-you. 💙 LOOK AT WHAT ALAN DOES • An Army Commando veteran who served with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery. • A Tayside firefighter, balancing public service with life as a professional darts player. • A volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs alongside his partner Amanda, helping prepare dogs for lives supporting others. • The founder of Angus Darts Academy, giving young people opportunities to enjoy the game. • A London Marathon finisher: four hours and 17 minutes in April 2026. His fundraising page has recorded more than £11,000 for Guide Dogs, comfortably beyond his original £5,000 target. And the day after that marathon? The PDPA reports that he competed in the Players Championship in Milton Keynes and reached the last 32. Let that sink in. Twenty-six miles through London, then back to the oche the following day. The training wasn’t painless, either. In March, Alan shared the aftermath of a 17-mile run that left him with painful chafing and bleeding through his running top. He still found the humour in it and used the moment to encourage donations. That says plenty about him. ✈️ BEFORE YOU JUDGE A PLAYER, THINK ABOUT THE JOURNEY We see the match. We don’t always see the early starts, flights, hotel bookings, airport transfers, practice and time away from home that get a player there. Landing at an airport is only one part of reaching a venue ready to compete. Players Championships and European qualifiers demand time, effort and money. An early exit doesn’t make the travel bill disappear. For someone balancing darts with another demanding job, the organisation alone deserves respect. Fans can analyse a match and be disappointed by a result. But a missed double is no excuse to dismiss the person throwing it. These players have earned their place through a standard most of us can only admire. I played Fife darts in the Danny Cunningham and Jocky Wilson era. What a time to love the game. That affection has stayed with me, and so has my appreciation for the people who keep us entertained. Alan, thank you for your friendship, your service, your fundraising and the example you set. From this RAF veteran to a fellow veteran: we salute you, mate. And to the players putting in the miles and giving us the sport we love — thank you. Congratulations on being you, Soots. 💙 Steve & Arlene Gutters2glory Ltd 🎯 ONE MORE FAVOUR FOR THE DARTS COMMUNITY Our friend Drew Blake has put years of hard work into All Things Darts. With the original Facebook community gone, he is asking people to help rebuild. Please join the replacement group, invite your darts-loving friends and share it. A community grows because people turn up for one another. Let’s turn up for Drew and the team. Join All Things Darts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1169537704038419/ Support Alan’s Guide Dogs fundraiser: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/alan-soutar Sources and photograph credit: Alan Soutar’s official biography: https://soots180.com/about-soots/ PDPA marathon report: https://pdpa.co.uk/news/soutar-completes-london-marathon/ Alan’s training story, reported by talkSPORT: https://talksport.com/darts/4122973/alan-soutar-injury-london-marathon-training/ Drew’s rebuilding appeal: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1169537704038419/posts/1610265379965647/ Personal recollections and our donation: Steve Cooke. Fundraising figure checked on 21 October 2026.