Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has become an unexpected figure in the football world, despite his lifelong support for Manchester United. Since his meteoric rise during the World Darts Championship, Littler has found himself embraced by fans of Tottenham Hotspur, leading to a surprising connection between the young darts star and the North London club.
The day after Tottenham Hotspur secured an emphatic 3-0 victory over Manchester United, Spurs playfully trolled Littler on social media. Tagging him on X (formerly Twitter), the club cheekily pointed out that the Premier League Darts champion had followed them. “Ooop (eyes emoji) You finally seen the light @LukeTheNuke180?” they posted.
The club added to the banter by sharing an image of James Maddison and Son Heung-min performing the iconic darts throw celebration, a nod to Littler’s sport. Fans quickly reacted to the post, with one commenting, “Admin has been cooking in the last two games and I’m loving it,” while another noted, “After we beat United (his boyhood club) too.”
Littler, now 17, has been a devoted Manchester United supporter since childhood, having grown up in nearby Warrington. He has even had the opportunity to meet United players such as Harry Maguire and Christian Eriksen for a special darts challenge. But despite his unwavering allegiance to the Red Devils, his interactions with Tottenham Hotspur have made headlines, giving rise to an amusing and unexpected football-darts crossover.
Littler first gained widespread attention at the age of 16 when he made an extraordinary run to the final of the World Darts Championship, captivating fans across the sporting world. His achievements caught the eye of Tottenham midfielder and darts enthusiast James Maddison, who reached out to support the rising star.
During the tournament, after Littler’s impressive 4-1 victory over darts legend Raymond van Barneveld in the last-16, Maddison extended an invitation for him to visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The young darts prodigy took a well-deserved break from the oche to attend Spurs’ match against Bournemouth in Maddison’s exclusive box.
Sharing the experience with his followers, Littler posted on Instagram on New Year’s Eve, writing: “Nice chilled day at the Spurs vs Bournemouth game today thanks to James for letting me in today, nice to get some time of (sic), last 8 tomorrow.”
Maddison also acknowledged the meeting, sharing a photo with Littler and playfully captioning it: “16 years old. After a few tips from myself on his throw & action/rhythm, I think he might have a half-decent career. Good luck in the quarter-final young man. COYS.”
Tottenham put on a strong performance that day, securing a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth with goals from Pape Sarr, Son Heung-min, and Richarlison. The win further fueled the lighthearted connection between Littler and the club.
Littler later attended another Spurs match last season, but this time it was on rival territory. He watched from the director’s box at Old Trafford as Manchester United played out a 2-2 draw with Tottenham. The experience proved to be a memorable one, not just for the match but for a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with football royalty.
“Unbelievable, I met Sir Alex Ferguson and got him to sign my top for me,” Littler recalled. “I had a chat with him and I was with Tommy Fury as well.”
The young darts star also appreciated the upgraded matchday experience. “It was good to get me in a quite good seat and I actually wore some decent clothes for once, instead of just tracksuit,” he added humorously.
As Littler continues to rise in the darts world, his dream remains clear. “Hopefully, I can win the World Championship or even a major trophy this year—one of the five or six majors that are on offer—and take it to Old Trafford,” he said.
Despite Tottenham’s playful efforts to lure him to their side, Littler never responded to their recent social media post, suggesting his football loyalties remain firmly with Manchester United. However, his growing connection with Spurs fans, and his interactions with Maddison and the club, have made for an amusing subplot in his burgeoning darts career.
As his fame grows, it will be interesting to see how Littler’s sporting alliances evolve. For now, though, it seems that while Tottenham may have earned a friendly nod from ‘The Nuke,’ his heart still belongs to the red half of Manchester.
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