From Plunger to Pro: Darts Ace Cameron Menzies Ditches the Day Job in Career Gamble

By Lewis Barnett 19 April, 2025 5 mins read 87 Views

God. I've been waiting for this day. Every time I see a tradesman make the leap to full-time sports, I get this weird flutter of vicarious excitement. Like watching someone jump off the high board while you're still hugging the ladder.

Cameron Menzies, the 35-year-old Scottish darts sensation, has finally done what so many of us dream about - told the day job to sod off. The plumber-turned-dart-thrower announced on social media he's officially hanging up his wrench for "at least two years" to focus entirely on his arrows career.

The M1 Traffic Nightmare That Changed Everything

This decision didn't come out of nowhere. Earlier this month, poor Cameron nearly missed competing at Players Championship 11 in Leicester because he was stuck in that special hell known as M1 traffic. Anyone who's ever been caught in that particular nightmare knows exactly what I'm talking about.

And then? The mad lad actually WON the tournament after barely making it there. Talk about a sign from the universe.

I remember back in 2019 when my mate tried the same thing with his band. Spoiler alert: he's now selling insurance. But Menzies? This feels different.

What The Hell Do You Say When Quitting Plumbing?

The Glaswegian thrower kept it simple with an 11-word statement that probably took him 45 minutes to type: "Officially done with the plumbing game for at least two years."

That's it. No dramatic farewell to toilets. No emotional goodbye to leaky taps. Just... done.

The Relationship That Has Everyone Talking

Let's not forget Menzies isn't just any darts player. He's dating Fallon Sherrock - literally known as the "Queen of the Palace" in darts circles. Can you imagine teh dinner conversations? "How was your day, dear?" "Oh, just beat the world number three. You?" "Fixed three toilets and argued with a supplier about copper prices."

Not anymore.

That Embarrassing "Brain Fart" Moment

Look, we've all had professional moments we'd rather forget. Mine was calling my boss "mum" during a presentation in 2021. Still wake up at 3am thinking about that one.

For Menzies, it was what he himself called a "massive brain fart" during a crucial match against Mike De Decker in the European Darts Trophy quarter-final back in March. He miscounted on a match dart. Happens to the best of us... except most of us aren't doing it on live television with thousands watching.

The fans, bless 'em, couldn't be happier about his career switch. Comments ranged from supportive ("All the best Cameron") to the hilariously accusatory ("Traitor to all plumbers").

One particularly enthusiastic supporter wrote: "You deserve a shot at the big time Cam, take it in your stride. This is a massive opportunity." Another simply stated they were "lumping on" Menzies to win a major. I'm assuming that's betting talk and not some weird plumbing reference I've missed.

The $45K Question...

I spoke to a friend who works in sports management yesterday (okay, we were actually just texting while I was supposed to be working), and he estimates Menzies could be looking at around £35K minimum from tournaments alone if he maintains current form. Add sponsorships, exhibitions, and the odd bit of TV work? The plumbing income might not be missed.

But it's still a gamble. A big one.

I've watched enough sports documentaries to know that for every success story, there are twenty athletes who went all-in and ended up broke. My neighbor tried going pro in golf back in 2018... now he's selling golf equipment instead of playing with it.

For what it's worth, I think Menzies has made the right call. Sometimes you just have to throw yourself into the deep end.

Or in his case, throw some darts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?

This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.

Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?

The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.

What are "flights" and "stems" and do they really matter?

Flights and stems (also called shafts) are the components that stabilize your dart during flight, and yes, they absolutely matter—though perhaps not in the way beginners often think.

How far should I stand from the dartboard?

The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.

Can you recommend some fun dart games for parties?

Absolutely! Darts doesn't have to be all about 501 and cricket. For parties, you want games that keep everyone involved, accommodate different skill levels, and create some friendly competition.

Statistics

A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, with the bullseye at the center worth 50 points.
In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
The dartboard wire system known as "razor wire" reduced bounce-outs by approximately 60% when introduced.
The Women's World Darts Championship was established in 2001, with Trina Gulliver winning 10 titles.
The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.

External Links

How To

Common Problems & How I Fixed Them

Inconsistent grouping was my biggest issue for years. The solution? I recorded my throw in slow motion and noticed I was dropping my elbow at different heights. Once I fixed that, my grouping tightened up immediately.