How Old Is Gary Anderson (1)

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The Flying Scotsman at 54: How Gary Anderson’s Still Beating the Odds

Published on October 20, 2025 by Charlotte Bennett

Curious about Gary Anderson’s age? You’re not alone. The question, “How old is Gary Anderson?” comes up quite often online, mostly from people who’ve seen him playing at the highest level and had to do a double-take—wait, just one minute, does he still play or what? Well, he is. The man’s 54 now, born in December 1970, and frankly, he shows no signs of slowing down whatsoever.

This is what gets me about Gary Anderson. Most blokes of his age have got their feet up and are looking to make a quieter life, possibly retire or play with the grandkids or whatever.

Not him. Not even close. Plenty of other players in their fifties put away the darts long ago, but here is Anderson battling on in the PDC, still throwing darts that make you wonder if you’re watching someone from another dimension. It’s genuinely mad.

I can remember seeing him out years ago, thinking he was untouchable. Fast forward to 2025, and while it’s true that he isn’t the player he was at his peak—few players are—his continued participation in competitive pool at 54 years of age, along with his ranking among the world’s top 15 pros, speaks volumes about his character and unwavering dedication to the game.

The Musselburgh Kid Who Made It

There is an interesting story about Anderson for you. He did not come from a darts family or anything. He’s a Musselburgh lad, just outside Edinburgh, and if you understand Scotland, you’ll know that it is full-on working-class territory.

Can you believe this bloke only took up darts when he was aged 24? Twenty-four! The majority of professional darts players begin throwing while teenagers. Anderson was already an adult before he picked up a dart seriously.

He was a builder at the time. Proper tradesman’s work that involves hands-on labour and earns you a proper income. While other kids were playing darts in youth clubs, Anderson was down on building sites. By the time he was ready, in 2000, to turn professional, hardly anybody knew who he was. But it wasn’t long before people began to take notice.

In 2007, he was already the winner of a World Championship. He then switched to the PDC in 2009. And that’s when things really kicked off. He claimed back-to-back PDC World Championships in 2015 and 2016. Now that’s the kind of achievement that defines an entire career. Most players never even get one. Anderson got two in a row.

The Flying Scotsman

You know that nickname, right? The Flying Scotsman. It wasn’t something he made up on his own. That was actually from Jocky Wilson, the legendary Scottish darts player. It meant something when Anderson was given that name in 2009. It still does. That’s real old-school darts heritage, that is.

In his best years, Anderson was downright untouchable. The averages he was throwing – we’re talking 110, 120 plus consistently – were the sort of numbers that made other players look like amateurs. I’ve seen plenty of darts in my time, and when Anderson is on fire, it is something else. There is a serenity, a concentration that’s frankly unsettling to behold. His opponents know it too.

Now, how old is Gary Anderson matters a bit more these days because you genuinely wouldn’t expect someone at his age to be competing at this level. But then again, Anderson’s never been predictable, has he?

The Personal Side

Well, Anderson’s private life isn’t any of my business, which is as it should be. He was previously married to Rosemary, with whom he had two sons. That chapter of his life didn’t last for good, and c’est la vie. Life happens, relationships change, and you move forward.

Now, he is married to Rachel Ford in 2022. They have made a life together. He has a son named Tai, born in 2014, plus another child. It’s things like this that remind me what Anderson is all about; he and Rachel used to own and run a pub called the Wellington Arms in Rooksbridge out in Somerset. Think about that.

A man who’s made millions from his prowess in darts decides to run a pub. Not that he needed the money, of course, but because he wanted to be part of a community, serve punters their pints, and be a normal bloke.

That tells you something about the man. He didn’t get swallowed up by the whole darts celebrity thing. He’s stayed grounded. Gary Anderson’s wife age and all that sort of thing – honestly, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is they’ve built a family life together that works, and that’s kept him stable and focused on his game.

The Money Side of Things

Let’s talk about Gary Anderson’s net worth for a second, because it’s actually quite impressive. Reports put his wealth at around £4.5 million, and that’s before you start counting everything. The bloke’s earned over £5 million in prize money throughout his career. That’s serious money, earned through serious tournaments.

PDC World Championships pay huge money. The Premier League darts bring in decent cash. Tournament wins add up. Sponsorship deals with Unicorn darts and other companies – it all adds together.

But here’s the thing – Anderson’s earned every single penny of it. He’s not one of those players who had one good tournament and then coasted. He’s won 55 PDC titles across his career. He’s been PDC Player of the Year twice. He’s got Premier League trophies, World Matchplay wins, and UK Open victories. The list goes on.

When you look at those numbers, you understand that this isn’t some lucky break. This is a man who’s dedicated his entire professional life to being the best, and for a solid decade there, he absolutely was.

Where It All Happens

Where does Gary Anderson live these days? He’s based down in Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset. Not some fancy house or whatever.” Just a fine, normal place in a seaside town where he can live relatively quietly with his family.

This is very much the Anderson way. He’s a success, certainly rich, but not in need of the spotlight or glamour to feel important.

Still Here, Still Playing

Here’s what amazes me about Anderson now. He’s 54 years old. He’s still competing at the PDC level. He’s still ranking among the top professionals worldwide. Most sports careers are finished by this age. Most people have moved on to completely different chapters of their lives.

But Anderson keeps going. You still see him walking out to “Jump Around” by House of Pain. You still glimpse him lining up his darts in that signature focus. Even now, you still watch him go against some of those guys who are half his age at times, and truthfully, he can hold his own more than people think.

That doesn’t mean he’s Superman or anything else. He made a decision long ago to become the greatest in the world at what he does, and because of that decision, nothing else matters. He has kept his body, his mind, and his focus. He’s stayed humble and grounded. He’s got family around him that keeps him balanced.

When people ask, “How old is Gary Anderson?” they’re usually surprised by the answer. But really, the better question is, how does he still do it? And the answer is pretty simple: he never stopped trying. He never got complacent. He never decided that his best years were behind him and that he should just coast.

Gary Anderson ‘That’ll be the day’ – that’s what people used to say about him winning titles at his age. But he’s doing it anyway. That’s the real story. Not the age, not the money, not any of that. The real story is about a bloke from Musselburgh who picked up darts at 24, became world number one, and at 54 is still showing up and giving it everything. That’s the man. That’s what matters.

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