"Jocky should get better recognition" - Calls for Jocky Wilson statue in hometown more than a decade after his death

Jocky Wilson is one of the most loved names in the history of darts. The legendary Scottish two-time world champion died in 2012 at the age of 62 but his memory lives on and a former schoolmate is now pushing for a statue to be erected in Wilson's honour.

Roy McIntosh, 74, a former schoolmate of Wilson's at Waid Academy in Anstruther is leading the campaign and has highlighted Wilson's achievements in a mural of photographs and articles now on display in Edinburgh's Telfer Subway. The 95-square-meter mural - all but one of which was photographed by Wilson's old darts friend Willie Burness of Kirkcaldy - was painted by McIntosh on a subway wall in July, after his previous attempts to get the image into two art galleries in Edinburgh were rejected.

Read also

"As Eric walked up the steps to go on stage, Jocky kicked him from behind!" - Bob Anderson recalls epic Bristow vs Wilson rivalry

McIntosh told Fife Free Press, "Jocky had experienced a very tough upbringing. But he was a very humble person and was always smiling," he recalls warmly. “Erecting a memorial statue for Jocky in Kirkcaldy would keep his story alive and it would maybe make people think more about how they treat others socially as Jocky was not very high up in society."

Wilson grew into a real crowd pleaser during his time on the oche, but put an end to his career as early as 1996 at the age of 46. Afterwards, partly due to mental health problems, Wilson struggled. More than a decade after his death, however, his personality continues to inspire. "So many people don’t look on darts as a sport. Unless Jocky had been given a gift from God, he must have put a lot of time and effort into practising and that takes commitment," McIntosh concludes. "I regularly cycle past the subway and I know that a lot of people stop and look at the Jocky Wilson mural. I’ve heard a lot of people saying that Jocky should get better recognition in Kirkcaldy. I’ve written to people and said that, but I just think the people of Fife should rally round and do it. I would like to see a wee bronze statue of a darts player erected in Kirkcaldy, maybe along the esplanade where people would walk."

Read also

Autobiography recalls Jocky Wilson's route to World title glory: "I was humiliated, but it started me on the road"