Josh Rock refuses to alter racy walk-on song in Glasgow: “I'm not going to change it because my kids love my walk-on song”

Josh Rock has no plans to change his Rangers-tinged walk-on when the Premier League Darts rolls into Glasgow this week. Not even if it risks a hostile reception from Celtic supporters.

The Northern Irishman is still chasing his first win of the season. On the first two nights he went out in the quarterfinals each time. Match Night 3 brings another stern test: in the opening round he faces former world champion Luke Humphries.

Rock is an avowed Rangers fan and walks on to Welcome to the Party by DJ Krissy, a track closely associated with the club’s title-winning 2020/21 season. In a city where many Celtic fans will also be present, that could add extra tension in the arena.

Still, Rock refuses to change his walk-on music. "Luckily, Celtic are playing in the Europa League [on Thursday] so hopefully they [Celtic fans] are all out of there and it will all be Rangers fans [in the arena]," Rock said. "I have no plans to change my walk-on... I'm not going to change it because my kids love my walk-on song."

With no Scottish players in the Premier League this year, Rock was asked whether his Rangers ties might actually earn him extra backing from the local crowd at the OVO Hydro.

“I hope so,” he said. "It's been two or three years since the last Scottish player took part in the Premier League. I'm close to Scotland, it's literally a two-hour boat or a short flight over the water. I would love it [to have a big Scottish support] to happen, but I don't know what to expect from the crowd."

Rock’s walk-on has been a talking point before. At last year’s World Matchplay he wanted to switch to a different track, but the change ultimately didn’t happen. "I didn't change my mind, I just wasn't allowed in the end," Rock commented after his opening round win against Ross Smith. "But I'm not going to go on about it."

On the oche, Rock’s debut Premier League campaign has started slowly. In Newcastle he lost 6-2 to Jonny Clayton, before Michael van Gerwen proved too strong by the same scoreline in Antwerp. In total, he has taken just four legs across two nights.

In Glasgow he again meets an opponent who has had the better of him lately. The Englishman won their last three meetings. Still, Rock can draw confidence from an earlier spell between 2022 and 2024 when he beat Humphries three times in a row.

Thursday brings another chance to get his first points of the season on the board. His walk-on certainly won’t be the issue.