Raymond van Barneveld is known for collecting titles on the oche but at one point, it was collecting Funko Pops that was a vice for the five time World Champion with over 1,500 in his house.
ADVERTISEMENT
Van Barneveld started collecting all kinds of things at a young age. "As a child I already enjoyed collecting lego. During my darts career I also kept just about everything, from program books to trophies and all kinds of memorabilia," 'Barney' said on the podcast Everybody Loves Darts.
That collecting frenzy did go a long way. "At one point I had about 1,500 Funko pops in the house. Everywhere I went I bought these, I even bought extra suitcases on vacation so I could take them with me."
"Those were worth a lot, but in the end I had to sell them due to lack of space in my house. Since then I have also tried to collect fewer things, because it really went too far," Van Barneveld can now laugh about it.
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.