THIS week, I am focusing on the local legends of the game and I will be speaking to ‘The Natural’ Les Fitton.

I remember going into Halliwell Conservative Club for the first time back in 2007. I walked in with my darting mates and we watched in awe as Dave Smith won the competition.

I remember my good mate Danny Minihane being surprised with the talent in what we thought was just a local competition.

We got to know a few of the big darters over the years and we’ve had the pleasure of spending time practising with them, or playing against them, ever since entering the community.

We kick this all off with Fitton. He was in his prime between 2000 and 2004 – reaching the last 16 of the PDC World Championships twice in 2001 and 2003, while winning the Lancashire Open in 2000 and the Vauxhall Spring Pro in 2002.

Fitton returned in 2008 after only entering one competition since 2004 and went on to lose in the final of the Lancashire Open.

He qualified for the UK Open in 2009, where he lost to Wayne Mardle on the Reebok stage despite being in a commanding position to take the game. I asked Fitton these four questions:

Q: I feel after knowing you for eight years that you could have had a much better career than you did. Les, do you have any regrets or look at some things and wish you’d done them differently?

A: My biggest regret was not playing darts at the highest level when I was younger.

Q: What advice would you give any of our readers today?

A: To always play darts with someone better than you. This had a huge impact on my career and improved me a lot as a player.

Q: What was the greatest moment in your career?

A: I have three great moments. My first was being picked for England. Second was beating three-time champion of the world John Lowe on Sky Sports. Third was beating Phil Taylor 6-1 in the second round before going on to win the competition with a 104+ average against Colin Lloyd.

Q: Who is the best player you’ve played against?

A: The man himself, Phil Taylor.

Another player who enjoyed the limelight was Paul Williams, who arguably had a more successful career.

Like Fitton, Williams won three competitions but nearly trebled his earnings in a career that started in 1991.

Again a player who peaked during the mid-2000s, Williams’ highlights include a nine-dart finish in 2002 in the Ireland Open Spring Classic – an event where he reached the final.

He famously got to the semi-final in the inaugural UK Open at the Reebok Stadium in 2003, where he beat Fitton on the way before losing out to Shayne Burgess 11-9.

‘Magic’ Steve Coote was another player who originated from Bolton and he had a very successful career within the BDO. A fireman by trade, Coote was a naturally gifted player who was in his peak in 2002.

That year he reached the last 16 of the BDO World Championships, the semi-final of the World Masters and the quarter-finals of the World Darts Trophy. He is recognised on YouTube in a video which saw Shaun Greatbatch hit a nine-dart finish against him.

The fourth is the legendary left-hander Ian Roe. Although I have very little information available on Roe, I have constantly been told how Roe is the best left-hander in darts and how many recognise him as the finest darter in Bolton.

Away from the men’s game, I spoke to our two-time champion of the world Lisa Ashton and she told me who she felt had a huge impact on the game.

“Eva Holden played for Lancashire and she put her time and dedication into running the leagues in Bolton. There was also Ada Shepherd and Flo Bell,” she said.

Let’s see if you remember some of these greats, which go back as far as 50 years: Dean Edge, Graham Brooks, Glen Miller, Vinny Mullineaux, Ken Mather, Jimmy McGrath, Charlie Wiessman, David Fallows, Steve Riley, Frank Barnes, Steve Fielding, John Wolfendale, Tommy Cushnahan, Bob Heyes, Farimond Cartwright, Peers Bromilow, Walt Ellison, John Ainscow, Roy Hacking, Tommy Bass, Tony Shaw, Cyril Arrowsmith, Farimond Cartwright, Fredrick Chaur, Martin Holt and Mick Bushby Senior.

Next week I will be visiting the Bay Mare as they go up against The Lamb Bravos.