Sport

‘Darts needs more Nathan Aspinalls’ – Stockport star praised after emotional hometown win

A title last month, a win in Scotland just last week and now victory in front of a hometown crowd. 'The Asp' is back on track.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 11th April 2025

Stockport’s very own Nathan Aspinall is being heaped with praise following a hometown Premier League Darts in Manchester that clearly meant a lot to the local lad.

There’s nothing quite like the roar of a home crowd, is there?

It was ‘The Asp‘s first nightly win of the year in what was not only another strong display of resilience but also looks to be the continuation of a steady return to form.

Here’s the moment he won it in front of thousands inside the AO Arena:

We don’t need to explain to you why this was such a big moment for the 33-year-old, who’s had an up and down last few years, to say the least.

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Aspinall has been vocal on everything from mental health and injuries to ‘dartitis’ and more in recent times, so notching yet another big win – his first in the 2025 Premier League season (all on Manc soil, no less) – looked like a visible relief.

He did against the odds too, coming back from 3-0 down to beat world number one Luke Humphries in the final by 6-4, who was understandably considered the favourite next to world champion Luke Littler, whom he managed to fight off by the same scoreline in the semis.

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It’s been a great start to the year for ‘The Asp’, as this latest victory comes after an exhibition win in Scotland just last week as well as his first European Tour trophy in March.

But more importantly, beyond the personal accolades and love shared by his fellow natives on Thursday night, it was clearer than ever that he’s becoming an increasing fan favourite for his personality, unmistakably Northern sense of humour, wholesome attitude, humility and more.

Speaking after the winning dart and jubilant scenes up on the oche and among the ‘boring tables’ of the AO, Aspinall admitted he had “never been so nervous” – especially given how wins in sporting cities like Manchester mean to anyone, let alone a Stopfordian.

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Now fourth in the table on 15 points after night 10 with nine games won, it’s starting to look like ‘The Asp’ might be getting back to the heights we saw early on in his career.

Long may it continue.

You can watch his emotional post-match interview in full down below:

Here’s what fan-favourite Aspinall had to say after adding a Manchester Premier League night to his list of wins this year.

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Featured Images — Darts Now/Sky Sports (screenshot)/Nathan Aspinall (via Instagram)

Sport

A reminder that class is permanent as Kevin De Bruyne inspires remarkable Man City comeback

Danny Jones Danny Jones Kevin De Bruyne highlights Crystal Palace Man City comeback

If there was ever any doubt that Kevin De Bruyne isn’t just Manchester City’s best player but arguably the best in the Premier League full stop, then his inspiring display at the Etihad Stadium in their emphatic 5-2 comeback against Crystal Palace should have well and truly quashed those.

Man City received a rather large early shock after finding themselves two goals down after just 21 minutes on Saturday, and it looked to be a topsy-turvy day that would once again confirm they are human in what has been their least dominant season for some time.

However, the reminder that we ultimately got is that is aging, injury problems and legs not moving quite as quickly as they used to may get the better of some, but class is permanent and if Blues could pick any player slightly past his prime to get them out of a tight spot, it will be Kevin De Bruyne 11 times out 10.

The Belgian midfielder not only got he team and the crowd back in the fight with a wonderful free-kick to make it 2-1, but he also managed to grab an assist for the third goal by Mateo Kovačić, having well and truly gotten their creative juices flowing. Speaking after the game, he made the objectives clear:

A leader, armband or not. Here’s what he has to say after the game.

Leading by example and then some.

In truth, he could have had at least one more goal were it not for a strike rattling the post, as well as essentially helped carve out the equaliser from Omar Marmoush – now on six league goals for the season – and regardless of his recent fitness issues, his quality shone through as always.

The 33-year-old described himself as being relatively “pain-free” for the last year, and putting smaller issues with hamstrings and a hernia aside, he is already starting to reflect on what has been a remarkable 10 years both for the club and him personally here in Manchester.

He went on to add that winning the FA Cup would be the “perfect ending” to his time in Manchester, but who knows? Maybe they could always tie on a second FIFA Club World Cup if he’s still around by then.

As for Pep Guardiola, you only need to see the way he looked at his number 17 when he walked off the pitch to see how much he means to the side and the fans, going on to add in the post-match that not only did he obviously “change the momentum” and the game but he knows he can always “rely on him.”

In fact, Pep summed up the legacy he’s going to leave behind in just one word…

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De Bruyne confirmed he will be leaving the Etihad at the end of the season after a decade that has established him as one of the very best players in the world, and it’s more than fair to say that City won’t be the same without him – we’re pretty sure neither will the league.

It doesn’t matter who you support, he won’t be playing forever, so enjoy watching it while it lasts.

You can watch the highlights from Man City’s magnificent Premier League comeback against Crystal Palace, led by the brilliance of Kevin De Bruyne, in full down below:

Some turnaround.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — TNT Sports (screenshots via YouTube)

Sport

A release date for the Freddie Flintoff documentary has been confirmed

Danny Jones Danny Jones Freddie Flintoff Disney+ documentary film

The release date for the upcoming Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff documentary has been revealed, and it’s coming a lot sooner than many expected.

Simply entitled Flintoff, the documentary has been highly anticipated among UK audiences, especially given events in recent years.

Landing on Disney+ only, the film will follow his glittering cricket career as well as his return to the sport and the public after a life-altering car crash whilst filming Top Gear in 2022.

Much to our surprise, it’s all ready to go and is dropping next month.

The Disney+ doc will run for approximately 90 minutes and follow on from his recent BBC series, Freddie Flintoff‘s Field of Dreams, which saw him start to open up about the difficult period and recovery publicly for the first time.

An eye-opening and candid show in its own right alongside the inspiring story of a teen cricket team being coached by the Lancashire and England legend, he won even more hearts when the second season launched last August.

It’s no surprise that there is a third instalment on its way next year.

It’s also worth noting that this isn’t the first time he’s been the subject of his own documentary, as the 47-year-old also released a BBC One called Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia, charting his personal struggles with the eating disorder and mental health even prior to the trauma of his crash.

You can see a snippet of the one-off show down below.

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The Preston-born all-rounder has confessed he still suffers from PTSD following the incident, detailing struggles with anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks of the crash, insisting that it “changed my life forever.”

All that being said, we’re glad to see that he’s continued to overcome numerous obstacles and remains an extremely funny and personable figure, as well as an eternal icon of British sport that so many admire.

As for Disney’s Flintoff film, the documentary will be available exclusively on the streaming platform in the UK and Ireland from Friday, April 25.

We will most certainly be watching.

Freddie Flintoff opens up on ‘anxiety and nightmares’ after Top Gear crash

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Disney+/Gareth Williams (via Flickr)

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