Wimborne Darts- “It brings everyone together”

Every Monday evening different pubs from around Wimborne take part in the local Wimborne Minster Darts League (WMDL). However, it’s not just a competition, it’s a chance for Dorset Residents to be involved in a community.  

Within the league’s rulebook it states that all teams must play within a reasonable distance of Wimborne Minster’s centre. This rule keeps the league firmly rooted in Dorset and keeps it as a local identity as it ensures all venues are accessible for players.  

The league offers a circuit of pubs and clubs that feel less like sporting competition but more of a community meeting point as Carl Filer, who captains and owns The Cricketers Arms team, says “It brings everyone together, a majority of my mates are from starting this team”. Filer also describes Monday nights as “his favourite night of the week”.  

The same feeling is reciprocated across the teams’ lines. Cricketers Arms’ player Shaun Turner says the league encourages friendship even among rivals “You get to meet new people each year, not just on your own team but the opposite sides too”.  

As professional darts continues to gain popularity, thanks to Luke Littler’s sudden rise to the top more Dorset residents show an interest in joining the teams, making the community larger than ever. Filer says, “It’s great to see new faces joining, especially the younger people who are starting to come in”.  

Once the competitiveness ends and all matches are finished on the night, both teams often stay long after the final dart and socialise within the community. Filer says, “Mondays has become our best nights as everyone is just here having a good time”.  

For many in Wimborne, the league reaches much more beyond the sport. A local resident said the active clubs is vital for the town’s social cohesion. “It’s great to have clubs for locals to join…. it brings the town together.”  

While Wimborne evolves, the darts league remains a constant reminder of local unity and a sense of togetherness which keeps the local town a strong community.