2024 Grand Slam of Darts: Cameron Menzies’ Road from the Worksite to the Quarterfinals

Scottish thrower Cameron Menzies pulled off one of the most surprising upsets at the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts by eliminating veteran and three-time finalist James Wade. 

In an electrifying showdown, Wade pushed Menzies to the limit, with the match reaching a nerve-racking 9-9 scoreline. Yet, Menzies, the partner of “Queen of the Palace” Fallon Sherrock, showed exceptional composure and secured victory in the last-leg decider, booking his place in his first-ever televised ranking quarterfinal.

The road to that moment, however, was anything but conventional. Just hours before stepping onto the oche, Menzies had been hard at work on a construction project in Milton Keynes, practicing his other craft: plumbing. The Scot managed to juggle his day job and his darts career seamlessly, a testament to his dedication and work ethic.

"Half one today I finished," Menzies revealed, referring to his early afternoon shift. 

He was part of a team working on a project for the local council, where he was helping to install disabled-accessible toilets. His role wasn’t limited to plumbing, either. “The company I work for, we’re working for the council. It’s a project for the community, at what I think is a disabled home, but we’re installing disabled toilets. I’m doing the plastering and rewiring, all the plumbing,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

Despite the pressure of preparing for a high-stakes match, Menzies kept his humour. He shared a light-hearted story about how his supervisor joked with him about staying late. 

“My supervisor told me I could get off at 1:00 to prepare for tonight, but I finished at half one,” he laughed. The playful overtime banter only added to the surreal nature of his journey from worksite to spotlight.

Image credit: PDC

Menzies’s commitment to his day job might seem unusual for a player ranked within the world's top 40, having earned £157,000 in prize money from darts over the past two years. 

But when asked why he doesn’t make darts his full-time career, the Scot’s response was refreshingly modest and genuine. He candidly admitted that his self-belief hasn’t quite caught up with his achievements yet.

"I'm ecstatic to be here, but I don't think I'm good enough to be here. I feel like I'm not there yet. I feel like I'm getting there, but I don't think I'm there yet. I believe my ranking shows my level," Menzies explained, highlighting his humility and hunger for growth.

The financial stability from his darts success could allow him to go full-time, but for Menzies, his plumbing job serves a greater purpose. 

"I could go full-time with the darts, but I like that [his day job] background just to take my mind off it. It helps me take the pressure off," he shared. 

His day job isn’t just about financial security; it provides a crucial mental and emotional balance. For Menzies, working with close friends on site has become an integral support system, especially during tough times in his darts career. “I've worked since I was 15 and 16 on the site. So, it just kind of gives me that mentality. This is a hobby [darts] that I want to get better at, and I want to be someone, I want to get to that stage where this is my job,” he said.

The camaraderie with his colleagues acts as a buffer from the stresses of darts. “I work now just because of my mates. I could go full-time with darts, but I've got a good bunch of guys behind me and seeing them when I lose helps me because my workmates are my good mates,” he added.

Menzies’s work ethic isn’t a recent development; it’s deeply ingrained. Even during the COVID pandemic, when trade work dried up, he couldn’t sit idle. 

“I do it more for my mental state. Even during COVID, I worked in a factory on minimum wage making cakes just because I don’t like sitting at the house for more than two days. I have to be out and working,” he recounted, showcasing his indefatigable spirit.