Meet Luke Littler’s close circle from ex-cabbie dad to ‘girlfriend’ he accidentally revealed

In just 12 months, Luke Littler has transformed from an unknown darts player into not only a British sports sensation, but also a household name.

The 17-year-old Warrington native first caught the public's eye with his remarkable journey to the PDC World Darts Championship final in January. He then went on to secure an impressive 10 titles throughout the year.

His triumph over rival Luke Humphries for his inaugural Premier League of Darts title, coupled with his victory in November's exhilarating Grand Slam of Darts, have only fuelled the growing excitement around Littler.

READ MORE: When is Luke Littler playing at the World Darts Championship and how can I watch?

READ MORE: Luke Littler shows true colours with comments after Sky Sports' sad announcement

Nicknamed 'The Nuke', Littler has climbed to fourth place on the PDC Order of Merit, earned a nomination for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, and is now setting his sights on the World Darts Championship once again - this time entering as the bookmakers' favourite, despite still being a teenager.

As Littler embarks on his mission to become world champion this weekend, his tight-knit team will undoubtedly be there to cheer him on every step of the way. Here, Wales Online aims to provide insight into the inner circle of this darts prodigy.

Ex-cabbie Dad

Littler's father, Anthony Buckley, has been instrumental in his successful career. A former taxi driver from Warrington, Anthony persuaded his son to give up football at the age of nine and concentrate on darts instead - a decision that has clearly reaped rewards.

Indeed, it was his father who ignited Littler's passion for darts, buying him his first magnetic darts board from a pound shop when he was only a toddler, thus setting him on a trajectory toward greatness. Not long afterwards, training at the renowned St Helens Darts Shop began under the watchful eye of coach Karl Holden, who has labelled him the "Cristiano Ronaldo of darts".

Reflecting on his early beginnings in an interview with BBC Radio 2, Littler said: "My dad said, 'hang your boots up let's focus on darts'. I was like, 'I love it though'. My dad said, 'I think your ability to be a professional, you've got high chances.' Six years later here I am."

Buckley spoke to The Times about those formative years: "He was a good footballer. He loved football. All kids do. But I said to him at nine, hang your boots up. Concentrate on darts. You can still play football here and there. But if there's a darts comp on at the weekends, go to darts first.

"Make that your priority, because I thought he could make it at darts - and he has done. When I said to him, you need to keep playing darts, he was okay with it. We put him in every competition that was online. Sometimes you're getting up at 7am on a Saturday - my only day off - just to play darts. There were no lie-ins."

Mum

Luke's mother, Lisa, also takes immense pride in her son's achievements. On her social media, which essentially acts as a tribute to her son's astonishing success, she even once posted a video of a very young Luke, merely 18 months old, accurately throwing darts at a board while still in a nappy.

Before dedicating her time to support her son's burgeoning career, she was a sales assistant at a Yankee Candle shop. It remains uncertain if she has resumed her role there following Luke's impressive ascent in the sporting world.

Lisa, along with their family, has recently upgraded to an opulent five-bedroom detached home on the outskirts of his hometown, thanks to Luke's sporting triumphs. The property, which Littler secured for a £6,000 monthly lease, boasts a swimming pool where his parents have been pictured enjoying a swim.

Sister

His older sister Caitlin is another supportive figure in Littler's life. She keeps a low profile and is private about her career but occasionally shows her support for the darts sensation on social media platforms.

Earlier this year, she expressed her immense pride by calling herself the "proudest sister ever" and dubbing Luke the 'GOAT' following his victory at the Jack's World Series of Darts Finals in September.

Caitlin also enjoys a following on TikTok, where she posts videos to her 27,000 followers. Luke and Caitlin have another brother, Harry, who prefers to stay out of the limelight.

Manager

Behind the scenes, Martin Foulds from ZXF Sports Management has been guiding Littler as his manager and mentor. Foulds is often seen by Littler's side at various events, such as football games and the Silverstone F1 Grand Prix, where they snapped a photo with driver Lando Norris (below).

Their bond began approximately four years prior when Foulds took note of his exceptional ability and made a point to observe him in action. Foulds has been crucial in keeping Littler well-grounded and assisting him to earn impressive amounts of money.

AManchester United fan like Littler, he's always emphasised the significant role played by Littler's parents in his achievements. He has previously said: "Not enough is said about the parents who have sacrificed so much for Luke and travelled the world with him to help him achieve his dream."

Girlfriend

Littler has balanced his demanding schedule with a romantic life over the last year. His relationship with Avon sales representative Eloise Milburn began last year, just before his rise to stardom.

Their paths crossed while playing FIFA 23 online, where they quickly connected through their mutual love for football and darts. Eloise, who is an amateur darts player and four years his senior, started appearing at his matches throughout the country.

The couple parted ways in the summer, leaving Littler reportedly "upset", although they agreed to remain friends. It wasn't long after that Littler inadvertently hinted at a new romantic interest during a gaming live stream.

While engaged in an boxing game with famed streamer Angryginge13, real name Morgan Burtwistle, in October, a voice belonging to a woman was overheard speaking to Littler, sparking immediate rumours about 'the Nuke' potentially being involved in a new relationship.

During the stream, an unknown voice was overheard stating with fatigue: "I'm gonna try and get some sleep because I'm so tired." This prompted streamer AngryGinge to question fellow player Littler, a member of his 'Girth N Turf' EA FC 24 Pro Clubs team, about who was speaking in the background.

"Who the f*** is that? Who's that Luke? Who's that Luke? He's had a rotter there! Luke's had a rotter," Burtwistle teased, as laughter erupted among the other streamers at Littlers predicament.

Littler, realising the humorous onslaught wasn't going to let up anytime soon, cursed: "F***'s sake." AngryGinge chimed in humorously, suggesting: "Let her get to bed, Luke, come on."

It didn't take long for Littler to comprehend that the woman's voice was also audible to the viewers. He took the slip-up in stride, chuckling along: "Your chat is going mad, F*** off. If someone has screen recorded that, it's in the papers in the morning. Yep, well played. Why's the volume all the way up, you f***ing idiot?"