27/10/2026
Very well said 👌🏼
Some people really haven’t a clue.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE REALITY OF RUNNING A JUNIOR DARTS ACADEMY. 🎯
There seems to be an expectation from some people that whenever a child qualifies for ANY tournament, the academy should automatically be there to fund it or organise fundraising for them.
But I think some people need to understand the reality of running an academy, especially when you're doing it on your own.
After the first year, when sponsorship becomes difficult to secure, the financial responsibility doesn't disappear. It falls on me.
The academy has to be set up and packed away. There's rent to pay, subscriptions, equipment, bills and countless other expenses that people don't always see. That's on top of working a full day and then spending two nights a week away from home, giving up my own time to provide opportunities for these kids.
And then comes the part that really gets to you…
Being questioned about why fundraising wasn't organised for someone's child, often by a parent who rarely sets foot at an academy event, rarely gets involved, and ignores the very appeals for sponsorship that could help support the academy.
Yet somehow, there's always time to criticise.
Let me make one thing clear: nobody wants to see these kids succeed more than I do. Every qualification, every achievement and every opportunity they earn makes me proud. I'd love to be in a position to help every single player financially, every time they qualify for something special.
But an academy cannot run on good intentions alone. It takes money, time, commitment, support and people willing to get behind what we're trying to build.
If we want our kids to have more opportunities, we all have a part to play. It cannot always fall on one person's shoulders.
So, why do we do it?
Why put in the hours, spend our own money, sacrifice family time and keep going when it sometimes feels like nothing is ever enough?
THE KIDS. ❤️🎯
The smiles, the friendships, the confidence they build, the progress they make and the memories they create along the way.
The kids are amazing. They are the reason we keep turning up, even on the difficult days.
I will always do everything I reasonably can to support them, encourage them and help them reach their potential. But I'm one person, not a bottomless bank account or a full-time fundraising team.
So, before criticising an academy or questioning what it has done for your child, please take a moment to consider what goes on behind the scenes — and ask yourself what you could do to help.
Support goes a lot further than criticism. And a little appreciation, involvement or sponsorship can make a massive difference.
I do this for the kids. I always have, and I always will. ❤️🎯
Tiernan Adams Darts
Matthew Gallagher
Dart District
JAM Events NI
