Fans spot hidden meaning behind Luke Humphries' name chosen by Leeds Utd mad dad
Fans have clocked the hidden meaning behind World Darts Championship winner Luke Humphries' football-related name - and it's stemmed from his beloved Leeds United.
Humphries, 28, stormed to a 7-4 victory over Luke Littler in the final at Ally Pally on Wednesday after battling back from a two-set deficit. The world No.1 stormed into the lead but was pegged back by 16-year-old Littler. Humphries went back in front, before Littler won three successive sets to lead 4-2.
However, Littler squandered the chance to go further ahead by missing double two when the set was level at two apiece. Humphries punished the teenage sensation to win that set and the next four to run away with the contest as he continued his red-hot form following victories in the Grand Slam and Grand Prix.
Before the match, some viewers began to learn about Humphries' hidden reference to Leeds in his birth name. The Berkshire-born star is a huge Leeds supporter and his father named him Luke as it stands for [L]eeds [U]nited [K]ings of [E]urope.
Speaking in October after winning the World Grand Prix title, he said: "I think everyone knows I am named after the club, that's no secret. I am not from Leeds, but the club really was in me from birth.
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"It was great in the early years of my life, then we had a patch of hard times, but I really feel we're now on the up as a club again despite what happened last year."
Luke Humphries during his World Darts Championship victory over Luke Littler (Getty)Earlier this season, Humphries paid a visit to Leeds' training complex to meet the players and first-team manager Daniel Farke, who even asked him for a photo. "I've been there [to the training ground] three or four times and I've never even seen the manager," Humphries said. "But the manager actually requested to come down and see me. I was a bit taken aback. He came down and we chatted for about five or 10 minutes.
"We were talking darts and football. One of the most pleasant men I've ever met, let alone my favourite football team's manager. He asked for a photo because his son is a fan of darts and a fan of me. That was quite a surreal moment. He said if there's anything I need from the club, they would sort it out.
Luke Humphries with a group of Leeds United players, who presented him with a club shirt (@lukeh180)"I met the players. I've met a few of them before but I got to see some of the new ones as well. What a team they are, they're a pleasure to be around."
Leeds congratulated Humphries after beating Littler, who is an avid Manchester United supporter, on Wednesday. "January 3rd, remember the date! Congratulations to @lukeh180 on becoming @OfficialPDC World Champion!" the club tweeted. Humphries' victory comes 14 years to the day since Jermaine Beckford scored that historic winner as Leeds beat Man Utd at Old Trafford in the FA Cup.
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