Co Stompe is refusing to get carried away ahead of the 2012 Ladbrokes World Championship after he lost in the first round last year.
Dutchman hoping for return to form at Ally Pally
Co Stompe is refusing to get carried away ahead of the 2012 Ladbrokes World Championship after he lost in the first round last year.
'The Matchstick' was confident heading into the tournament after winning the World Cup alongside Raymond van Barneveld for Holland in December 2010.
However, even the best wishes of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte weren't able to help him defeat Peter Wright as he lost 3-1 on the second day of action.
Now he arrives at Alexandra Palace after defeat to Dave Chisnall in the second round of the Players Championship and hopes he can get back on track after a tough year on the oche.
"I won't get excited because last year I won the World Cup with Raymond and got home on the Monday with all the Dutch TV and newspapers talking to me," he told
Sportinglife.com.
"I got a fax from the Queen and the Prime Minster and Minster of Sport sent me a letter but before I knew it I was flying back to the UK to play in the World Championship and I was never prepared to play in it.
"I'm happy the year is over because it's been a lousy year for me. I've never played to my top standard."
Stompe isn't dwelling on the previous 12 months as he can't wait to get back to Ally Pally and hear the fans sing 'Play Up Stompe', a reworking of the famous Portsmouth Football Club tune 'Play Up Pompey'.
"I love Ally Pally," he added. "It's close to Portsmouth and they will sing 'Play Up Stompe' as when the football isn't on I get their support.
"I'm looking forward to going back but a little bit frightened as well as you worry about whether you're going to turn up and play your game."
Stompe is grateful for the support of the darting public and he thinks they are the reason the sport has grown in recent years.
"I know some of the guys don't like to go in there and do photos and sign autographs but they are the ones who pay the bills.
"It's not me who's making the money as if they weren't there we couldn't make the money and pay our bills so they deserve our respect.
"No matter who you are, whether they support you or they don't, it doesn't really matter as the atmosphere at Ally Pally is brilliant."
Brilliant
The former tram driver opens his campaign against St Helens youngster Michael Smith and is wary of his opponent with the next generation of talent starting to make themselves known.
He joked that some rising stars are already better than darts legend Eric Bristow before reminding them that they have plenty of hard work ahead.
"I think the youth players at the moment are better than Bristow has ever been!" he joked.
"No I'd want to see them make five world titles as that's a different story.
"The way the standard of play is with the youth players at the moment with a 92 and 94 average it is easy for them.
"Eric would tell you this as at the time he was winning all his world titles the standard of play was similar to what the youth players are doing right now.
"That's taking nothing away from Eric but that's what the standard was so he didn't need to play better that.
"Nowadays the standard of play is unbelievable and I'm looking forward to seeing what the standard is when all these youth players come through.
"Maybe they can give Phil Taylor a run for his money!"
