George Noble, the veteran darts referee, will officiate his final match at the World Darts Championship final later this month, bringing a 30-year career to a close. The 57-year-old, who began in the BDO before joining the PDC in 2007, has decided to step down to spend more time with his family, though he plans to remain involved in the sport in some capacity.
Noble, an ardent Millwall fan, revealed his nickname during an appearance on the MODUS Super Series YouTube channel. 'It used to be The Puppy,' he said, 'but I guess it's more like the Hound Dog now. I'm a bit older, aren't I.'
Reflecting on his career, Noble said: 'I've had a brilliant career in over three decades and spent my whole life in the sport, but the time is right for me to retire from refereeing. I'd like to thank the PDC for the opportunity which I was given back in 2007. The sport has given me so many wonderful memories.'
Among his highlights, Noble oversaw the first nine-darter at the PDC World Championship, thrown by Raymond van Barneveld against Jelle Klaasen, and Phil Taylor's two nine-darters in the 2010 Premier League final. He follows fellow referees Russ Bray and Paul Hinks into retirement, while Kirk Bevins, Huw Ware and Charlie Corstorphine remain as frontline officials.
Noble is not the only figure retiring after the 2025/26 Worlds; announcer John McDonald will also step down. PDC chief executive Matt Porter paid tribute: 'John and George have been two huge pieces in the PDC jigsaw over the last 20 years. We are grateful to them enormously for their contributions, not just to the PDC but to darts in general.'
