The idea of a cash prize money singles darts league was born from the demise of Leicester’s largest darts league, the Central Invitation, which had been running since 1977, with, at it’s peak up to nine divisions. Unfortunately during the late 1990’s the “team event” format was considered stale and outdated, with players building up a collection of winning trophies in their lofts just gathering dust. During the summer of 1997, I, as chairman and with only one division of six, and little interest left, decided to fold the Central Invitation Darts League.
People still wanted to play darts and whispers were heard that most players wanted to receive something out of the game, mostly in the form of cash prizes, not trophies. I suppose after all players were paying good money week in week out into the sport that they love, and were receiving nothing out of the games apart from plastic trophies.
The idea struck myself, and a fellow committee member, Mr Lee Saville, from the old Central Invitation league, that maybe if the interest for a cash prize league was there, and possibly some kind of sponsorship was found, then it could be possible.
After several meetings with various clubs and brewery’s the Belgrave Liberal Singles Darts League was founded, playing from the Belgrave Liberal Club in Leicester, each Monday evening, with the season lasting from September to June. Carlsberg – Tetley were the sponsors, sponsoring the league for £2000 per season. We decided that the players would pay £2 per week subscription, to help boost the prize money.
The very first season began in September 1997. It was a slow start, with players a little wary of the new league and format, waiting to see how; other players received the first season, before committing themselves. The fifteen players that did decide to play, were playing in a home and away league format, best of 5 legs, with a point per leg and a point for winning. As the first season, only fifteen players entered, each player played each other three times, with knockout singles and pairs competitions during the season. Prize money was worked out for all fifteen players to receive something back, plus cash for monthly award winners, highest finishes and most 180’s. The majority of these, were all accompanied by, annual trophies.
It was a success, with other players turning up each week just to see how it was it all working out, and enjoying that much they were signing up for the second year. Presentation night was packed with Roland Scholten being invited to do an exhibition with the players from the league, as well as presenting the awards for the first season, including the winner’s trophy and cheque for £500 to Ricky Sudale.
As we were in the upstairs function room of the club and with only 4 free standing boards used in the first year, we knew that the had to move to the concert room and purchase 4 more free standing boards. We did, and with good publicity circulating the County the second season of the Belgrave Liberal singles Darts League had now grown to 32 members. Two more committee members were recruited, as the amount of work involved became too much for myself and for Lee. They were Karen Roberts, and the well respected Leicestershire County Secretary Diane Clarke. Ladies also wanted to join, and instead of having a separate league, there was no objection to ladies and men playing against each other as equals. We knew we were improving all the time, and by asking the players for there comments and ideas on how they see the league progressing, we knew that whatever changes we made, had the approval and backing of the league’s members.
The league was going from strength to strength, and members increased to 36 for the third year and 40 for the fourth. It was during the fourth year that we found that we were unable to accommodate any more than 40 players playing on 8 free standing boards. We knew that we had now outgrown the Belgrave Liberal Club, as their facilities could not meet our demands, and with a list of players waiting to join the league, we were seriously being held back. We knew we had to make a decision to stay on at the Belgrave Liberal Club, allowing just the 40 players to play, or move forwards to accommodate the demand. Unfortunately the 2000/01 season was our last at the Belgrave Liberal Club, and our new premises, the Eyres Monsell Working Men’s Club Leicester, and new sponsors were found.
The Eyres Monsell set-up could accommodate; up to 16 free standing boards, with better facilities and in a more suitable area of Leicester. Our A.G.M was held at the club on August 20th 2001, and with the new season about to start on September 3rd, we had to move swiftly to get everything set up just right. We transported our 4 boards from the Belgrave Liberal, and with the Eyres Monsell Club having 8 free standing boards themselves, 12 was ample for the start of the season.
We knew we would lose some members of the league, due to the transfer of location, but with player’s queuing up to join, the league decided on a round 50 members for our fifth year, season 2001/02. All we needed now was a new name, and accepted by everyone at the meeting was the Central England Darts League.
To be continued.............