Formation:

The Professional Darts Players Association ‘PDPA’ initially formed in the early 1980’s and reconstituted under the auspices of the Sports Industries Federation in 2001.

In these early days the main protagonists being John Lowe, Cliff Lazarenko, Dave Whitcombe and Tony Brown. As the sport was in the early moments of a decline the players from ‘The PDPA’ eventually set up the World Darts Council ‘WDC’ which is now known as the ‘PDC’ to set up and run their own tournaments. The PDPA remained effectively a players union.

Other former board members include, Bob Anderson, Rod Harrington, Dennis Priestley, Andrew Tweedale, Mick Manning, Kevin Spiolek, Chris Sargeant, Steve Beaton, Chris Mason, Jon Archer and David Pomfret.

Initially the provision was for the board to meet on an ad-hoc basis but from 2012 due to the increased progression of the sport, the association moved into full time status. In 2011 the offices moved from the BSAIF in Stoneleigh Park, Leamington Spa to the Enterprise Centre in Carlisle.

The PDPA work in full partnership with The Professional Darts Council ‘PDC’ and the governing body The Darts Regulatory Authority ‘DRA’ The PDPA also joined the ‘Professional Players Federation ‘PPF’ in 2014, which is the national organisation for the professional player associations in the United Kingdom and covers every sport.

Current:

The PDPA is set up to look after the interests of professional players through an annually elected Board, which is headed by Chairman Peter Manley and Chief Executive Alan Warriner-Little . Other board members are: Jacques Nieuwlaat, Andy Scott and Jamie Caven. The PDPA Secretary Zoe Banks, is based at the PDPA Office in Carlisle.

Its status has changed from a players union to an association working in partnership with the sports promoter ‘PDC’ and its governing body ‘DRA’

Membership of the PDPA is open to all players of the appropriate standard, who now need to first earn a PDC Pro-Tour Card at the Qualifying School in January of each year to play full-time on the PDC circuit, with players who fail to win a Tour Card earning Associate Member status and are then eligible to play on the PDC Challenge Tour along with other events.

For players aged 16-23 there is also the Development Tour and World Youth Championship:

PDPA Full Members ‘Tour Card Holders’ have the the right to qualify and play in PDC Premier televised tournaments as well as on the PDC Pro-Tour. Some PDC Premier events – including the World Darts Championship, the Grand Slam and World Series also have qualifying places which are exclusive to PDC Tour Card Holders.

All PDPA members who play on the Challenge Tour are able to enter Players Championship events on the PDC Pro Tour, these are exclusively for Tour Card Holders but any shortfall in entries can be made up of Associate Members who enter prior to the deadline in order of presedence from the CTOoM Table.

These events are a series of 30 tournaments carrying £75,000 prize money each which are staged throughout the year which work towards qualification for the Players Championship Televised Finals in Minehead.

The 13 European Tour events are open to all Tour Card Holders as at the time of the entry deadlines for those events, the top 16 are seeded and the remaining TCH will play in the TCHQ. Other members also have their own qualification status.

NOTE: Entry to all PDC Pro-Tour events is FREE to any PDPA Member.

Membership Fees:

Membership is annual and from 1st January-31st December

• Full Membership: £500 + £50 DRA Fee
• Q-School Membership: £400 + £50 DRA Fee
• Honorary & Directors Membership: FREE
• Day Membership: (For European Qualifiers only, as a supplement to their entry fee with a maximum of 2 in one season, any further entries will be subject to the European Tour Membership criteria)
• 2% levy: As per rules and constitution, all players are subject to a 2% levy on all prize money won at all PDC events.

PDC Events:

• All TV Events: World Championship, World Grand Prix, World Matchplay, Premier League, UK Open, World Series, Champions League, World Cup, Players Championship Finals, Grand Slam of Darts, European Championship, The Masters.
• UK & European Q-School: For any player by virtue of their entry fee
• Players Championship: PDPA Members Only with CTOoM Top Ups
• European Tour: PDPA Members, with Associate Members & Day Members via qualifiers.
• Challenge Tour: PDPA Members who didn’t win a Tour Card.
  
• Women’s Tour: Any female player over 16 years old.

Qualifiers:

• World Championship PDPA Qualifier: Is for PDC Tour Card Holders only
• Grand Slam Qualifier: Is for PDC Tour Card Holders only
• World Series Qualifier: Is for PDC Tour Card Holders only.
• UK Open Amateur Qualifiers: Any none Tour Card Holder who does not qualify via the CTOoM/DTOoM is eligible to play in the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers.

Other Events:

• Development Tour: You need to be a PDPA/PDC member: You have to be aged between 16 – 23 on the 1st of January of that year.
• Challenge Tour: PDPA Members who didn’t win a Tour Card.
  
• Women’s Tour: Any female player over 16 years old.
• JDC Academy: You do not need to be a member of the PDPA/PDC: This is for any players under the age of 18, they are the only darts academies endorsed by the PDPA & the PDC.

The PDPA Board

Mr Peter Manley / Chairman

Peter is currently the longest serving PDPA Board member, he started on the PDPA Board in December 2000, and as Chairman from September 2003. Undoubtedly one of the characters of the game, he won The Las Vegas Desert Classic in 2003, and is a former World No1.

• Email: peter@pdpa.co.uk
• Mobile: 07932 714229

Mr Alan Warriner-Little / Full Time CEO

Alan joined The PDPA Board in March 2003, and was Vice Chairman from January 2007 until December 2008. He took over the post of CEO in January 2009. Alan has been a professional darts player for over 20 years and his CV speaks for itself.

He is a former World Grand Prix Champion and World No1 and although he did play in the Australian Open in 2010 he no longer plays on the ProTour. He is currently also working for ITV and BBC as a studio pundit and co-commentator. Alan is also currently the acting company secretary.

• Email: awl@pdpa.co.uk
• Mobile: 07798 693998

Mr Andy Scott / Director, Tables and Statistics

Andy has been on the board of The PDPA since 04th November 2004, he attends events as a non-player, and looks after the PDC ranking tables.

• Email: andy@pdpa.co.uk
• Mobile: +44 (0) 7956 180180

Mr Jacques Nieuwlaat / Director / European Delegate

Jacques joined the PDPA Board in September 2011 as our European Delegate and contact for European members for issues related to or important to European Players.

• Email: jacques@pdpa.co.uk
  
• Mobile: +31 652 007358

Mr Jamie Caven / Director / Youth Darts

Jamie is a new PDPA board member and joined in October 2020 following the PDPA AGM. Following a six month interim period, Jamie is now a full director and will be the main contact with the JDC and look after the Development Tour.

• Email: jamie@pdpa.co.uk

Mrs Zoe Banks PDPA Secretary / Admin Support

• Email: info@pdpa.co.uk
• Tel: +44 (0) 1228 594273

Mr Chris Murphy PDPA Communications Manager

• Email: chris@pdpa.co.uk
• Tel: +44 (0) 7587 930563

Membership Enquiries

• PDPA Office: The PDPA, Unit 34, Carlisle Enterprise Centre, James Street, Carlise, Cumbria, CA2 5BB, UK:
• Tel: +44 (0) 1228 594273
• Mobile: +44 (0) 79464 78718
• Email: info@pdpa.co.uk
  
• Twitter @Pdpa_darts
  
• Facebook @PDPA.darts
• Instagram @pdpa_darts
• Office hours Monday to Friday 10.00 to 16.00
• Out of office hours via email, mobile and DM on Social Media.