DARTS HISTORY

Welcome to my unique darts history website which was originally created in 1999 and substantially upgraded in 2019/20 I add articles to the site as often as I am able.

For those visiting for the first time ever, my name is Dr. Patrick Chaplin, and am known as ‘Dr. Darts’ and have researching darts history for nearly four decades.

I live in the UK with my wife Maureen. I was born in 1950 and threw my first darts at a fairground when I was seven years old. From the age of twelve I started to try and play darts properly. Between 1976 and 1990 I played for local pub teams both in league play and in out-of-season friendly matches and even won a few in-house trophies.

It was during the 1980s, when I was playing darts for the Blue Boar in Maldon, Essex that I came up with the idea of publishing a newsletter, which was called ‘Out of the Blue’, a few sides of A4 reporting on home and away matches and including odd fact about darts that I had culled, in the main, from Derek Brown’s The Guinness Book of Darts.

One day my best friend, Colin Barrell, whilst reading an historical snippet I had written, turned to me and said, “What’s the real history of darts Pat?” I replied, “Give me a couple of weeks and I’ll tell you.”

That was back in 1985 and I’m still researching!

darts history PhD

In December 2006, after more than ten years part-time, self-funded research I was awarded a PhD by the Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. I am, therefore, a real ‘DOCTOR of DARTS.’ However, that sounds a bit pretentious, so ‘Patrick’ or ‘Pat’ will do if you ever contact me.

The book based upon that research entitled Darts in England 1900-1939 – A social history was published by the prestigious Manchester University Press in 2009 with a paperback version following in 2012. The paperback book remains available via MUP and can be found through Abebooks.

my own darts history

Until Covid interrupted us all, I regularly played friendly pub darts with Colin and any others who may turn up but Covid changed me. As a result I had a stroke from which I continue to recover but I have not played darts in serious competition for many years. 

However, I never had any aspirations to become a professional darts champion and indeed, 35 years ago, I had no idea that I would put my knowledge of darts history to good use and eventually become a real Doctor of Darts.

It was Tony Wood, former editor of the British darts magazine Darts World who first called me ‘The Doctor of Darts’. Subsequently I have been called ‘eccentric’ by the prestigious UK daily newspaper The Guardian and ‘an arrers nut’ by the UK’s most popular tabloid, The Sun.

I own up to all of that – and more. Since then I have been interviewed by and featured in numerous local and national newspapers, podcasts and on TV across the globe.

darts history – MONTHLY

In 2010 I set up a monthly ‘blog’ titled Dr. Darts’ Newsletter (DDN) the aim of which was, and is, to supplement the articles on this website. It’s a newsletter (minimum of eight pages) to which anyone can subscribe – and it’s absolutely free.

When DDN started out in 2010 I had only a handful of subscribers. Since then numbers have grown into many hundreds, if not thousands, in over 120 countries. I think what makes DDN so special to readers is that every month I reveal facts and stories about darts that you may otherwise never find on the ‘net.

For sample copies of DDN and how to subscribe see the Darts History link on the right of this Inroduction.

the real ‘dr. darts’

I am regarded by many darts players and darts fans, as the world’s leading darts historian and I am known affectionately across the world as ‘Dr. Darts’. And through this my darts history website I have been able to answer numerous questions from darts fans from all across the globe and all of the most popular questions such as “Why are the numbers on a standard dartboard in the order they are?” “Why is the throw line in darts called the oche?” and the big one “What are the origins of the game of darts?” Those answers (and many more darts history facts are HERE amongst more than 350 pages.

DARTS HISTORY AND MORE – PUB HISTORY

Of course, in the past, the game of darts developed primarily in English (and Welsh) public houses.

Therefore, researching darts inevitably involves studying the history of English public houses so within this website you will find examples of my work in that area under a discrete Pub History section. I am a member of the Pub History Society (www.pubhistorysociety.co.uk) and was the Chairman of that Society between 2014 and 2022.

Contact ME

If you have any questions about darts history, for example, you believe that your great grandfather won the News of the World Individual Darts Championship back in the day, I should be able to help you. Whatever your question(s), simply contact me via my contact page.

the media and darts history

If you are a member of the media and are interested in darts history, have history-related questions to ask me or wish to invite me for an interview or to appear on TV, please feel free to contact me. I have appeared on TV and radio numerous times over the past three and a half decades, so please, contact me.

Through my website I am encouraging those interested in darts history and the development of the game to share and exchange information so I am more than happy to share that with members of the media at any time.

DARTS HISTORY BOOKS

In addition, to Darts in England 1900-39 – A social history, I have written a number of darts books including two with three-time World Darts champion, John Lowe, one with former Ladies World champion, Trina Gulliver MBE and one with ‘The King of Bling,’ Bobby George.

I am also the sole author of The Official Bar Guide to Darts (2010), 180! – Fascinating Darts Facts (2012) and Darts – Skills. Tactics. Techniques (2015). Please seek them out.

future of darts history

Times change and so does technology and I have to admit that I haven’t kept up with it. Although I have added articles to my website occasionally and will continue to do so for as long as I am able, but my knowledge of ‘modernizing’ this website or embracing the technology falls behind with every day. But I will do my best to ensure that Darts History stays in the view of genuine darts history fans.

I know that over the years that many students, and others, have been helped through this website, even to the extent that at least one other ‘darts nut’ has achieved a PhD.

I hope you will enjoy my website and return again and again to discover what new articles have been posted. You can, of course, sign up to receive a notification every time I post something new.

In the meantime, I will continue to research my favourite sport and response as best I can to any questions I receive via this website,

Best wishes and extremely happy darting to you all.

Dr. Patrick Chaplin
Darts Historian
February 2026