JACK PRICE – ‘MR. 180’

Jack Price, who hailed from Bristol, was one of the first ‘recognised’ darts referees. Born on 20^th October 1928 he sadly passed away on 23^rd February 2006, aged 77.

As the popularity of darts on television accelerated during the 1970s, Darts World magazine turned its attention to the ‘Men behind the mike’ in an occasional series that ran from late 1977 to late 1978. The issue dated January 1978 focused on ‘The daddy of them all’, namely, of course, Jack Price. The unattributed article was titled ‘A referee who likes being where the action is’ and is reproduced here in full with additional photographs from my archive.

A REFEREE WHO LIKES BEING WHERE THE ACTION IS

[Jack] was one of the first MCs of the current crop now on television and, although they might not admit it, set a lot of the trends which are still being followed today.

Fast-talking Jack arrived on the scene about six years ago and was in all the big ones, first time round. World Masters, Watney British Championship, etc – you name ‘em, he was there, talking about it.

“I think I did something for the B.D.O.,” he says, “I certainly helped change the image of a darts referee as a guy in a tatty old jumper, with one eye on the board and the other on a pint.”

Jack took up refereeing after a solid but unspectacular darts career.

He captained several sides in the local leagues and once played for the West of England ‘B’ team. But he really hit the target as a referee.

“I had been a link-man in cabaret shows anyway, so it followed logically from that. It’s not an egotistical thing. I like being where the action is, with the players.”

And he takes the job very seriously, stressing the importance of building up a rapport with the players and the spectators.

“A good MC should do his homework on the players. Most of them appreciate it anyway, if they know you have taken the trouble to find out about them and give them the big build-up.”

“It’s important to build up a relationship with the crowd to create an atmosphere. There’s nothing worse than playing in no atmosphere. Even more important is not to make a mistake. I know we’re all human but mistakes in our line of business are bad. If you do make one, you should check it and correct it in the same breath if possible.”

Jack could not recall any blunders of his own but he recalled seeing one MC booed off stage after a couple of errors.

“Crowds don’t bother me. If they do shout anything out, I’m usually ready with a quick answer or just a ‘shush’ usually quietens them down.”

One of Jack’s trademarks is emphasising big scores.

“Nowadays tons are commonplace so I don’t emphasise them but I still give the 140s and 180s a bit of a shout. Only recently a friend of mine heard someone shout of a televised match, ‘That’s a big 180’ and he told me afterwards that he thought it was me commentating.”

Jack’s darts refereeing has taken him all over the world with some of the top players. And he has survived a brush with the B.D.O., who stopped using him for their major events for 15 months. That was when he officiated at a U.K.D.F. [United Kingdom Darts Federation] Great Britain versus Wales match not recognised by the B.D.O.

Things have quietened down now but he missed not being asked to commentate at last month’s World Masters. “I thought that after doing the Home International and England versus Wales I was in with a chance. I was disappointed about it but not disillusioned,” he said.

Now he goes when and where he’s wanted round the clubs in the West, fitting in darting assignments with his trouble-shooting job for a Bristol double glazing firm.

Jack passed away in February 2006 and in a key tribute published in the April 2006 issue of Darts World, Roger Turner of the Bristol Darts Federation wrote

IT IS with sadness that after a long illness Jack price, the first and probably the best ever “caller” in darts, has died in Bristol at the age of 77.

William “Jack” Price was known as the original “Mr. 180”.

An excellent darts player, Jack took to calling darts with the formation of the Bristol Darts Organisation in 1966, along with founder members Bill Sheppard (later Vice-Chairman of the British Darts Organisation), Ken Nicholas (later Treasurer of the BDO), Eddie Norman (later Competition Secretary of the BDO) and Bill Phillips (later Chairman of the West of England Darts Organisation).

In 1968 the Bristol Darts Organisation became the West of England Darts Organisation as it still is today.

Jack was Welsh, and along with Eddie Norman became a talent scout for the West of England Darts Organisation. They scoured Wales for players who were instrumental in signing up many Welsh players for the West of England, including Leighton Rees, Alan Evans, Tony Ridler, David Porter, and of course the great Alf Jefferies.

Under their guidance Harry Heenan from Scotland and Cliff Inglis (the first World Masters champion) also joined the West of England Darts Organisation, which attracted crowds of over 2,000 to 2,500 at each and every one of their county matches in the Inter-Counties Championships.

But the true talent of Jack was being on stage. He was a natural.

When the West of England played Sweden in Bristol Jack did the introduction in Swedish as well as English, and received a letter from the Swedish Embassy complimenting him on his speech.

Jack travelled with the West of England Darts Organisation a great deal and called their matches in Moscow in 1977 (speaking in Russian), in Turkey, Gibraltar and Barbados.

In 1973 he called the first Home International Darts Championships between England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in Bristol.

A year later, in 1974, he was caller at the first World Masters, sponsored by Phonogram, in London. He was caller at the first two British Open Individual Darts Championships held in Bristol in 1973 and 1974, and both won by the great London player Charlie Ellix.

In 1973 the West of England Darts Organisation joined the British Darts Organisation and Jack was to call their matches at every major event for many years.

In 1976 Jack was a founder member of the United Kingdom Darts Federation and called the international match between Wales and Great Britain at Weston-super-Mare.

Jack was immaculate in his appearance on stage. He kept himself superbly fit. Slim and good looking, he was the first choice for calling every big event in darts at home and overseas.

Without doubt most darts MCs would not be in their position today without having copied something of the style of calling from Jack Price.

A great man. Darts owes him a great deal.

Jack has gone but he will not be forgotten in darts.

Further tributes recorded at the time came from Olly Croft (BDO Director), Ken Herbert (West Midlands) and Derek Lindsey (Middlesex).

Olly Croft wrote:

Jack was the original BDO MC/referee and a real front-runner for all the MCs and referees who have followed in his footsteps. He was instrumental in the setting up of the BDO in 1973 and became our first high profile caller and referee. All the top players of that era knew and respected Jack and he will be greatly missed by us all.

Ken Herbert wrote:

An old friend from the early 1970s, Jack was the first MC/referee known as “Mr. 180”. He was a great MC, but above all he was a gentleman and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Derek Lindsey added

I played with Thames Valley for two years and I can remember Jack calling at the first big tournament I attended in the West Country. Jack was always immaculately turned out and the fairest of men. I was always impressed by his knowledge and handling of every situation. In short, he was a giant in the sport of darts.

It is interesting to recall the control that MCs, like Jack and the late Freddie Williams, had over the crowds in the 1970s and 1980s where a polite announcement during a pause in play asking the crowd for “Best of order please” were usually greeted with silence. But, of course, the nature and culture of darts and the nature and expectations of the crowds have changed since then. My guess is that, if Jack was still around and plying his trade he would still command respect from players and fans alike.

Original text © 2021 – 2025 Patrick Chaplin

Key sources: Darts World magazine, issues January 1978 and April 2006.