"I think within the next decade, over 50% of players on the tour will have come through the JDC" - JDC Chairman Steve Brown makes bold prediction amid ambitious plans

The opening of the new National Darts Centre in Hangar 61 marks a new chapter for youth development in darts. Steve Brown, Chairman of the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC), shares his delight for the work put in amid a huge amount of progress visibly seen in the sport, leading to the creation of this venue.

He spoke to TungstenTales at the opening of Hanger 61 after walking around the venue, gleaming with joy with an eye on the impact it could make in the future.

"I suppose I’m getting used to it now, so it’s always nice to see someone’s first visit and their expression when they walk through the door," he began. "It is quite breathtaking. I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved here. It’s been a big effort from a lot of people, especially the builders who gave up their Christmas to help us get this done. I’ll be forever grateful."

A lot of work went into fine tuning this venue and making it up to standard expected, as emphasised by Brown. "Robbie and Jamie were fantastic. In terms of the hard labour—hacking tiles off, ripping floors up—they did it all. I think they enjoyed it, if I’m honest. It was a real team effort, all hands on deck. And it’s not just this darts room—it’s a huge venue, as you’ve seen walking around—so there was a lot of work to do. But we’re really happy with how it’s turned out."

It is set to make a huge impact for young darters looking to make the step up as they master their skillset. "World-class players deserve world-class facilities," Brown stated. "These kids put in so much dedication and time—they deserve an environment like this. It also helps them take the next step. We’ve got TV studios, commentary rooms—so even if you’re not the best player in the world, you can learn other aspects of the sport like commentary or media. This venue isn’t just about playing—it’s about building careers in darts more broadly."

It is a project that has been in the works for some time now. "Probably over a decade," confirmed Brown. "As the JDC grew, did I ever think we’d be in a position to invest in something like this? No. But darts has been very kind to us—we’ve been successful—so investing in something like this just makes sense."

All of this showcases the progress and surge in popularity that darts has experienced in recent times, dating back over a decade to when Brown created his own academy.

"It feels like yesterday, if I’m honest. I know it was 15 years ago—and I had hair then," he joked. "But I’ve got really fond memories. A lot of the kids from that first academy are still in my life now—they were friends of my son’s, and now they’re grown men. They call themselves the OGs—the 'original greats.' I’m still close with many of them."

With all the steps forward they have taken, rarely a moment has been savoured to cherish what they have been through and risen from. "When you list it all out, it is a bit of a pinch-yourself moment. But we’re so busy and always moving forward, being creative, that we don’t often stop to look back. We’re always thinking ahead. But yeah, it’s something we should all be very proud of."

In fairness, there is not much time for Brown to do anything aside from his job. "Full-time—every day of the week," he said when asked how much he works. "I’ve got a very active brain and it never switches off, as my employees would tell you. I’m always on my phone, always thinking, researching, coming up with new ideas."

He was quick to praise Team 360 for the job they have done alongside them. "Yeah, very proud. When we recruit for Team 360, it’s not just about averages—we look at the person too. We want the right kids to represent the brand. They go through a process, and we look at their character, their support network, everything. All the kids we’ve signed are great—not just talented, but good people.

The scouting is very important. There is a number of factors which go into picking out the perfect darter which will be selected as they look to nurture and train them to become a future superstar.

"We use the JDC Academy Network to identify players," he detailed. "If someone’s doing well, we keep an eye on them, go watch them play, and observe everything—how they behave, who they mix with, how they act on the oche, whether they’re resilient. We also look at the parents—are they supportive? It all matters."

He went on to mention how education surrounding the sport is not at the level they would be hoping for. That being said, they are working hard to address this. "Years ago, kids came into darts because their parents played, so they already understood the etiquette," he said. "Now, it’s often the kids bringing their parents in—and the parents don’t know the sport. So we need to educate them too, because that filters down to the kids."

The impact that the JDC have had for many players has been seismic, but the job is nowhere near done yet. Brown, an ambitious man, has stark plans for the future. "I think within the next decade, over 50% of players on the tour will have come through the JDC. Certainly."