"I was running around in a nappy not wanting to stop": Henry Coates caught the darts bug at a very young age
PDCWednesday, 19 August 2026 at 08:00
Henry Coates has made a spectacular name for himself in the world of darts. The 20-year-old Englishman from Matlock made history in July by winning Players Championship 25. In doing so, he became only the fifth player ever to win a PDC ranking title without holding a Tour Card.
ADVERTISEMENT
That makes Coates' achievement even more remarkable. The Englishman had not even started the tournament as a regular participant. Because places were available, he was allowed to compete as a reserve. What began as an unexpected opportunity ultimately ended in a historic victory.
"I started getting further and further into the tournament - I just I thought there's no pressure on me and yeah, I just kept playing and kept playing well," said Coates as per BBC.
PDC Tour Card in sight
A PDC Tour Card is hugely important for professional darts players. The PDC has only 128 Tour Cards available, giving players direct access to the professional circuit. Coates does not currently have one, but his impressive performances have put him close to making a definitive breakthrough.
The young Englishman also already has a clear goal in mind. If he manages to qualify for the upcoming World Darts Championship and wins at least two matches there, he could potentially earn a Tour Card through the world rankings.
A place on the biggest stage in the world of darts would be a fitting continuation of a remarkable season. His love for the sport actually began when he could barely walk.
ADVERTISEMENT
Darts from the age of two
According to stories from his parents, Coates first picked up darts at the age of two. A friend of his older brother gave him a magnetic dartboard at the time. It proved to be the beginning of a love that has since developed into a serious career.
"I was so young but from the stories that my mum and dad have told me, I was running around in a nappy not wanting to stop," he said.
"They just thought that it was a bit of fun and then my dad always played in the local pub league, so I think it went from there with my dad really.
"I was just in the pub playing darts too so from then on, I think people recognise that I might have something."
ADVERTISEMENT
Henry Coates has also played on the Super Series.
When Coates was three years old, there was only one thing on his Christmas wish list: a proper dartboard and real darts. The walls in the Coates household regularly bore the brunt of it afterwards.
At the age of eight, he made the move into a local pub league. There, he faced adult darts players as a child and managed to hold his own remarkably well. In fact, Coates began regularly beating adult players.
"I've had all the older players, they try to beat you and get in your head," he said.
"I've learned to deal with and come out on top. I think when I first started playing in the pub at the league, I was eight so it wasn't always great for them.
ADVERTISEMENT
"But yeah, I think they've learned to enjoy it and just admire it."
From the pub to the PDC stage
His talent did not go unnoticed. Coates eventually joined Jamie Cavan's junior academy in Derby, where he was able to continue developing. He has now made the step onto the big PDC stage and immediately shown that he can compete with players who have been operating at the highest level for many years.
During his youth, Coates drew inspiration from Terry 'The Bull' Jenkins, the Englishman who reached a PDC major final nine times. Now, Coates himself appears to be at the beginning of a promising career.
Away from darts, the young Englishman works part-time at his family's butcher's shop in Darley Dale. He is the fifth generation of his family to work as butchers, meaning the shop and darts went hand in hand for a long time. However, by his own admission, he would rather keep his hands away from the heaviest butcher's knives. His future increasingly appears to lie on the darts stage.
ADVERTISEMENT
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
POLL - Would you pay for ad-free DartsNews?
Aug 19, 03:11
3
Popular news
Latest comments
- I'd happily pay for a site free of Van der Voort's every squeak and utterance.StraightArrowNoBull19-08-2026
- I think you miss the point. It is just a poll if you are willing to pay for an ad-free site. The content stays free.SheGotLegs16-08-2026
- It's great to see Mark Webster looking well,he's a top ladrick6715-08-2026
- I'm sick of everything wanting paying for ad free stuff,every site you go on,it's pay pay for no ads. I mostly dread picking my phone up,as it's subscription required. I'm not surprised I'm bloody skint. Everyone wants to rob you for services that were freerick6714-08-2026
- I didn't like the bloke,but he was a real wind up merchant. His talent is wastedrick6712-08-2026
- He wouldn't get a tour card if there was a million on it
Amusementman09-08-2026 - This gormless, dull as dishwater nobody hasn't done anything this year and has absolutely no right to be considered for anything other than checking people's tickets on entry and it is likely he couldn't cope with that.richieburnettrocks09-08-2026
- How can PDC players play in streamed events?medinabello04-08-2026
- Great comment, some of the matches were a bit one sided but that was more to do with the quality on show.mikedarts03-08-2026
- I just think Aspinall loves the razzmatazz rather than real darts, goes on about his walk on and the premier league, loves exhibitions and proposed a 'royal rumble' and i'm not sure if it was him that suggested a Ryder Cup style tournament? I think they do need to look at how the ranking tournaments are treated, the UK Open, Euro Championships, Players' Championship all shoe-horned into four or so days rather than lasting all week and giving more players a chance to be on the big stage.Baphomet03-08-2026
Loading