"We soon outgrew many of the venues" - Russ Bray recalls early days of the Premier League Darts

The Premier League Darts first took place in 2005 and in recent years has become one of the biggest tournaments on the darts calendar.

Russ Bray, former top referee, remembers the first edition of Premier League Darts in 2005. "My early thoughts were ‘what a great concept, we’re going to get darts every week’," Bray recalls in conversation with the Daily Star. "You have to remember, darts was all about getting back on the tele. That’s why you had the split. We were down to just two tournaments a year [in the BDO]."

"So when they came up with the concept of the Premier League, playing once a week every week for months. ‘Darts on every week, on a week day, brilliant!’ That was my first thought. And it’s proved to be one fantastic tournament to be involved with.”

Nowadays they play in huge venues all over Europe; in the beginning it was a little different however. "Early doors, when we were dotting about all over the place, it was very exciting because it was all new. Like most tournaments, it was dominated by Phil [Taylor]. The crowds weren’t bad at all, we filled these little arenas and theatres and we soon outgrew many of the venues. We now go to places like Berlin and Rotterdam, massive arenas, and they’re full.”

Bray has refereed on many different stages, but does one venue in particular stands out to him? "When you first walk out at the O2, that’s tremendous. And I remember the first one we did in Holland. All you could see was a sea of orange. The noise was sensational. The atmosphere in Dublin is incredible too. They are the sort of things I remember from the Premier League.”