Steve Brown, Chairman of the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC), has made a bold prediction that within the next decade, over 50% of players on the professional tour will have come through the JDC. Speaking to TungstenTales at the opening of the new National Darts Centre in Hangar 61, Brown expressed his delight at the venue and its potential impact on youth development.
Brown described the venue as 'breathtaking' and praised the team effort behind its creation, noting that builders gave up their Christmas to help get it done. 'I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved here,' he said. 'It’s been a big effort from a lot of people.' The facility includes TV studios and commentary rooms, allowing young players to learn not just playing but other aspects of the sport such as commentary or media. 'World-class players deserve world-class facilities,' Brown stated.
The project has been in the works for over a decade, and Brown admitted he never imagined the JDC would be in a position to invest in such a venue. Reflecting on the progress since he started his own academy 15 years ago, Brown called it 'a bit of a pinch-yourself moment,' though he noted the organisation is always moving forward and rarely stops to look back. He works full-time every day, with an active brain that never switches off.
Brown also detailed the scouting process for Team 360, which looks beyond averages to assess character, support network, and behaviour. 'We use the JDC Academy Network to identify players,' he explained. 'We look at 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?' He highlighted the need to educate parents who may not know the sport, as kids often bring their parents into darts rather than the other way around.
With ambitious plans for the future, Brown is confident the JDC's influence will grow significantly. 'I think within the next decade, over 50% of players on the tour will have come through the JDC. Certainly,' he concluded.
