One of the most interesting people in the dart world, without a doubt, is Patrick Chaplin, Ph.D. Why is this man so interesting? He is the only man in the world who has not only studied darts for years but has recently received his Ph.D in the social study of darts. He is known around the world as Dr. Darts! I'm not sure he can throw a good dart but he sure can write about the history of darts and he IS the authority on the history of darts. For whatever reason, he has made it his life's mission to learn everything there is to know about darts. I doubt that anyone in darts is going to become rich from it as this is purely a labor of love. And Patrick Chaplin has what it takes. Surely he is a scholar and an expert in the history of darts. It has been a pleasure to interview Mr. Patrick Chaplin and here is his story:

When you were younger, what did you want to do with your life?

When I was in my early teens my passion was rock music. I listened all day to the pirate radio stations that were anchored off the Essex coast illegally broadcasting music to the nation. My other passion was photography so I suppose I wanted to be a rock journalist and/or rock photographer but for some reason I ended up in an office job.

What was your first job and what did this teach you?

It had the title General Clerk and the name says it all. I was everyone's dog's body. I made tea, did the filing, delivered post, wrote out thousands of school bus season tickets, issued stationery and generally learned the ropes.

Did you do well in school, before college?

My school reports always said, "Must try harder" so I didn't and left Maldon Grammar School with only four GCEs, in History, Geography, English Language and English Literature. However, I obtained other qualifications after school as part of on-the-job training.

What was your undergrad degree in?

I never went to university. I went straight to work at 16 years old.

What possessed you to continue your studies to the level of Ph.D.? And in darts, of all things?

As I never went to university to obtain a first degree, this was never an issue. The idea of undertaking a Master of Philosophy/PhD didn't crop up until the 1990s.

Dr. Darts with his Wife Maureen, at Graduation - 2007
Photo by 'Moppix'
Did you ever imagine pursuing a Ph.D, a doctorate in Philosophy, in darts?

Not in the early days. I did not start researching darts until the mid-1980s and then the research became an obsession which eventually led to my approaching the Anglia Ruskin University with my proposal to undertake research at a higher level.

What did your collegiate advisors think, that you were nuts? Did you have to convince them to approve your project?

They were all for it from the start. They could see how original my proposed research was and how it could add to our knowledge of the interwar working-class popular in England. The only 'convincing' I had to do was to convince them that (not having a first degree) that I was capable of the required academic level of study.

How many years did your dissertation take to complete?

I started in 1994 and was awarded my PhD in December 2006, so that's 12 years. Mind you it was part-time, self-funded research, so I was holding down a full-time managerial job at one and the same time.


Do you think that you have inspired others to study the social aspects of darts?

Yes. I regularly help university students who have chosen an aspect of darts as part of their degree courses. I am also aware of at least two people who have been encouraged by my work and undertaken research into darts in their own locality.

I know you wrote a book that was never published (Arrows by Any Other Name) and you plan to publish a book in '2009. Did you ever think that you would write a book about darts?

'Arrows by any other name' was written in the early 1980s and was a fun piece of work that has now been superseded by more in-depth research. I have already written and published two books on darts. I helped John Lowe write his autobiography 'Old Stoneface' which was published in London in 2005 by John Blake Publishing. I also ghost-wrote Trina Gulliver's autobiography 'Golden Girl' (London: John Blake, 2008).

With Eric Bristow at John Lowe's 60th B-Day Party
Photo by 'Moppix'


Over the past year I have also acted as adviser to John Lowe on his forthcoming tuition book 'The Art of Darts' (to be published in early 2009) and I have my own book 'The Complete Guide to Darts' being published in New York next Spring.

My Ph.D. has been accepted for publication by the prestigious academic publisher Manchester University Press and this will be featured in their Spring catalogue 2009. At about the same time John Lowe's book 'Old Stoneface' will appear in paperback (with extra material). I am also currently working on three other darts-related book projects.


Your website describes services and research. What exactly is "Corporate Services and Private Research?" And who is interested in these services?

You took this phrase from the Consultancy page of my website. What this means is that I am prepared to give darts-related presentations to the darts (or other) industry and to undertake private research into the lives of men and women darters, particularly those who took part in the 'News of the World' Individual Championship.

Not many have become rich from researching darts. Are you able to make a decent living studying and writing about darts?

I've been a full-time researcher and consultant for four years. I receive a pension from my previous employer and so income from my darts work supplements this. I also receive sponsorship from the WINMAU Dartboard Company, NODOR and Red Dragon Darts for which I am most grateful. (I am currently working on a history of the WINMAU World Masters for that company.) I am also actively seeking further sponsorship that will enable me to study darts in other countries.

Briefly, what is the history of Industrial Darts?

Suffice to say that darts was originally a cottage industry and an adjunct to many light industrial workshops but which grew large when darts became popular in the late 1930s and boomed again in the 1970s. NODOR was the first major darts and dartboard producer of the 1920s, followed by Unicorn Products and then others in the 1930s.

How did you discover that darts began in the 15th century, after all there cannot be a lot of books about darts from that time period...

Darts research is very, very difficult. You have to work from scraps of data and draw conclusions from them. The 15th century 'dart' was in fact the game of 'puff and dart', which was the great-great grandfather of darts, a game in which you blew small darts through a tube at a target.

What kind of dartboard do you have now because those rolled paper boards really don't last too long?!

I have my own unique 'Doctor Darts' bristle dartboard made especially for me by the NODOR company. Only twelve were ever made and these were presented to me to celebrate my doctorate in 2006.

With all your studies and writing about darts, do you have time to play at all? Ever played on a team? Are you any good at the game?

Am I any good? Sometimes!

What kind of darts do you throw?

17grm tungsten, made for me by Eddie Ede of ELVEN Darts of Hemsby, Norfolk, England.

I still play darts every Wednesday night with a few friends and practise on my 'Doctor Darts' dartboard in my office here at home. I have not played pub league darts for about fifteen years.

I have played pub darts since before I was old enough to drink. I've won a few trophies over the years but, although I have the enthusiasm, I have never played top league or county darts.

Do most think that you are eccentric and what is your answer to them? I mean, writing about darts is not exactly a mainstream career...

'The Guardian' (one of our national newspapers) called me an 'eccentric' and that's fine with me. I'll admit to that and more.

Of all the things that you could study, and write a dissertation, why darts?

Darts just came naturally to me. It is my subject. At the start of my research I had no idea that the road would lead to a Ph.D.

What do we have to look forward to your new book in '2009?

I am very excited about the publication of my PhD by Manchester University Press. Although it will be very expensive (about $100) that's about standard for academic publishing as they are small print runs. However, I hope that a paperback version (at about $30) will follow. This book is the first of its kind and breaks new ground in the history of popular culture here in England and will be of interest to all serious darts fans across the world.

My book 'Complete Guide to darts' will be more for the general reader and darts enthusiast and covers everything from the history of the sport (in the UK, USA, Canada etc) to the equipment to use, how to play, how not to play, how to become a professional player and where I think darts is going. There have been 'complete' guides before but not as detailed and all-embracing as this one. It's over 100,000 words long which is longer than my Ph.D.!

Of all whom you have met, and all whom you have written about, who do you admire most in darts?

John Lowe. He is the consummate professional.

Now that your website is established, how many hits per month are you getting? Certainly more than the 3000 to start out with!

The number of hits varies from month to month but increases dramatically when the World Championships are on. On average I would have to say 'a few thousand' per month. However, my webmaster continues to work on creating more links across the 'net.

2007 Lakeside World Champions Martin 'Wolfie' Adams and Trina 'Golden Girl' Gulliver
Photo by 'Moppix'

Have you ever thought about visiting the US and writing a book about darts in the United States? Why or why not?

Dan William Peek did a great job with 'To the Point - The Story of Darts in America' (2001) but there is still a lot to do. As far as I know, no one has undertaken any academic research into the sport across the pond. It's not something I will have time to do as there is still so much research to be done into the sport in this country but I do ensure that I follow the game in the US and Canada via Bull's-Eye News. (I also occasionally contribute to Bull's Eye News Magazine.)

I would love to come to the States and play darts and/or undertake research there. Unfortunately, I would need sponsorship to allow me to do that, and that is very difficult to obtain in my field. (I am of course open to offers!)

I would also like to visit the States to see (for the first time) friends I have to date only ever e-mailed, including Glen Huff in Seattle, Paul Seigel (the infamous ‘Dartoid’), fellow darts historian Dan William Peek and, of course, The Passionate Darter.

In your mind, what qualities make a passionate darter?

Dedication, commitment and focus.

What has been your best experience in darts?

Scoring the (very) occasional maximum 180, shooting out on 161 when there was a gallon of beer for the winning team and, of course, gaining my Ph.D.

Your greatest discovery?

That if I hadn't bothered to research the history of our great sport in England, no one else would have done and numerous valuable contacts would have been lost - by which I mean died.

What have you learned along the way about people and darters?

People outside darts still seem to look down on the sport but those inside darts know better. In the main, darters are all 'real' people. They are honest and up-front but do not suffer fools gladly. In all my years of research I have found everyone I have spoken to, to be keen to help me and some even surprised at what I am trying to achieve.

What has been your worst experience in darts?

Probably being white-washed in a game of 501, double-in.

Other hobbies?

Listening to 1960s/early 1970s psychedelic/punk/garage bands such as the Electric Prunes, Mouse and the Traps, the Appletree Theatre, Vanilla Fudge, the Kingsmen, Count Five etc., etc. and, the close harmonies of Three Dog Night (a band more or less totally ignored over here in the UK). Actually I am listening to the Amboy Dukes' 'Journey to the Centre of the Mind' as I type this.

Have you ever played in a tournament? Plan to enter any tournaments?

Only pub league and in-house tournaments of which I even managed to win a few!

Do they have blind draws in England?

Yes we do but rarely in local leagues and not very often in top competition.

Though your dissertation was about darts in England from 1900 - 1939, do you plan to write about darts after that time period?

The dissertation also covers the history of darts from the very beginning up to 1900 and then, in the Conclusion, I look forward and comment on how darts in the early twentieth century impacted on the general development of the sport in the latter part and into the 21st century. My research into the final six decades of the 20th century continues as I am planning to eventually write the complete history of the sport.

What was so special about darts from 1900 - 1939?

This was the time when all the required elements feel into place; the funding, the technology, the interest of the brewers and the enthusiasm of the pub-goers. This was also the period during which the first 'national' darts association was established which formally set out the playing rules for the very first time.

Most of us who play darts unwind with a beer, some darts and our friends. How about you?

I do exactly that. Great isn't it!

What are you doing when you are not writing or thinking or throwing darts?

I sit down with my wife and my cat and a beer and watch action DVDs, old (1960s) horror films or listen to music.

What are three things most people do NOT know about you?

1. In 1994 I told my supervisors at university and my wife Maureen that I was going to give up my Ph.D. I had had enough of the Ph.D and enough of darts. Only they and Maureen were able to bring me back from the brink. They worked so hard on me and I am so glad they did.

2. I am a (Type 2)diabetic.

3. I used to write comedy sketches for (mainly) children's television here in the UK.

Patrick Chaplin's website may be found at:

Dr. Darts - The Website