THE Professional Darts Corporation launched their Hall of Fame in January 2005 to recognise the contribution to the sport of some of the most famous names and revered personalities.

Players, officials, administrators and commentators are amongst those inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame, with the awards being presented at the PDC's Annual Awards Dinner each January.

Current Inductees
John Lowe
Eric Bristow
Freddie Williams
Phil Jones
John Raby
Dave Lanning
Sid Waddell
Dennis Priestley
Dick Allix
Tommy Cox

2005 Hall of Fame Inductees - John Lowe & Eric Bristow

The first two inductees were announced ahead of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship final at the Circus Tavern, and presented with a commemorative trophy by PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

The inaugural members of the PDC Hall of Fame are John Lowe and Eric Bristow, who have been two of the leading figures in darts for more than 30 years.

Both have played a key role in the development of darts during the past three decades, and have enjoyed great success along the way.

At least one of the pair were involved in a World Championship final every year during the 1980's, with three being played against each other.

They were also key figures in the PDC's emergence as the leading body for Professional Darts in the 1990's.

Barry Hearn said: "It gives me great pleasure to announce that John and Eric are the first players to enter the PDC Hall of Fame.

"Their achievements throughout the past 30 years deserve such recognition as they have been tremendous ambassadors for darts.

"They led the way in terms of taking the game forward with their professionalism, will to win and talent, and remain involved at the highest level to this day.

"For John still to be playing in the World Championship, as he has done for 27 successive years, is a remarkable achievement and unlikely ever to be matched.

"Eric, the Crafty Cockney, has also enjoyed great success, and who is to say that he would not have added to his five World Championship wins had he not done so well in bringing Phil Taylor through!"

Bristow won five world titles in his career, the first one coming 25 years ago, while Lowe remains the only player to be World Champion in three separate decades after successes in 1978, 1987 and 1993.

Lowe, who was unbeaten during his time as England captain, entered his 30th year as a professional player in 2005, and embarked on a celebration tour of the UK on the exhibition circuit.

Bristow, a five-time World Masters champion, is involved on both sides of the camera in his role with Sky Sports, and he came close to a return to the World Championship when he took part in the qualifiers last December.

The Crafty Cockney remains one of the great characters in the game's history, and he played a vital role in the development of Phil Taylor, who has since succeeded Bristow in dominating the world of professional darts.

Eric Bristow MBE
DoB: 27 April 1957
Nickname: Crafty Cockney
Lives: Leek, Staffordshire
World Championship titles: 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986

John Lowe
DoB: 21 July 1945
Nickname: Old Stoneface
Lives: Chesterfield, Derbyshire
World Championship titles: 1978, 1987, 1993

2006 Hall of Fame Inductee - Freddie Williams

FRED WILLIAMS is the third personality to be inducted into the Professional Darts Corporation's Hall of Fame.

The long-serving referee, 69, has now retired from top-level officiating, after spending 35 years at the forefront of the game.

Williams joined the PDC in 1993 along with Bruce Spendley after beginning his career with the National Darts Association of Great Britain as a marker and then moving on to the BDO.

He joins John Lowe and Eric Bristow in the PDC's Hall of Fame, which was inaugurated 12 months ago to recognise the legends of darts.

"It is a great pleasure to induct Freddie into the Hall of Fame," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"He is a legend of the game and in many ways is synonymous with professional darts.

"He has refereed with dignity and authority throughout his career and will be missed on the big stage in front of the TV cameras.

"I'm sure that the other referees will continue to represent the PDC at the standard Freddie has helped to develop during the past 13 years."

Williams will continue to work with the PDC as second referee in all televised tournaments, as well as working on the professional circuit at non-televised events.

"Now is the time to bow out," said Williams. "You have to give it some thought but as I've been in the game for 35 years I felt it was time to go.

"It's a little bit strange, because although I will miss being on stage I am not walking away altogether."

Williams' wife Pat is the PDC's official scorer, and he added: "We've been lucky enough to travel around the world through darts and it's been a tremendous journey."

Click here to read our feature: Fred Williams - Time To Bow Out

2007 Hall of Fame Inductees - Phil Jones & John Raby

January 2007 saw the induction of Phil Jones and John Raby into the Hall of Fame.

Phil's induction marked his retirement from his role as Master of Ceremonies at PDC tournaments.

Phil joined the PDC in 1993 on its inception, and has been a key member of the team of officials since at both televised and non-televised events.

A former journalist with Darts World, he has also worked as an MC on the exhibition circuit alongside many of the sport's top names for over 20 years.

He will now retire to live with new wife Michelle in Las Vegas.

John Raby was the founder and head of JR Darts, an independent promotions company who stage darts tournaments around the UK.

John remained committed to the PDC when it was first formed in 1993 and has given great support to the organisation and players since.

The JR events at Great Yarmouth and Eastbourne were part of the PDC circuit until the introduction of the Pro Tour in 2007, but those tournaments will continue in a non-ranking format.

"Both Phil and John have given great service to the PDC and it is a pleasure to recognise that with induction into the Hall of Fame," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"Phil has been a very public figurehead playing an important role in creating the atmosphere which PDC events have been renowned for over the years, and he had a great rapport with the fans.

"While John may be less well-known, those within the game recognise the role he played in helping to create such a strong professional future for this sport."

Click here to read our feature with Phil Jones: Rockin' All Over The World

2008 Hall of Fame Inductees - Dave Lanning & Sid Waddell

Legendary Sky Sports commentators Sid Waddell and Dave Lanning were inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame in January 2008 to recognise their contributions to darts in over 30 years of broadcasting.

Between them, they hold over 60 years of broadcasting experience in darts, and perhaps it was ironic that their careers recently went full circle - taking them back to Alexandra Palace, the birthplace of top-level darts on television.

Their voices are among the most distinctive in professional sport, adding humour, rich colour and the benefit of their experience to PDC tournaments.

Dave Lanning and Sid Waddell first worked together on the famous Indoor League programme back in the 1970s.

Dave's career, which has also included commentating on speedway, took him to ITV and their World of Sport programme, while Sid became a part of the BBC broadcasting team at the Embassy Championship.

The formation of the PDC brought them back together in 1994 at Sky Sports, and alongside John Gwynne they have been the voices bringing top class darts to television screens around the world since.

Sid's book 'Bellies and Bullseyes' has helped bring the magic of the old darting era back to the nation, as well as showing the lighter side of the modern era and you may have seen some of the golden moments recently on television alongside the Ladbrokes.com World Championship - perhaps epitomising the old and new face of darts.

2009 Hall of Fame Inductee - Dennis Priestley

Dennis Priestley became the third player to be inducted into the PDC's Hall of Fame, when he received his award in 2009.

The Yorkshireman was the first winner of the PDC World Championship, in 1994, which saw him become a double World Champion following his success in the 1991 Embassy Championship.

He has since competed in four further World Championship finals, as well as reaching the final of the World Matchplay in the tournament's first three years from 1994-1996.

Priestley has also maintained his position inside the world's elite players for almost 20 years, and in 2008 defied treatment for prostate cancer to continue to challenge at the top level.

Whilst presenting the award, PDC Director Rod Harrington, formerly a rival of Priestley on the oche, praised his sportsmanship and integrity as well as the way he has conducted himself as an ambassador for darts in the past two decades.

Dennis Priestley
DoB: 16 July 1950
Nickname: The Menace
Lives: Mexborough, Yorkshire
World Championship titles: 1991, 1994

2010 Hall of Fame Inductees - Dick Allix & Tommy Cox

Administrators Dick Allix and Tommy Cox saw their roles in the formation and success of the Professional Darts Corproation recognised with induction into the PDC Hall of Fame in 2010.

The duo were initially involved in darts as player managers during the 1980s and 1990s, looking after the likes of Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson and Phil Taylor.

Their support, expertise and guidance was vital in the formation of the then World Darts Council in 1993, the organisation which later became the Professional Darts Corporation.

Allix took on the role of chief executive, later stepping aside following the arrival of a new administration in 2001 and becoming Event Director, responsible for the venue and staging side of PDC events.

Cox was appointed as Tournament Director, which sees him responsible for the formats of PDC events as well as their smooth running.

Over 15 years after the formation of the PDC, the duo remained in their roles at the time of their induction into the PDC Hall of Fame at the 2010 PDC Annual Awards Dinner at London's Dorchester Hotel.