THE Professional Darts Players Association was initially formed in the early 1980's and reconstituted under the auspices of the Sports Industries Federation in 2001.
The PDPA is set up to look after the interests of professional players through an annually elected Board, which is headed by Chairman Peter Manley and Chief Executive Alan Warriner-Little .
Membership of the PDPA is open to all players of the appropriate standard, who from 2011 onwards would need to first earn a PDC ProTour card at Qualifying School to play full-time o the PDC circuit, with players who fail to win a Tour Card earning Associate Member status.
PDPA have the right to qualify and play in PDC Premier televised tournaments as well as on the PDC ProTour.
Most PDC Premier events - including the World Darts Championship, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and European Championship - have qualifying places which are exclusive to PDPA members.
PDPA members are also able to enter Players Championship events on the PDC Pro Tour, a series of tournaments carrying £35,000 prize money which are staged throughout the year, as well as the UK Open Qualifiers, which work towards qualification for the UK Open Televised Finals in Bolton, as well as the European Tour events and the members-only knockout qualifier for the World Championship which is held following the completion of the year's Players Championship events.
The 2013 PDC ProTour Qualifying School will be held from January 17-20 at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan. Entry is available through the PDPA website.
Application forms for PDPA Membership, and further details, are available at www.pdpa.co.uk.
PDPA Contact Details
PDPA Secretary: Zoe Banks
Tel: (+44) (0) 1228 594 273
E-mail: info@pdpa.co.uk
Website: www.pdpa.co.uk
Postal Address: PDPA, Unit 34, Enterprise Centre, James Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 5BB
PDPA Board of Directors
Peter Manley (Chairman)
Alan Warriner-Little (Chief Executive)
Andy Scott
David Pomfret
Jacques Nieuwlaat