No dancing at this academy, it's all about the darts

TWO Plymouth darts players are “putting something back into the community” and opening the first Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) academy in the city after both suffering industrial accidents.

Matthew Lang played for many years at different levels in the Plymouth darts leagues before breaking his scaphoid bone in his wrist which curbed his playing days for 10 years while Mark Henley, who fell off a roof, injuring his foot which still does not bend, is his academy partner.

​​​​Matthew is the licensee at the Eggbuckland hostelry, The Bluebird, and this will be the home of the Plymouth Darts Academy who have been helped to get the venture off the ground by sponsors Need-a-Cab Taxis and L & D Rhino Designs, who will be supplying the youngsters with their playing shirts.

The academy is primarily for children and youths aged 8 to 18 years old and offers a fun start in the sport of darts.

The JDC structure which Matt and Mark are now accredited to is built on good sportsmanship, having fun and playing in a non-pressured environment.

The Plymouth Academy, which boasts PDC Professional Simon Stevenson and WDDA World Cup winner Snowy Dyson as their ambassadors have an open day tomorrow at The Bluebird from 11am to 2pm.

The following week will be the academy’s induction day and on Saturday May 4, the first league will commence.

Registration forms are available on the academy’s website at www.plymouthdartsacademy.com or for any other enquiries, Matt can be contacted on 07818652131.

Our photographs show Matt Lang (top left) and Mark Henley being presented with their JDC darts academy accreditation certificates by PDC director, Rod Harrington.