Olly Croft MBE RIP (1929 - 2019)

[Deleted]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olly_Croft

A controversial but very important figure in darts. He founded the BDO in 1973 and was in charge until 2011 when he was voted out. He presided over the BDO when all the top players defected to the WDC later the PDC. He tried his best to scupper Phil Taylor, Rod Harrington, et al but the PDC is the king of darts. Croft made some bad decisions thinking the BDO was always going to be the top organisation in darts. He has to take some of the blame for the decline of the BDO but also a hell of a lot of credit for forming the BDO and getting darts on TV.

RIP

[ace5150]

I heard this on TALKSPORT radio last week.
Keith Deller was able to share some anecdotes of the early days with international players coming over, and crashing out at Ollys house, such was the limited amount of funds at the time to put players up in hotels.
RIP Olly.

[thewoodster]

RIP.