The Indoor League

The Indoor League was a pub games competition series that was produced by Yorkshire Television and aired from 1973 until 1977. The programme was hosted by former England cricketer Fred Trueman (1931–2006).

Statue of Trueman in Skipton by Graham Ibbeson

Background

The first series of The Indoor League began transmission, by ITV, on 5 April 1973 at 1 pm and ran for the following six weeks. The TV Times magazine dated 31 March 1973 contains a one-and-a-half-page editorial on it, featuring noted darts player Tom Barrett. Most of the competitions were filmed the year before transmission. From series 2 onwards, The Indoor League made its various competitions open to international competitors, and they played for the Indoor League World Championships.

Presenter Fred Trueman often wore a cardigan and smoked a pipe throughout his links. He always ended the show with the Yorkshire dialect phrase, "ah'll see thee". The programme's theme tune was Waiting For You by André Brasseur.[1]

The show featured many indoor games, the majority of which were pub games, each of which had a prize of £100 for the competition winners. The sports included darts, pool, bar billiards, bar skittles, table football (a.k.a. foosball), arm wrestling and shove ha'penny amongst others. Among the commentators were Dave Lanning and Keith Macklin. The programme was broadcast from The Leeds Irish Centre, which was later recognised as the 'birthplace of television darts'[2]

The Indoor League was created by Sid Waddell,[3] who also produced the series from 1972 to 1976. Darts coverage on television was in its infancy, with the News of the World Darts Championship having just begun to be broadcast on ITV in 1972. Waddell would later go on to become one of the voices of darts on television when the World Championship was created in 1978.

In the first series, all darts matches were played on a Northern England "doubles dartboard" that does not have any treble scoring segments. The competition was restricted to players from within the Yorkshire Television region but, due to the programme's success, from the second series onwards the men's and women's darts competitions were open to all players from around the globe, and they played for the Indoor League World Darts Championships. In the final series there was also an international mixed darts tournament. The winner of the first competition received £100, with the runner-up getting £50. From the 1974 Season onwards, the winner of the men's darts tournament qualified for the BDO World Masters the following year.

The first two series were released on DVD by Network Publishing but are now out of print. All available episodes were repeated by now defunct UK digital channel FrontRunner TV.

Series air dates

Series Tournament year From To Episodes
1 1972 5 April 1973 10 May 1973 6
2 1973 27 September 1973 11 April 1974 13
3 1974 8 January 1975 2 April 1975 12
4 1975 1 January 1976 25 March 1976 15
5 1976 7 Feb 1977 (regions)
10 Feb 1977 (Yorkshire TV)
2 May 1977 (regions)
5 May 1977 (Yorkshire TV)
13
6 1977 9 January 1978 7 April 1978 13

According to the ITV listing magazine TV Times, programmes were shown by the different ITV regions on different days of the week and at different times across their schedules. Some ITV regions showed an episode of the programme one or more weeks later than other ITV regions. The details above are taken from TV Times.

Tournament winners

The Indoor League Men's Darts Championships

The Indoor League Ladies' Darts Championships

  • 1973 England Loveday King beat England Jessie Catterick 2–0
  • 1974 Sweden Greta Hallgren beat Wales Millie Bergeson 2–1
  • 1975 England Jean Dickinson beat England Brenda Simpson 2–1 (Championship of Champions)
  • 1976 England Jean Dickinson beat England Margaret Lally 2–0 (Indoor League World Championship)
  • 1977 Wales Sandra Gibb vs England Margaret Lally (Indoor League World Championship)

The Indoor League Mixed Pairs' Darts World Championship

  • 1977 England Ken Brown & Wales Sandra Gibb beat Australia Kevin White & England Lynn Stewart (Indoor League World Championship)

Indoor League Bar Billiards Championships

  • 1972 Wales "Taffy" John 2,820–1,450 England Malcolm Rider
  • 1973 England John Baker 2,400–1,440 England Peter Wells
  • 1974 England John Peters 4,200–3,050 England John Baker
  • 1975 England Roy Buckle 900–? England Alan Sales
  • 1976 England Stan Pratt beat England Gerry Lambert
  • 1977 Not held

After the second series, The Indoor League Bar Billiards added the unusual rule of a 45-second maximum break limit. This was to allow full games to be shown during the 18-minute TV as breaks in bar billiards can go on for long periods of time.

Indoor League Arm Wrestling Championships

  • 1972 Not held
  • 1973 England Donald "Buster" Witney beat England "King" Ben Boothman 1–0

(Ben Boothman went on to have a successful wrestling career as King Ben with ITV's World of Sport Wrestling)[4]

  • 1974 England Clive Myers beat England Tony Lees 2–1
  • 1975 Right-handed – England Tony Fitton beat England Tony Lees

(Tony Fitton left the UK shortly after this season to work in the USA. He was exposed in a Sports Illustrated exclusive in 2008 as being the so-called "Godfather of Steroids", contributing to the major steroid problem in American Sports during the 80s and 90s) [5]

  • 1975 Left-handed – England Bill Richardson beat England Paul Jordan

(Bill only entered the left handed competition because all the spots in the right handed competition was taken. He later won Universe Championships Mr Universe in 1980)

  • 1976 Under 200 lb – England Clive Myers beat England Joe Graham 2–0
  • 1976 Left-handed – England Mike Winch beat England Alan Jackson
  • 1976 Super heavyweight – England Bill Richardson beat England Donald "Buster" Witney 2–0
  • 1977 Under 200 lb – England Clive Myers vs ?
  • 1977 Left-handed – England Mike Winch vs ?
  • 1977 Super Heavyweight – England Bill Richardson vs ?

Indoor League American Pool Championships

Indoor League Table Skittles Championships

  • 1972 England Philip Senior beat England Dennis Jones
  • 1973 England John Chell beat England William Woolwich
  • 1974–1977 Not held

Indoor League Table Football Championships

  • 1972 John Kropacz & Frank Bowett 6–0 Eric Crane & Stephen Kelly
  • 1973 Speedy Campbell & Bervis Harris 6–3 John Kropacz & Frank Bowett
  • 1974 Nelly Nelson & John McKrith 6–5 John Kropacz & Frank Bowett
  • 1975–1977 Not held

Indoor League Shove Ha'Penny Championships

  • 1972 Alan Brown beat Barry Stones
  • 1973 Bryn Turner beat Alan Brown
  • 1974–1977 Not held

1972 Indoor League Men's Darts Results

1st round
Best of 3 legs
Quarter-finals
Best of 3 legs
Semi-finals
Best of 3 legs
Final
Best of 3 legs
            
England Ballam Bolton on Dearne 2
England Sykes Huddersfield
England Ballam Bolton on Dearne
England Colin Minton Easingwold 2
England England Barnsley
England Colin Minton Easingwold 2
England Colin Minton Easingwold 2
England Gerry Haywood Dewsbury 1
England Twigg Sheffield
England Gerry Haywood Dewsbury 2
England Gerry Haywood Dewsbury 2
England Graham Elvidge Scarborough
England Dodds Conisbrough
England Graham Elvidge Scarborough 2
England Colin Minton Easingwold 2
England Charles Ellis Bradford 0
England John Walker Hull 2
England Hornby Upton, Lincs
England John Walker Hull 2
England Keith Naylor Scunthorpe 1
England Bob Crosland Knottingley 1
England Keith Naylor Scunthorpe 2
England John Walker Hull 0
England Charles Ellis Bradford 2
England McDonald Wombwell
England Les Mills Hull 2
England Les Mills Hull 1
England Charles Ellis Bradford 2
England Reid Hull
England Charles Ellis Bradford 2

All matches were played on a Northern England dartboard that does not have any treble scoring segments. The 1972 darts tournament was limited to players within the Yorkshire TV region. The winner received £100 and the runner up £50. There was no women's darts tournament in 1972. Only the final, two semi-finals and two of the quarter-finals were transmitted during the 1972 series of six episodes.

1973 Indoor League Men's Darts Results

1st round
Best of 3 legs
Quarter-finals
Best of 3 legs
Semi-finals
Best of 3 legs
Final
Best of 3 legs
            
1 Republic of Ireland Tommy O'Regan 2
England Cliff Inglis
Republic of Ireland Tommy O'Regan 2
England Frank Crolla 0
England Frank Crolla 2
England Ivor Hodgkinson 1
Republic of Ireland Tommy O'Regan (76.85) 2
England Des Stabb (56.00) 0
England Des Stabb 2
England Willie Etherington 1
England Des Stabb 2
England Ron Church 1
England Ron Church 2
England Charlie Ellis 1
Republic of Ireland Tommy O'Regan (79.11) [6] 2
Wales Alan Evans (69.15) 0
Wales Tony Ridler 2
Scotland Harry Heenan
Wales Tony Ridler 2
England Colin Minton 1
England Colin Minton 2
Australia George Foster 0
Wales Tony Ridler (86.49) 1
Wales Alan Evans (91.88) [7] 2
Scotland Bob Whyte 2
United States Al Lippman 1
Scotland Bob Whyte 0
Wales Alan Evans 2
England Gerry Haywood
Wales Alan Evans 2

Alan Evans, in his semi-final match against Tony Ridler became the first ever male player to score a 180 on Television. In the same game, Ridler also scored a 180 in the second leg.

The current News of the World Darts Championship winner Ivor Hodgkinson entered the tournament but was beaten in the first round by Frank Crolla.

The tournament featured several internationally capped darts players. Winner O'Regan played for both England and Ireland before becoming captain of Ireland. Willie Etherington, Ron Church and Des Stabb represented England, Bob Whyte represented Scotland,Alan Evans and Tony Ridler played for Wales, George Foster represented Australia and Al Lippman represented United States of America.

1974 Indoor League Men's Darts Championship Results

1st round
Best of 3 legs
Quarter-finals
Best of 3 legs
Semi-finals
Best of 3 legs
Final
Best of 3 legs
            
England Des Stabb 0
Wales Leighton Rees 2
Wales Leighton Rees 2
Scotland Tom Brown 0
Scotland Tom Brown 2
England Alan Glazier 1
Wales Leighton Rees 2
England Ivor Hodgkinson 0
Sweden Stefan Lord 2
Republic of Ireland Pat Mullings 0
Sweden Stefan Lord 0
England Ivor Hodgkinson 2
England John Craine 1
England Ivor Hodgkinson 2
Wales Leighton Rees 2
Wales Alan Evans 1
England Joe Matthews 0
England Willie Etherington 2
England Willie Etherington 1
Wales Alan Evans 2
England Frank Brown 1
Wales Alan Evans 2
Wales Alan Evans 2
Republic of Ireland Tommy O'Regan 1
England Peter Chapman 2
Wales Steve Rollings 0
England Peter Chapman 0
Republic of Ireland Tommy O'Regan 2
Republic of Ireland Tommy O'Regan 2
England Doug Priestner 1

Doug Priestner, hit a 180 with his first three darts in the competition.

1975 Indoor League Men's Darts Championship Results

1st round
Best of 3 legs
Quarter-finals
Best of 3 legs
Semi-finals
Best of 5 legs
Final
Best of 5 legs
            
United States Conrad Daniels 2
Wales Tony Ridler
United States Conrad Daniels 2
England Peter Hobson
England Peter Hobson 2
England Doug Priestner
United States Conrad Daniels 3
Wales Phil Obbard
Wales Leighton Rees 2
England Dave 'Charlie' White
Wales Leighton Rees
Wales Phil Obbard 2
Wales Phil Obbard 2
Australia George Foster
United States Conrad Daniels 3
England Cliff Inglis
England Cliff Inglis 2
England Willie Etherington
England Cliff Inglis 2
Scotland Harry Heenan
Scotland Harry Heenan 2
Belgium Andre DeClerqe
England Cliff Inglis 3
England Alan Glazier
Wales Alan Evans
England Alan Glazier 2
England Alan Glazier 2
England Peter Chapman
Republic of Ireland Tommy O'Regan
England Peter Chapman 2

For the second year running Doug Priestner, hit a 180 with his first three darts in the competition. Cliff Inglis, hit back-to-back 180s in one of his matches.

1976 Indoor League Men's Darts World Championship Results

1st round
Best of 3 legs
Quarter-finals
Best of 3 legs
Semi-finals
Best of 5 legs
Final
Best of 5 legs
            
England Charlie Ellix 2
Scotland Willie Scott 0
England Charlie Ellix 2
England John Lowe 1
England John Lowe 2
England Peter Chapman 1
England Charlie Ellix 3
England Eric Bristow 2
Sweden Stefan Lord 2
England Ken Brown 1
Sweden Stefan Lord 1
England Eric Bristow 2
England Eric Bristow 2
England Alan Glazier 1
England Charlie Ellix 0
Wales Leighton Rees 3
Wales Leighton Rees 2
Wales Phil Obbard 0
Wales Leighton Rees 2
England Cliff Lazarenko 0
England Cliff Lazarenko 2
England Brian Vaux 0
Wales Leighton Rees 3
United States Conrad Daniels 2
United States Conrad Daniels 2
England John Stanton 0
United States Conrad Daniels 2
England Cyril Hayes
England Bill Lennard 1
England Cyril Hayes 2

In the 1976 Indoor League men's darts World Championship players were redrawn after each round. And the draw above reflects this.

1976 Indoor League Ladies Darts World Championship Results

1st round
Best of 3 legs
Quarter-finals
Best of 3 legs
Semi-finals
Best of 3 legs
Final
Best of 3 legs
            
England Jean Dickinson 2
England Susie Robertshaw 0
England Jean Dickinson 2
England Pat Piper 0
England Pat Piper 2
England Pam Langridge 0
England Jean Dickinson 2
England Maureen Flowers 1
England Maureen Flowers 2
England Cathy Wardell 0
England Maureen Flowers 2
England Loveday King 1
England Loveday King 2
Sweden Eva Johansson 1
England Jean Dickinson 2
England Margaret Lally 0
England Brenda Simpson 2
Wales Ceiwen Potter 1
England Brenda Simpson 0
Wales Sandra Gibb 2
Wales Sandra Gibb 2
England Molly Gregory 0
Wales Sandra Gibb 0
England Margaret Lally 2
Wales Betty Hughes 2
England Sharon Brown 0
Wales Betty Hughes 0
England Margaret Lally 2
England Babs Evans 0
England Margaret Lally 2

1977 Indoor League Men's Darts World Championship Results

1st round
Best of 3 legs
Quarter-finals
Best of 3 legs
Semi-finals
Best of 5 legs
Final
Best of 5 legs
            
England Alan Glazier 2
England Eric Bristow 0
England Alan Glazier 1
Wales David "Rocky" Jones 2
Wales Alan Evans 1
Wales David "Rocky" Jones 2
Wales David "Rocky" Jones 3
England John Lowe 2
England Cliff Lazarenko 2
Scotland Rab Smith 0
England Cliff Lazarenko 1
England John Lowe 2
England John Lowe 2
England Doug McCarthy 0
Wales David "Rocky" Jones 2
England Tony Brown 3
England Charlie Ellix 0
England Bill Lennard 2
England Bill Lennard 1
England Cyril Hayes 2
England Cyril Hayes 2
Sweden Stefan Lord 0
England Cyril Hayes 2
England Tony Brown 3
Wales Phil Obbard 0
Australia Kevin White 2
Australia Kevin White 1
England Tony Brown 2
England Mick Norris 1
England Tony Brown 2

Reigning champion Leighton Rees was unavailable at the time of filming the competition due to him touring Australasia doing dart exhibitions. In the 1977 Indoor League men's darts World Championship players were redrawn after each round. And the draw above reflects this.

1977 Indoor League Mixed Pairs Darts World Championship Results

Semi-finals
Best of 5 legs
Final
Best of 5 legs
      
1 Australia Kevin White & England Lynn Stewart 3
4 England Bob Crosland & England Margaret Lally 2
Australia Kevin White & England Lynn Stewart
England Ken Brown & Wales Sandra Gibb 3
3 England Ken Brown & Wales Sandra Gibb 3
2 England Peter Chapman & England Brenda Simpson 2

During the second semi-final, Peter Chapman become the first player to a televised 180 in a mixed pairs game, and Sandra Gibb scored the first ever televised 180 scored by a female player.

The semi-finals and final in this mixed pairs competition were the best of five legs of 701.

References

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