The inaugural season of the United Kingdom Darts Association’s National League, apart from the untimely interruption of COVID-19 ran rather smoothly with all divisions and every one of the fifty-three teams completing their fixtures.
For some teams, especially the Welsh sides it was somewhat of a traumatic time with having to rearrange their games especially when Wales were on a complete lockdown, but full marks to all concerned as they overcame all of the problems, rearranged their fixtures and played them off, albeit a couple were played after the so-called “Magic Weekend”
Congratulations go to all divisional champions Lancashire (Elite Premier), Kent (AON Championship), Cleveland (L-Style Division One), Leicestershire (Top Gun Promotions Division Two) and Black Country (Darts for Windows Division Three), also well a big done to all of the divisional runners-up Warwickshire (Elite Premier), Staffordshire (AON Championship), Gwynedd (L-Style Division One), County Durham (Top Gun Promotions Division Two) and Gloucestershire (Darts for Windows Division Three), all of whom gained promotion in the first season of the National League.
At the other end of the tables commiserations go to all of the relegated teams in the Elite Premier Division Devon and Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and West Midlands will play next season in the L-Style Division One as they finished as the bottom two teams in the AON Championship. Nottinghamshire and Clwyd go down from L-Style Division One to the Top Gun Promotions Division Two and leaving division two for the Darts for Windows Division Three are Middlesex and Montgomery and Radnor, all of whom will be doing their utmost next season to return to the divisions they are leaving.
Overall the season has gone pretty smoothly and with 53 teams lining up for the forthcoming season, once again making up five divisions the prospect is high for another exciting season. With darts tournaments within and outside of the UKDA National League growing ever bigger the overall outlook is looking bright for players throughout the United Kingdom and hopefully with no COVID-19 or any other health scares there will be fewer, hopefully no cancelled games and the season will run as per the fixture card.
The biggest shock to come out of the UKDA has been since the season finished and that is the surprising news of the resignation of Chairman Johnny Stefano. Just over two years ago Johnny was appointed as Chairman on the 17th May 2020 and after just one full playing season in that position as quit the post. I’m everyone will join me in wishing Johnny all the very best in whatever he chooses to do next.
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