UNDISPUTED CROWN IS TARGET FOR GLEN

GLEN DURRANT dreams of becoming the “undisputed” darts world champion – by wearing both versions of the crown simultaneously.

Twelve months ago, the former Teesside housing association manager (above) quit his job after completing a hat-trick of British Darts Organisation world titles at the Lakeside.

Durrant (with the BDO trophy, below) hopped over the fence to join the Professional Darts Corporation bandwagon after winning his Tour card at Q school.

He begins his William Hill PDC world championship debut against Aussie Damon

Heta at Alexandra

Palace tonight and admitted:

“Ten years ago, I wasn’t even the best player in my local pub.”

But at 33-1 with the title sponsor, Durrant, 49, is a dark horse in the paddock.

He said: “There’s a little voice in the back of my mind – it’s MC John McDonald, as I walk on for the first night of the Premier League, introducing me as the ‘undisputed’ champion of the world.

“To be the first man to hold both the BDO and PDC versions of the world title simultaneously would be sensational.

“But with the quality in this field, I think the chances of that happening must be 0.01 per cent because the competition on this circuit is something else.

“I’m very proud to have won the Lakeside world championship three times and superproud to be the only man to win it there three times consecutively.

“I had a great job as a housing manager and to leave after 33 years was a big call.

“But it’s a whole new ball game now – the reason I like the sound of being an ‘undisputed’ champion is because I’m a big boxing fan. My wife’s brother, Peter Richardson, was an Olympic quarter-finalist and Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

“Nothing really impressed her family that much when I told them I was Middlesbrough champion at darts. But I’m proud to be part of a family of champions.

“Ten years ago, I wasn’t even the best player in my pub, and in 2001 I was £144,000 in debt. Darts has been very good to me.

“I’m loving the challenge and it feels like, in football terms, I’ve gone from the Championship to the Premier League.

“I’ve no regrets about not making the switch sooner – being a threetime Lakeside champion has opened so many doors for me.

“My story is about an ordinary guy who’s taken 30 years to get to the top. I’m the polar opposite to Rob Cross, who burst on the scene – I’ve come through local pub, local league, Super League, county, playing for England... I’ve taken the scenic route.

“I hope that resonates with the public when they see a guy who’s gone all the way from the pub to Ally Pally.”