Immediately after the news was announced, those in attendance at the Echo Arena burst into a rendition of “There’s only one Eric Bristow.” Professional Darts Corporation chairman Barry Hearn told to media that Bristow, known by his nickname the Crafty Cockney, would “always be a legend in the world of darts and British sport”. He was awarded an MBE for his services to sport in 1989. He won more than 70 professional titles in his career and was inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame in 2005.
Eric Bristow
„He was very much a man of the people. He understood what crowds wanted to see – he was controversial, he was a maverick, he spoke his mind and upset a few people from time to time, but the man in the street warmed to him because he was very much one of theirs,” PDC chairman Barry Hearn declared. Bristow had a consistent contribution to develop darts. Bristow was one of the founder players when the PDC was formed in 1993. „His name is synonymous with darts,” people giving tribut say. Sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor, who was mentored by Bristow, wrote on Twitter: “Words cannot express how sad and shocked I am to hear the terrible news about Eric’s passing. A huge influence on my career and a larger than life character, the world has lost a legend. RIP pal.”
