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The former PDC Premier League winner and three-time BDO World Champion, from Grangetown in Middlesbrough, is backing Jamie Owens and Benjamin Smith for bright futures in darts.
Durrant retired in 2022 and now works as a Sky Sports pundit while coaching rising talent from his Middlesbrough office.
Glen Durrant (Image: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)
Speaking in an interview with Pure Digital PR, he said: “I love Jamie Owens, who is a lad who is probably the best player in the area.
“He’s a former Northern League footballer, so he’s full of confidence.
“But what he has is a lot of bottle and his story is a bit like Gerwyn Price, who has gone from one sport to another.
“Within a few years he’s picked it up brilliantly. It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes to Q School and gets through; I’m a big fan of Jamie Owens.”
Owens previously played football for Stockton Town, Billingham Town and Marske United, scoring more than 500 goals during his career and appearing at Wembley in an FA Vase final.
He made his debut in the Modus Super Series in 2024 and continues to compete in the tournament.
Durrant also picked Billingham youngster Benjamin Smith, who impressed him during one of his coaching sessions.
Durrant said: “A young kid came from Billingham called Benjamin Smith.
“He was cocky, arrogant and tall; he would have been about 14 or 15 years old at the time.
“I’ve become a massive fan of his. I look at his scores and his dad, Andy, sends me all his ADC results.
“I think he’s the best player in the area since I finished.”
Smith has steadily risen through the ranks and is now regarded as one of UK darts’ most promising young talents.
He recently won a Super16 qualifier, moving closer to a place in the Junior Darts Corporation’s top youth tournament.
With Durrant backing them up, Owens and Smith are two Teesside names worth watching.
