Alternative History - Darlington

Darlington have always been the little known jewel in the crown of the North East football scene. They have consistently rumbled around the nether reaches of the Football League and have rarely had much success, but they have always been a club with a brave outlook. Even as far back as 1884 (the year after their formation) , in the Durham Senior Cup, they lost a replay against arch rivals Sunderland, but had the match replayed as the ref had been “intimidated” by the Mackem players, who had threatened him. The very next year Darlo went and won the thing themselves. They had begun their life as an amateur team and didn’t join the new fangled League until 1921 and have always spent their time in the bottom two divisions of the League. They have had brief moments of fame, winning Division Three (North) in 1925. They weren’t so lucky on the last day of 1926-27, when they were sent down at the very end of that season, only slightly better than during the First World War when Forge United came in to prevent them going out of business. Relegation from the big league did them no harm, as they stormed straight back with the Vauxhall Conference title in 1990 and the Division Four Championship the following season. This season they even qualified for the play-off final against Peterborough United at Wembley, but lost out for the promotion place.

The club has featured some famous men : - Cyril Knowles was manager there in the 1980’s and Baden Powell was always prepared when out on the right wing (the right place for the founder of a paramilitary organisation like the Scouts).

Mostly the club have been renowned for their romantically named Feethams ground. It is built alongside the River Skerne and less than two metres from the site of a former meat products company, so literally “feet from hams”. The club will soon be able to boast the only twin towers at a football ground in this country, with two domes at the entry to the ground.

The club’s nickname “the Quakers” comes from the proximity to the nearby railway line (which made them the first in history with their own station when the first passenger railway operated in 1825). The passing trains quite often rumble past making the whole ground shake !! In 1960, they hosted Millwall in their first game under floodlights and later that night the West Stand burnt down. Someone had forgotten to extinguish the gas lamps high on the floodlight pylons !! Extensive modernisation has taken place recently under the guiding hand of “colourful” chairman George Reynolds, who was formerly a safecracker in a previous life. The latest improvement in the team's assets is the "Reynolds Arena", which has risen as the team's fortunes have fallen to near the bottom of the old Third Division.

FAMOUS PLAYERS : - Ron Greener, Marco Gabbiadini, Russell Pinker, David Brown, Alan Walsh, Peter Oats.

FAMOUS FANS : - Vic Reeves (comedian).

Formed	1883
Turned Professional	1908
Became a Limited Company	1891
Former names	-
Previous grounds	Feethams 1882-2003
Nickname	"The QUAKERS"
Club Colours	HOME : Shirts - Black and White with red piping Shorts - Black and White with red piping Socks - Black and White with red piping AWAY : Red and Black
Record Football League Win	9-2 v Lincoln City, Div. 3N, 7.1.1928
Record Football League Defeat	0-10 v Doncaster Rovers Div 4 25.1.1964
Record Cup Win	7-2 v Evenwood Town FAC R1 17.11.1958
Record Fee Paid	£95,000 to Motherwell for Nick CUSACK January 1992
Record Fee Received	Up to £1.5m from NEWCASTLE UNITED for Paul ROBINSON and James COPPINGER March 1998
Record Football League Appearances	Ron GREENER 442, 1955-68
Record goalscorer in a season	David BROWN 39, Div 3N, 1924-5
Record all-time goalscorer	100 - Alan WALSH 1978-84
Most goals in a match	5 - Tom RUDDY v South Shields Division 2 23.4.1927 5 - Maurice WELLOCK v Rotherham United Division 3 (North) 15.2.1930
Record Attendance (all-time)	21,023 v Bolton Wanderers League Cup R3 14.11.1960
Record Match Receipts	£32,300 v Bolton Wanderers LC R3 14.11.1960
Oldest player in a League Match	John McCLELLAND, 44 yrs, 9 days v Rochdale, FA Cup 2Rr 12.12.1995
Youngest player in a League match	Dale ANDERSON, 16 yrs 254 days, 4.5.1987
Record total of goals in a League season	108, Division 3(N), 1929-30
Record League points total	3 for a win : 85, Division 4, 1984-85 2 for a win: 59, Division 4, 1965-66
Most Capped player while at club	Jason De VOS 3 (Canada)

LONGEST LEAGUE RUNS
of undefeated matches: 17 (1968)
of undefeated home matches: 36 (1923-25)
without home win: 18 (1988-89)
of league wins: 5 (1922, 1928, 1975, 1985, 1989 (GMVC), 1995)
of league defeats: 8 (1985)
of league matches without a win: 19 (1988-89)
of undefeated away matches: 14 (1968-69, 1996)
without an away win: 36 (1952-54)
of home wins: 8 (1923-24, 1924, 1935-36)
of away wins: 4 (1948) 5 (1989 (GMVC))

From North: Use Motorway A1(M) then A167 S.P. Darlington into town centre. Follow signs for Northallerton into Victoria Road (part of Ring Road). Darlington F.C. on left immediately after Feethams roundabout, below Safeway supermarket.
From South: Use Motorway A1(M) and A66(M) then A66 S.P. Darlington. Take A67 into town centre. At Grange Road roundabout take 4th exit into Victoria Road. Darlington F.C. on right below Safeway supermarket.
From East: Use A66 or A67 and then B6280 S.P. Darlington into town centre, then follow signs for Northallerton into Victoria Road. Darlington F.C. on left immediately after Feethams roundabout.
From West: Use A67 and B6280 S.P. Darlington into town centre and at Grange Road roundabout take 3rd exit into Victoria Road. Darlington F.C. on right below Safeway supermarket.

Car Parking: Adequate space in adjacent side streets. Best bet is in either Bedford Street or adjoining streets (Herbert Street, George Street, Rockingham Street, Greenwell Street). Ground 5 minute walk.
Nearest railway station: Darlington Station is 10 minute walk.