£2.50 >> THE MATCH DAY PROGRAMME OF DARLINGTON FOOTBALL CLUB VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH DARLINGTON V LEAMINGTON SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2017 | KICK OFF 3.00PM | BLACKWELL MEADOWS Official Benchwear and NATIONAL Match Ball Sponsor LEAGUE “FOR FANS, FOR FOOTBALL, FOR EVER” from the dugout V LEAMINGTON >> WITH MARTIN GRAY Directors Chief Executive Officer: David Johnston John Tempest Darlington 1883 Supporters Society Good afternoon, everyone. Limited he players and coaching staff are very determined to end Football Manager: Martin Gray our recent run of poor results by winning this afternoon. T Assistant manager: Brian Atkinson Like you, I hurt badly after the game at Chorley on Tuesday Coach: Sean Gregan night. We’ve worked hard to get where we are as a club, Scout: Harry Dunn and we’ve got a lot of work to do in order to make more Psychologist: Darren Sutton DARLINGTON’S PREMIER LEISURE SCHEME progress on and off the field – nothing comes easy unless Kit Manager: Bradley Blythe you work hard for it. I want to be in the play offs at the Assistant Kit Manager: Gary Smith end of the season, but we’ve got to be realistic with our Physios: Jimmy Nesbitt ambitions. At the moment, we’ve got some injuries that Darlington Football Club Officials are hampering us – Chris Hunter, Gary Brown and Terry Club Secretary: Jonathan Jowett Galbraith were all missing the other night from our defence Matchday secretary: Rob Jones plus Kevin Burgess and Liam Marrs aren’t fully match fit -- Communications and Media manager: we’re up against some very good teams, we’ve had a lot of Ray Simpson games and done quite a bit of travelling. Safety Officer: Graham Reeves Accounts: Malcolm Davison Nothing much seemed to go right the other night once we Hospitality: Joanne Cameron fell behind to that early penalty which our lads disputed Retail Manager: Lynn Jasper for what appeared to be good reason after we viewed the Football in the Community Lead coach: video later. The ball seemed to bounce up and hit Leon Deano Browne on his chest, but after that goal we made mistakes that Boardroom Host: Colin Ward allowed them to get a 3-0 lead and gave ourselves no Match Officials Host: Terry Farley chance to get back into the game. We had a slim chance of Photographers: Nick Burton/Theresa Clear getting something after Harvey scored, but their fourth goal Media/Video: Kevin Luff finished the game off. Media/Fans’ Radio: Andrew Simpson To contact the club, send an email to Adam Bartlett was outstanding, but I’d rather him have a [email protected] quiet night for obvious reasons! [email protected] [email protected] We will remain positive and look at the bigger picture. As Website: darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk a club, we have come a very long way since we kicked off in the Northern League, and we should be proud of what Programme Team we’ve achieved so far. Ray Simpson (editor), Craig Stoddart, But we can’t expect to win every week. We go into every Simon Weatherill, Lynn Jasper, Anthony McMaster, Chris Sykes, Steve Rees, game wanting to win, but we need to appreciate that Kevin Luff, Neil Raper, Wayne Raper, because of the strength of this division (even more so this Peter Haygarth, Frank Tweddle, Joanne season), winning every week is impossible. If everyone is fit, Cameron, John Tempest, Simon Hahn, then we have a very good squad, as we proved last season Andrew Alton, Rob Jones, Deano Browne and the start of this, but your shortcomings can be exposed and Leigh Edwards as we have discovered. Darlington 1883 Ltd. is a company limited by share, The coaching staff and I spent more time than usual on registered in England and Wales with company number 07914690. Thursday at training talking to the players, and hopefully Registered office: Blackwell Meadows, Grange we can eradicate some of the errors that have crept in, and Road, Darlington, County Durham DL1 5NR return to winning ways. Accountants: Total Tax Solutions Now more than ever, we need your support. The lads need 2 Peel Court, St. Cuthberts Way PROUD TO SPONSOR as much backing today as we try to end this poor run. Darlington, Co Durham, DL1 1GB Enjoy the game Designed by: KINSHIP, DARLINGTON FC www.designbykinship.co.uk Printed by: MT Print, Darlington Martin www.mtprint.co.uk SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2017 > 3 “FOR FANS, FOR FOOTBALL, FOR EVER” For all your vehicle leasing needs, we’ve got you covered. Captain’s >> WITH PHIL TURNBULL VANS notes Good afternoon everyone. 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You the dressing room and was positive have always been brilliant during my with us. time here, and today everyone in the We want a massive reaction today. dressing room is sure that you’ll be There was plenty of effort and backing us more than ever. There has O�icial spo�sors of the commitment from the lads the other always been great togetherness at this night, but nothing seemed to go club, and I’m sure that will come to right from the third minute when the the fore today. referee awarded a dubious penalty So let’s regain our momentum today, against us. Leon was adamant that and put things right. the ball flicked up off his leg and hit Enjoy the game him on the chest, but the referee gave the penalty, they scored and gained momentum from then on. We had Phil Call us on 01442 838 195 or visit vanarama.co.uk to chase the game and left ourselves vulnerable, but we still made errors that cost goals. 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Leamington Leamington play us for the first time ever today, and Simon Hahn has been doing some research on them. • Ahmed Obeng top scorer with two, levelled through Craig Westcarr. Stefan both on the opening day Moore restored the lead, but Luke Shiels • On five occasions have been drawing at levelled from close range. KEY MOMENTS IN THEIR HISTORY half time, but gone on to lose Leamington had their chances to win the game, but it was Alfreton who got the • Founded in 1891 as Leamington Town winner on 88 minutes through Tom Platt. LAST SIX MATCHES • Also played as Lockheed Borg and Beck, Lockheed Leamington, AP Leamington FC United 1 Leamington 2 05/09/2017 Alfreton (H) Lost 2-3 • Several appearances in second round of the FA Cup Leamington won their first away game 02/09/2017 FC United of Manchester (A) • Club went into extinction in 1988 of the season thanks to two second half Won 2-1 • Reformed as current club in 2000, in the Midlands Football Combination goals. They took the lead on 70 minutes Division Two 28/08/2017 AFC Telford United (H) Lost 3-0 when a shot by Connor Gudger was • First season at National North level in 2013 26/08/2017 Nuneaton Town (A) Lost 4-0 deflected in by Callum Gittings, then 19/08/2017 Stockport County (H) Lost 3-2 Colby Bishop scored from the loose ball . Promoted from the Southern League in 2017 after Gudger’s free kick was parried. 15/08/2017 Kidderminster Harriers (A) Lost 2-0 United pulled a goal back through Scott Kay, but Leamington held on. LAST SEASON winning just one of their last five matches, Leamington were able to secure second Leamington: Breeden, Taundry, Gudger, After reaching the playoffs in the 2015/16 LAST SIX SEASONS Clark, English, Mace, Thompson-Brown Leamington were hoping to go one better place in the table and home advantage for the playoffs. During the league 2016/17 Southern League Premier Division (sub Magunda 62), Dunbar, Moore (sub and earn promotion in the last campaign. – Points 92 Position 2nd (Playoff winners) Bishop 74), Gittings, Obeng (sub Revan 81) They started the season well winning campaign, they finished with the best 2015/16 Southern League Premier Division their first four games, before losing to defensive record conceding just 32 times Subs not used: Canavan, Butterfield - Points 81 Position 5th eventually champions Chippenham.