FRONT COVER (ON OTHER DOC) “For Fans, for Football, for Ever”
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FRONT COVER (ON OTHER DOC) “For Fans, For Football, For Ever” WELCOME TO THE HOME OF BLACKWELL MEADOWS DARLINGTON FOOTBALL CLUB Darlington Football Club is back in town! After circumstances forced us out strength to strength. The learning of Darlington in 2012, we’ve been curve has had one or two painful groundsharing twelve miles away at sharp spikes along the way, but the Bishop Auckland, with the ultimate fantastic achievements of Martin aim from the very first game there of Gray and his team by winning three returning home. promotions in four seasons, coupled The road homewards hasn’t exactly with the sheer determination and been smooth, but thanks to the never-say-die attitude of the club’s diligence and unwavering support of volunteers to build sound foundations so many fans and influential people, and bring the club home, have been we have managed to secure a new major factors. home in the town, and we look forward Before 2003 when the club moved INSIDE COVER to a long, mutually-beneficial and to the Arena, many Darlington fans (ON OTHER DOC) fruitful partnership with our landlords, watched games from the Tin Shed, Darlington Rugby Club. their spiritual home for over 40 years, Today’s home game against Halifax and there were a few tears of sadness is the start of a brand new era for when it was demolished to make way Quakers. Regardless of the result, for a housing estate. today’s game at Blackwell Meadows Today, there will be tears of pride will always be remembered for the and joy when the Tin Shed returns. day our football club returned to the There will be new playing heroes for town. the fans to worship and appreciate, That’s right, our football club. The one and there will be the usual wide range that was cast adrift by the actions of of opinions about a certain player’s one man to perish in January 2012, performance, the quality of the pies only to be rescued by a loyal bunch of and the queue for a half time drink. fans just as the obituary only needed But to every Darlo fan, only one thing the last full stop. matters today – our football club is Since then, we have gone from back in town. Monday 26th December 2016 Page 3 Manager’s column “For Fans, For Football, For Ever” V FC HALIFAX TOWN dugout Club Officials: Directors: John Tempest, Richard Cook Football Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Manager: Martin Gray the game. I hope that you have all had a very Assistant manager: Brian Atkinson Vans Cars Pickup trucks Coach: Sean Gregan enjoyable Christmas. Scout: Harry Dunn from £99pm from £89pm from £183pm Psychologist: Darren Sutton It was a great honour for me when I was appointed Kit Manager: Bradley Blythe Assistant Kit Manager: Gary Smith manager of Darlington Football Club back in 2012, and Physios: Georgios Bellos and Jimmy like everyone else, I couldn’t wait for the day to come Nesbitt when this football club would be playing in Darlington Darlington Football Club Officials General Manager and secretary: Dave again. Watson That day has finally arrived thanks to the hard work of Club Secretary: Jonathan Jowett Communications and Media manager: several people, none more so than Richard Cook, John Ray Simpson Tempest and Malcolm Cundick over the last few months. Accounts: Malcolm Davison They have spent a lot of time carrying this project over Hospitality: Joanne Cameron Retail Manager: Lynn Jasper the line, and I’m sure they were both very relieved when Commercial: Anth McMaster the FA passed the ground at its inspection on Monday. Club Doctor: Dr Steve Charlton 100s of brand new vehicles in stock Community Programme Coordinator: It is an even bigger honour now for me to be the proud Andrew Alton * manager of this football club. We have come a long way Boardroom Host: Colin Ward Match Officials Host: Terry Farley to lease from only £89 per month! since we played our first game at Bishop Auckland in Groundsman: Gary Ventress August 2012, but we are only halfway there as far as I’m Photographers: Nick Burton/Theresa *Ts&Cs and arrangement fee apply. Prices exclude VAT at 20%. 18+, contract terms 2-5 years. Subject to an initial rental. Clear/Douglas Johnstone concerned. Media/Video: Kevin Luff My aim is to take this club on towards the Football Media/Mobile App: Simon Hahn Media/Fans’ Radio: Andrew Simpson League, and I’m sure that the players and management To contact the club, send an email team can count on your magnificent support for a long to [email protected] or time yet. [email protected] O�icial spo�sor of the Website: darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk Everyone has really been looking forward to playing at Blackwell Meadows. It might seem a little strange Programme Team Ray Simpson (editor), Craig Stoddart, playing a home game here, but I’m sure that the Simon Weatherill, Lynn Jasper, Anthony togetherness that we have shown as a club for the last McMaster, Chris Sykes, Steve Rees, Kevin Luff, Neil Raper, Wayne Raper, Peter four years or so will come to the fore once again, and we Haygarth, Frank Tweddle, Stacey Fletcher, will achieve our aim. Joanne Cameron, John Tempest, Richard Cook, Simon Hahn In the meantime, enjoy today’s game and spread the word that Darlington Darlington 1883 Ltd. is a company limited Call us on 01442 838 195 or visit www.vanarama.co.uk by share, registered in England and Wales Football Club is back with company number 07914690. in town! Registered office: Blackwell Meadows, Grange Road, Darlington, County Durham DL1 5NR CARS Martin Accountants: Total Tax Solutions 2 Peel Court, St. Cuthberts Way www.vanarama.co.uk www.vanarama.co.uk/cars www.pickuptrucksdirect.co.uk Darlington, Co Durham, DL1 1GB Designed by: KINSHIP, Autorama UK Ltd, Masterson House, 30/31 Mark Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7BW who also trades as Vanarama, Vanarama Cars and www.designbykinship.co.uk Pickup Trucks Direct are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA Register number is 482841. As a Printed by:MT Print, Darlington FCA regulated credit broker we can introduce you to a select group of lenders, details of these lenders are available on request. All www.mtprint.co.uk products are subject to credit acceptance. Our VAT number is 842814720. Please note calls may be monitored or recorded. Monday 26th December 2016 Page 5 www.darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk “For Fans, For Football, For Ever” Coming to town... FC Halifax Town There are some similarities between ourselves and FC Halifax Town! / The Squad Managers Manager Billy Heath Assistant Manager Mark Carroll Following the demise of Halifax Town 8th place, even missing out on a play-off AFC at the end of the 2007-2008 season, a place. A new Club and striving for stability Goalkeepers Steven Drench, Tom Nicholson new club was born and re-formed just in and continuity, reluctantly the Board had time for the 2008-2009 season. The new to make a change, with Jim Vince leaving Defenders Scott McManus, Kevin Roberts, Matty Brown, Josh Wilde, Scott Garner, Danny Hone, Cliff Moyo, football club was placed in Level Four of the position prior to the end of the season Jack Bradley, Ross Barrows the Non-League pyramid, taking a place in and player Nigel Jemson taking the club BILLY HEATH the Northern Premier League, in the First though to the end of the season. Midfielders Jake Hibbs, Josh MacDonald, Liam Division North and called FC Halifax Town. King, Nathan Hotte ,Jordan Sinnott, Shiraz Khan Elliot An early appointment was made for Harrison, Danny Clarke Time was short and the new club was the 2009-2010 season, with former faced with appointing a new manager Darlington defender Neil Aspin joining Forwards Richard Peniket, Jordan Burrow, Tom and bringing a team together in only from Conference North side, Harrogate STEVE DRENCH Denton, Matty Kosylo, Alex Simmons five weeks from scratch. Jim Vince, who Town. A mixture of new recruits, players Finishing Positions in the last five years was previously in the Crewe Alexandra known to him and some already involved 2015/16 National Premier Played 46 Points 48 Position Football Academy and a former manager with the club from the previous season, he 21st of Witton Albion in the Unibond Premier set about trying to establish a successful JORDAN SINNOTT 2014/15 National Premier Played 46 Points 66 Position Division, achieving two consecutive second team. At one stage in to the second 9th places in the previous two seasons, was half of the season, Lancaster City held 2013/14 National Premier Played 46 Points 77 Position 5th appointed. Pre-season friendlies were a twelve point lead over the Shaymen, Halifax won the game comfortably 4-0 and took over the leadership of 2012/13 National North Played 42 Points 75 Position 5th hastily arranged and the first ever game although Halifax had lost a lot of games 2011/12 National North Played 42 Points 74 Position 3rd by the club was played at Tamworth, when through postponement due to the weather. the division. The following Monday 22 trialists made appearances for the club. Fighting their way through the backlog, evening was a tough away game at Last six results The first ever official game for FC Halifax the ultimate period in the second season Curzon Ashton who were also in the December 17th v AFC Telford United (home) drew 1-1. Town was a home game against Bamber was an eventful three match period spread play-off places and Halifax recorded Wilde Bridge at the Shay Stadium.