Darlington FC 14/15

[Jemfy]

Hadn't been keeping up with Darlo well this season, and I kept seeing some disappointing/poor results. I was getting a little worried you guys would be in for another tough fight, but it looks like you're really in the driving seat. Not that it's easy, but it's completely in your hands.

 

[Darlofan97]

Harrogate RA 1-5 Darlington FC

(Nelson Mota 34', Terry Galbraith 50', 80', 83', Graeme Armstrong 70')

Good result today against a 6th placed Harrogate side as of this morning. A team unbeaten in 12 successive home games. More-so impressive given the absence of Alan White, Chris Hunter, Adam Mitchell and Amar Purewal through injury or suspension.

A few pointers on the playing side...

-We have signed 19-year old right-back Andrew Cartwright on a months loan from Sunderland. He made his debut today against Harrogate RA.

-Amar Purewal has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury suffered against Radcliffe Borough in December. Fortunately we are well covered up top with Armstrong, Cartman, Dowson and Hatch.

-Adam Mitchell has gone on trial with League 1 side Gillingham whilst he is suspended. We will see what happens but he is contracted with us until 2016.

Also, Salford won today but Northwich lost to Bamber Bridge which means we are 6 points ahead with 3 games in hand over the Vics.

 

[ArmchairDiehard]

If we can take four points from them next month we'll be well on the way to the title.

 

[Darlofan97]

Hadn't been keeping up with Darlo well this season, and I kept seeing some disappointing/poor results. I was getting a little worried you guys would be in for another tough fight, but it looks like you're really in the driving seat. Not that it's easy, but it's completely in your hands.

I guess our main poor results came in September when we lost to Droylsden and Salford and drawn with Farsley and Radcliffe Borough, this was sandwiched with being knocked out the FA Cup by Blyth too. We won our next 9 after that which turned things around a bit.

Not easy given our run in being more challenging than all of Salford, Northwich and Spennymoor but it won't be long before we know our fate.

 

[Darlofan97]

Kendal Town 4-2 Darlington FC

(Ian Watson, Terry Galbraith)

Deary me.

Only team that is going to stop us winning this league and that is ourselves.

 

[The_Boss]

Kendal Town 4-2 Darlington FC

(Ian Watson, Terry Galbraith)

Deary me.

Only team that is going to stop us winning this league and that is ourselves.

Whats Jordan Connerton like for Kendal? Some folk on our message board keep bringing his name up as someone we should be looking at.

 

[ArmchairDiehard]

Important that we bring back three points from Farsley tonight. Obviously a draw wouldn't be the worst result in the world, but ideally we'll get these games in hands won and give us a bit of breathing space.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Very Good 2-1 win over Bamber Bridge today. Goals from Tom Portas and Leon Scott. Back on track after two defeats in a row. Bamber Bridge are a good team, in and around the play offs, but the win was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. Bamber Bridge included former Preston stalwarts Paul McKenna and Jon Macken, though neither showed very much.

 

[Darlofan97]

Whats Jordan Connerton like for Kendal? Some folk on our message board keep bringing his name up as someone we should be looking at.

He shouldn't be playing at our level. He bagged an 18 minute hattrick against us the other week.

 

[The_Boss]

He shouldn't be playing at our level. He bagged an 18 minute hattrick against us the other week.

Cheers

 

[Railway Blue]

We wewr

Whats Jordan Connerton like for Kendal? Some folk on our message board keep bringing his name up as someone we should be looking at.

We were in for him 4 years ago and he rejected us for Lancaster City (I think?). Probably travelling put him off.

 

[Darlofan97]

Haven't done an update in a while, so I'll do a pretty big one now...

Playing Side:

We lost 3-2 to Farsley just before beating Bamber Bridge 2-1 last Saturday. Nathan Cartman and Terry Galbraith got the goals against Farsley. Portas and Scott against Bamber Bridge.

Andrew Cartwright has gone back to Sunderland following his loan spell with us.

Adam Mitchell is with us until the end of the season, despite a recent trial and interest from L1 side Gillingham. Looks like he will be deployed in a RB role for the remainder of the season.

Off the Pitch:

Interim financial results for the period June 2014-December 2014 were released recently. A few key points:

-Revenue has increased by 22% compared to June 2013-December 2013.
-Operating expenses have increased by 24%. (Due to more away cup games plus the fact we were running 20% under our playing budget last year).
-Operating profit of £6,800 made.
-Cash at the bank of £94,200, compared to £2,800 at December 2013.
-Debt at £44,100, compared to £58,200 at June 2014, £113,600 at December 2013, £225,000 at April 2013.

These figures show just how far the club has come over the past few years since being taken over by the fans in May 2012.

Blackwell Meadows:

The move is now full steam ahead towards Blackwell Meadows. Planning permission was submitted late January, whilst a recent Darlington Borough Council Cabinet vote has backed the move. This has resulted in the following;

-Release £70,000 of Sport England funding to contribute towards the cost of a 250 space car-park.
-Delegate powers to Ian Williams to negotiate a lease with DRFC for 3.6 acres of land to create the car park.
-A covenant on Blackwell Meadows has been relaxed so now DRFC can secure adequate borrowing to complete their share of the proposed car park and upgrading clubhouse facilities.

Fundraising Drive:

Meanwhile, we have launched of major £225,000 fundraising drive in order to secure the capital needed to move to Blackwell Meadows. We have applied for £150,000 of funding to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, however this must be matched by the same amount at our end i.e £150,000, as soon as possible. A minimum amount of £225,000 has been set for a 1,900 capacity stadium however £300,000 would allow us to have 3,000 capacity.

The money will be raised in a variety of different ways;

-DFC500 Club: 500 Season Tickets (some adults, concessions, seated, standing etc) have gone on sale. The amount paid varies on what category but prices are the same as the cost of ST's this season. This is a Season Ticket that covers the next 5 years. There is a cap on categories of ST's which will help prevent a revenue shortfall. These packages come with a variety of different benefits. Has a potential worth of c£430k minus VAT.

-Vice-Presidents Club: 50 adult Season Tickets that covers the next 5 seasons are going on sale at £2,000 each. Again, various different benefits which represent a big saving.

-Premium Corporate Member: Minimum of £5,000 investments for businesses wanting to be a member. Already have two businesses on board in Darlington Building Society and the Martin Gray Football Academy. Benefits and packages with this membership such as advertising, hospitality, discounts, free season tickets etc.

-Equity Investment: £50,000 ordinary shares (worth £1 each) are going on sale to businesses or individuals wanting to become shareholders in the football club. Minimum investment of £1,000 but there are little benefits other than those of becoming a shareholder.

Oh and the deadline for this, the end of this month.

Let's see what happens....

 

[Southern Shayman]

We wewr

We were in for him 4 years ago and he rejected us for Lancaster City (I think?). Probably travelling put him off.

From memory, he had an unbelievable season for Lancaster 09/10 when they battled us the for the title in the Unibond North. Then went higher (want to say Crewe) and it didn't work out. Strange that he went straight back to Unibond's after Crewe.

 

[Darlofan97]

Clitheroe FC 2-1 Darlington FC

(David Dowson 06')

Lancaster City 2-0 Salford City

Previous form: L/W/W/W/L/L/W/L

Simply not good enough, we are bottling it. Lancaster, Northwich, Prescot all home up for us next. All must win.

 

[Darlofan97]

Darlington FC 0-1 Northwich Victoria

Attendance: 1,112

Darlington FC 3-0 Lancaster City

(David Dowson, Tom Portas, Leon Scott)

Attendance: 896

Play-offs it is then. 4 defeats in our last 6 games has meant the wheels are off. I don't fancy us in the play-offs, as we struggle to beat well-organised teams. We only get results against Spennymoor, and sod's law means they'll beat us in the play-offs.

Only positive to take really is, as of Thursday, we are 64% of the way in raising the £225,000 needed to move back to Darlington, in just 6 days!

 

[Destruction]

Alright lads, good win for you boys today.

Pleased to see my local lot Bamber Bridge are again giving the leagues big names a run for their money. I'll have to get on their next home game I think.

 

[WeAreDarlington]

Darlington 4-2 Prescot Cables

(Adam Mitchell 15', 58', 70') (Alan White 42')

To be honest it's been completely hit and miss for us over the previous 10 games or so. We haven't been the same since the Salford (A) game, and not only does that seem to have affected us mentally but the lack of discipline shown has lead to changarounds in the defence which held THE best defensive record in England.

A crazy 15 minutes cost us against Kendal, purely not good enough against Farsley & Clitheroe, and Northwich Victoria managed under Sir Jim Gannon (Stockport fans) simply came with a game plan to take a point but spawned a goal from a corner. Yet in between we have managed to defeat Padiham, Prescot Cables, Ossett Town, Harrogate RA, Lancaster and Bamber Bridge. The inconsistency shown at a pivotal point of the season has been staggering and we're now left neck and neck with several other contenders, mulling over the points we've blown in games we should have won.

Undeniably this has happened due to a lack of discipline shown from staff and players, the long-term injury to Amar Purewal, and the panic buttons pressed from the management which has filtered down to the players. The play-offs again beckon for us, and again I wouldn't fancy our chances. Sod's law suggests we'll be drawn against an in-form team that'll do the job on us, and we'll be left looking forward to another season in the Division One North.

 

[WeAreDarlington]

Oh and we take on New Mills (A) on Monday night, the first of 3 away games in just over a week.

Both Alan White and Adam Mitchell have received further match suspensions after the referee at Salford submitted a report stating that the pair used abusive/insulting language towards the match officials after they were both dismissed. As a result both will miss the game on Monday.

Again the lack of discipline shown has came to bite us. Honestly wouldn't be suprised if Gray has to serve another touch-line ban after the berating he gave the referee walking towards the changing rooms.

 

[Darlofan97]

Alright lads, good win for you boys today.

Pleased to see my local lot Bamber Bridge are again giving the leagues big names a run for their money. I'll have to get on their next home game I think.

Any idea how Jon Macken is getting on? Didn't do much against us but I think that was his first game.

 

[Destruction]

Any idea how Jon Macken is getting on? Didn't do much against us but I think that was his first game.

Yeah that was his debut. He's still yet to open his account.

 

[WeAreDarlington]

New Mills 1-5 Darlington

(David Dowson 44', Graeme Armstrong 57', 69', Stephen Thompson 72', Nathan Cartman 76')

Another good win. Next up is Warrington (A) on Saturday.

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

Hartlepool fan here...hello Matty, I'm following you!!.....anyway , when Darlo went pop so to did one of the great Derbys in football, generations brought up on stories that are near folklore now up here, no more! I was lucky to take my nipper to a Darlo away, he may not have that pleasure, and why? One arrogant stupid toe rag of a failed safe cracker has a midlife crisis and thousands of Darlo and Hartlepool fans have future memories stolen from them, drove passed the Arena today, stupid building in a stupid place , can't see the rugby mob lasting much longer there..

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Northwich Victoria 0 Darlington 1

Graeme Armstrong's 20th league goal of the season gives us a massive boost going into a vital Bank Holiday weekend. Vic's were fourth in the league, but a magnificent performance meant we reversed the scoreline from our home game with them recently. Now 3 points adrift of Salford, with a game in hand and a vastly superior goal difference. Salford face Spennymoor, currently third in the table, on Saturday, whilst we take on Droylsden, followed by a trip to Scarborough (well Bridlington) on Monday. Results of these will have a major say on how the league finishes. Depending on Saturday's result, could see up to a 1000 away fans at Brid on Monday.

Nice to see Pools haven't forgotten us. Was hoping to be two leagues closer come the end of the season, but looking unlikely now. Fair play to Ronnie Moore. How's Scott Harrison doing for you - was highly rated here in his youth team days, and looked the part in his first team appearances.

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

We've decided not to DROP in and see you, you will have to come UP to ours sometime!

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

HARRISON is immense, he will be our next big sale, 12 months with Ronnie will do him the world of good, Sunderland wil regret selling him

 

[Darlofan97]

Here is a little update on off-the-field matters...

Blackwell Meadows:

We raised the initial £225,000 on the 20th of March, just 2 weeks after the fundraising initiative was launched! The target was then set to £300,000, this should allow us to improve Blackwell Meadows to a 3,000 capacity stadium (Category B) instead of the 1,950 that was mentioned for the £225,000 target. The deadline for this is the 6th of April. We have had to amend our plans, due to an objection by Northumbrian Water. There is a raw water pipe that runs from the West side down through the pitch then to the South side of Blackwell Meadows. Some of the stands were to be built over the pipe and its easement, so we have relocated these, Northumbrian Water have subsequently removed their objection. This will effect future development certainly (as the pipe and its easement can not be built over) however there is still a decent amount of land that still can, potentially, be developed; including the main clubhouse side and about 60% of the West side. This is obviously not taking into account that the pipe may be relocated or NW may relax their stance.

The plans include: a 902 capacity tin-shed at the East end of the ground, 2x 259 capacity all-seated stands located in the South-West area of the ground, a 250 capacity car-park with future provision for an extra 250 spaces (already 120 spaces there), 6 new turnstiles, new changing rooms with provision to expand, re-located floodlights. Then there is all the trivial stuff like new perimeter fencing, new pitch perimeter barrier, new dug-outs, new entrance to the club-house, new toilet blocks, storage extension etc.

The planning permission decision is expected to be made next Wednesday. So fingers crossed that all goes well and we can begin work around May time.

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

Sounding promising , don't go mad on the seating, look at Burton , 3 sides standing, as it used to be all over once. Walk before you can run, we have a 7200 stadium and it sells out once every blue moon , get your 2000 seats and whack a load of terracing in and your good to go for the football league

 

[rudebwoyben]

What's 'raw water?'

Sad to see Northwich Victoria down in Step 4 as well. They were continuous Conference stalwarts until a few years ago. They should never have left the Drill Field (why on earth the oldest football stadium in the world wasn't preserved I don't know)

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

What's 'raw water?'

Sad to see Northwich Victoria down in Step 4 as well. They were continuous Conference stalwarts until a few years ago. They should never have left the Drill Field (why on earth the older football stadium in the world wasn't preserved I don't know)

My Dad's hometown team and he says exactly the same. They were offered good money from developers (which was ultimately squandered) though on the Drill Field, which was in a perfect location, but they moved into the worst part of Northwich imaginable, away from literally everything. They had problems with the land the stadium was on ever since they moved in there and it's so sad to see. I think every time they've been 'relegated' it's been a demotion on financial grounds.

 

[rudebwoyben]

My Dad's hometown team and he says exactly the same. They were offered good money from developers (which was ultimately squandered) though on the Drill Field, which was in a perfect location, but they moved into the worst part of Northwich imaginable, away from literally everything. They had problems with the land the stadium was on ever since they moved in there and it's so sad to see. I think every time they've been 'relegated' it's been a demotion on financial grounds.

I think you're right on the demotion grounds and for some of the time at least they've had one of those chairmen (Andy Connet(sp?)) that you'd warn fans of other clubs about.
I went to see us play Northwich in 04/05 when a win would have seen us crowned as champions (we lost so I missed the actual game where we won it as I was abroad that weekend). They were ground sharing with Witton Albion that season. I remember that ground being in the middle of nowhere and I was told that Northwich's new ground was just a couple of fields away from Wincham Park but even further out of town! I always found it strange that quite a small town such as Northwich would have two senior football teams.