Sad days for Darlo

Tuesday, 17/01/2012

The gates at Darlington FC could close later this week, yet another former League club to hit the buffers.

The manager and players have been sacked and if they don't complete their Conference fixture against Fleetwood this coming weekend the Quakers' days are over.

It's sad and something that hits home personally for me – Darlington were one of the clubs where I started my very earliest football reporting career.

Those days the club didn't live in their flash arena on the edge of town. Home was Feethams, a ramshackle proper old fashioned football stadium... but with a difference!

You had to go through large gates not far from the town centre station, walk around a cricket pitch and into the ground.

I can still vividly remember climbing the steps to the press box – well no box, just seats – running back down for a half time cuppa and also at the end to collar the manager and players for interviews.

When you cover the fortunes of a local football side in that way you become attached to them. They may not be your first choice team but they are important to you.

Now they are set to be no more. Yet in 1999 their then chairman, convicted safe robber George Reynolds, took over, built them the £20m stadium that wouldn't look out of place for a top Championship club and tried to sign big name players.

It all went horribly wrong. Darlo ended up in administration and have had problems ever since. The fans are trying to take over the club and I wish them well. But their chances look slim.

But let's not be all doom and gloom. Aldershot FC went bust in 1992 and are now back in the League. Accrington Stanley went into liquidation in 1966 and are back among the professionals.

Never give up hope...

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