Post by Steve T on Aug 19, 2022 17:03:28 GMT 1
Another club with an eventful recent history, most notably the brief George Reynolds era and the move from their old Feethams home to the folly that was the 25,000 capacity Arena (about which the less said the better). The club currently shares Blackwell Meadows, the home of Darlington RFC. Recent statements have spoken optimistically of a new ground being ready two seasons from now – two sites have been identified but not revealed.
Darlington's Football League history was long but not illustrious. The club joined the Football League's new Division Three North in 1921. Two seasons in Division Two (1925-27) were the peak of its existence. They had to apply for re-election eight times. From 1958 – when Divisions 3 North and South became 3 and 4 – to 2010, Darlington spent just four seasons in the Third Division or its equivalent. In that time, they had one season out of the FL, 1989-90, and followed their immediate return as Conference champions with the Fourth Division title a year later only to slump straight back to the fourth level as it became the new Division 3 in 1992 at the beginning of England's brave new football world.
There were play-off failures in 1996, 2000 and 2008 and constant financial crises, culminating in a second relegation from the FL in 2010. The FA Trophy was won in 2011 but a year later the club was wound up. A new club, Darlington 1883, began the 2012-13 season in the Northern League (level 9), playing at Bishop Auckland. Three promotions in four seasons brought the club to its current level and with it a change of name back to plain Darlington. The first game at Blackwells was played on Boxing Day 2016. Their best finish was fifth in that first season back in the town but the shortcomings of the stadium prevented the club from competing in the play-offs. The ground has been improved but not the fortunes of the team, which has had mid-table finishes since then.
Darlington at the Football Club History Database
Darlington's Football League history was long but not illustrious. The club joined the Football League's new Division Three North in 1921. Two seasons in Division Two (1925-27) were the peak of its existence. They had to apply for re-election eight times. From 1958 – when Divisions 3 North and South became 3 and 4 – to 2010, Darlington spent just four seasons in the Third Division or its equivalent. In that time, they had one season out of the FL, 1989-90, and followed their immediate return as Conference champions with the Fourth Division title a year later only to slump straight back to the fourth level as it became the new Division 3 in 1992 at the beginning of England's brave new football world.
There were play-off failures in 1996, 2000 and 2008 and constant financial crises, culminating in a second relegation from the FL in 2010. The FA Trophy was won in 2011 but a year later the club was wound up. A new club, Darlington 1883, began the 2012-13 season in the Northern League (level 9), playing at Bishop Auckland. Three promotions in four seasons brought the club to its current level and with it a change of name back to plain Darlington. The first game at Blackwells was played on Boxing Day 2016. Their best finish was fifth in that first season back in the town but the shortcomings of the stadium prevented the club from competing in the play-offs. The ground has been improved but not the fortunes of the team, which has had mid-table finishes since then.
Darlington at the Football Club History Database
