DARLINGTON FC is hoping to reach new heights after adopting an air ambulance service as its new charity.

The Quakers have signed an agreement with the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), which will see the charity’s logo on the the club's away shirts during the 2014/15 season.

The club will also hold bucket collections at selected home games and support GNAAS events in and around Darlington.

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said the partnership represented a “significant boost” for the charity, which needed to raise £4m every year to continue to operate.

She added: “This is great news for the charity. Not only do we hope to raise some much-needed money, but having our logo on the shirt will also raise the profile of our organisation.

“We are proud to be associated with Darlington Football Club and look forward to a successful year together, both on and off the pitch.”

As part of the agreement, GNAAS will receive a third of the profits from all sales of the green and white away shirt.

The club’s community and fans’ manager, Dave Mills added: “DFC is delighted to welcome another high-profile local community partner to work closely with the football club next season.

"The current season’s excellent relationship with St Teresa’s Hospice has been extremely successful for all concerned, and will certainly be a long lasting one.

"We believe that the same level of community togetherness will be created with the air ambulance – in what promises to be another exciting and progressive year for the club and the community as a whole.”

The partnership comes in a potentially landmark year for the club, which hopes to return to Darlington in time for the new season.

In a poll of the club’s fans, a black and white hooped design was chosen for the home shirt. Both shirts will be available for pre-order shortly from Quaker Retail, with the first delivery of shirts scheduled for June.