Darlo quash move rumours

8:00am Monday 14th May 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Ian Noble, Reporter (Shildon and Spennymoor)

Shildon FC's 2,500 capacity ground Shildon FC's 2,500 capacity ground

OFFICIALS have quashed rumours that Darlington FC will not play its games at Shildon’s Dean Street ground next season.

The Quakers recently announced a one-year deal to share Shildon FC’s 2,500 capacity ground.

The club’s temporary exile from Darlington came after talks between Darlington FC 1883 (DFC 1883) and the Northern League team.

However, some fans have voiced fears that Darlington may decide to play elsewhere.

But both teams confirmed last night that the groundshare arrangements will stand.

Craig McKenna, DFC 1883 project manager, said: “This is the first I have heard of this rumour.

There is nothing in this at all. It is absolute rubbish.

“As far as we are concerned nothing has changed and Darlington will be playing at Shildon next season.”

The groundshare agreement came a year to the day after Quakers won the FA Trophy.

Darlington could be playing in the Evostick Northern Premier League in August and both clubs are confident Dean Street will meet the required standard.

Shildon, who finished tenth in Northern League division one this season, will receive £25,000 in rent from DFC 1883.

It will get a share of the bar takings from Darlington’s games but the Quakers will keep gate receipts from their home games.

The Quakers will also pay £6,000 for some work at the ground to ensure it is ready for the new season.

Before signing the agreement with Shildon, there was speculation that Darlington were also thinking about playing at West Auckland FC or Bishop Auckland FC.

Gareth Howe, Shildon FC secretary, said: “I would certainly say that this rumour is a load of rubbish. Darlington has signed an agreement to come and play at Dean Street and we have not heard anything to the contrary.

“If Darlington do not come to Shildon they will have broken the contract.”

Comments(18)

george~stark says...
11:45am Mon 14 May 12

Just a wee note of caution here.After breaking all FA rules re. CVA etc Darlo may well find themselves a lot further down the system than The NPL.
As regards a ground, eventually Feethams must be obtained but the process needs to be started NOW. That land was left for sporting purposes and getting people onside to eventually make it happen is vital beginning with MP Mrs Chapman. An inflential spokesperson is a necessity and time is of the essence so all you true supporters who live locally try and start a campaign to eventually get us home. Sounds like Life on Mars but the objective is the same.

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MSG says...
12:21pm Mon 14 May 12

Mrs Chapman the towns MP was very visible early in the save Darlo movement, but now seems to have gone AWOL.
Where is she regarding Feethams ????

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george~stark says...
1:12pm Mon 14 May 12

Living over 100 miles away I;m obviously behind on things.If she has cooled on things Darlo, then she needs to be brought back onside by someone as an influential person is essential if we are to get home.Never mind the "it can't be done" merchants, if a groundswell of people demand Feethams be seriously looked at as a venue and enlist the correct help then it may be possible.All those really interested should band together and ask the pertinent questions and be a nuiscance in the correct way. Someone of standing should approach Mrs Chapman and get the thing going.Start a "back to Feethams " campaign. If done properly it will grow and will not be able to be ignored.

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neilj_dafts says...
1:47pm Mon 14 May 12

Sounds like an Echo petition may be necessary to get answers, before any politician will spill the beans about what's been going on "behind the scenes" and possibly against planning rules.

Feethams was put in trust for the benefit of all Darlington folk, not for a few chums to cash in.

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MST75 says...
2:34pm Mon 14 May 12

Forgive me for being behind the times. But I always thought that Darlington CC owned Feethams, and as such DFC rented it from them?

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stiv says...
5:54pm Mon 14 May 12

Is everyone blinkered out there, there are too many prominent people going to make a lot of cash from the Feethams development. How else did land left to the people of Darlington get easilly passed for building.

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Friendoffeetham says...
8:40pm Mon 14 May 12

Yes - it's time to start the campaign - "Back to Feethams"!

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quakersam says...
9:37pm Mon 14 May 12

Already been started folks, by Doug Embleton and Shaun Campbell

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george~stark says...
9:42pm Mon 14 May 12

Fine, but it must be thought out and done properly, ie.get "influential "people involved. This opportunity will never come again!

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quakersam says...
10:51pm Mon 14 May 12

Certainly won't. This is the chance to get the answers once and for all but as you said it needs people who can take it by the scruff of the neck. Here's hoping

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John Justice says...
6:22am Tue 15 May 12

A glaring omission to all of the fall out of Darlo moving to Shildon is the loss of income to local business in Darlo and the increase in income that the Shildon move will bring to local business in Shildon. Not only that but what about Policing, transport, local licenced premises, public order etc etc. Bishop Auckland is only a stones throw away, I will not be surprised if the local pond life visit for Darlo home games, just to take part in meaningful and intelligent discussions with fans over the finer points of football. Mike Amos could referee such meetings and report results in the Echo. Seriously I hope that all agencies are already in active discussions to ensure the residents of Shildon do not suffer and that home games are Policed accordingly. These comments are no reflection on loyal Darlo fans but I am in a bit of a unique position here. I am Darlo born and bred, lived and worked in Bishop Auckland and know Shildon well. I also know the possibility of visits by Bishop "fans" on match days is highly likely. P.S. the pies from Gregories the Butcher are very nice.

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John Justice says...
6:45am Tue 15 May 12

Just an addendum to my previous comments. Pies are from Godfries the butcher not Gregories.

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DarloJon says...
6:09am Wed 16 May 12

Now that the Arena has been vacated, can I recommend to the council that they impose a compulsory purchase order on it and return the land to agricultural use by transforming it into the new Cattle market. Messrs Scott, Sizer and Singh have loads of experience in this sphere.

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the-big-yin says...
5:23pm Sat 19 May 12

John Justice wrote:
A glaring omission to all of the fall out of Darlo moving to Shildon is the loss of income to local business in Darlo and the increase in income that the Shildon move will bring to local business in Shildon. Not only that but what about Policing, transport, local licenced premises, public order etc etc. Bishop Auckland is only a stones throw away, I will not be surprised if the local pond life visit for Darlo home games, just to take part in meaningful and intelligent discussions with fans over the finer points of football. Mike Amos could referee such meetings and report results in the Echo. Seriously I hope that all agencies are already in active discussions to ensure the residents of Shildon do not suffer and that home games are Policed accordingly. These comments are no reflection on loyal Darlo fans but I am in a bit of a unique position here. I am Darlo born and bred, lived and worked in Bishop Auckland and know Shildon well. I also know the possibility of visits by Bishop "fans" on match days is highly likely. P.S. the pies from Gregories the Butcher are very nice.
the "leech / freeloader" mike amos has retired from working.i have never seen anyone receive as much free drink and food and travel that that man in my whole life...do you want him involved in your club....he still has his greasy fingers in loads of pies though...what can that freeloader do for darlo? and would you want him? as for the bishop fans visiting shildon for matches, then let them they will only get locked up when they cause bother....

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george~stark says...
1:15pm Sun 20 May 12

Why has there been no news for a week?What happened at the meeting with the FA?
Is the club stll alive?

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mrrealist says...
11:28am Mon 21 May 12

A strange silence from both the FA, and Darlington 1883 regarding the fate of our club. When will there be a sharing of any information? No manager, no players, we are not mushrooms, we need info.

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george~stark says...
1:34pm Mon 21 May 12

This is absolutely ridiculous.How can a main regional paper stay silent for a whole week ?

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quakersam says...
1:23pm Tue 22 May 12

Its the close season, that's why. If you want to keep up to date and get the latest, then look on Darlo Uncovered.
We find out our league placement on Friday. The CIC is now ready to re-invest your CrowdCube money in at 1883cic.org

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