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TEENAGER Curtis Main still attends South Shields Community School but has already started his football education by becoming the youngster player in Darlington's 125-year history.

The 15-year-old came on for the closing stages of Saturday's win at Peterborough United and in doing so set a new record.

Earlier this season the number of players to have represented the club reached the 1,000 mark, and Main is now the youngest of the lot following his appearance as an 83rd minute substitute.

His appearance, in which he played as a lone forward in a 4-5- 1 formation, means he takes the record previously held by Dale Anderson.

Exactly 21 years ago yesterday Newton Aycliffe-born Anderson made his debut aged 16 years 254 days, but Main does not turn 16 until June 20.

He is currently part of the club's centre of excellence and starts a two-year apprenticeship next season.

Main had impressed when invited to join in with first-team training recently so, with injuryhit Darlington struggling for numbers, manager Dave Penney included him Saturday's squad.

As Quakers travelled to Peterborough on Friday they had to seek permission from his school to include him the squad.

Jarrow-born youngster Shaun Reay, 18, was also in the squad but Penney chose Main and says he took more into account than the youngsters' football ability.

"I told Curtis to enjoy it," said Penney. "Before I picked the subs I looked at his character and I could see he wasn't worried, I could see he could handle the pressure.

"Nothing phases the kid so that's the reason we went with him on the bench instead of Shaun Reay, even though Shaun's a couple of years older.

"Curtis will be in the youth team next season unless needs must like today. It's nice to have a kid available who's ready to come in and do that job.

"We haven't had many kids come through the system and be part of the squad so hopefully the kids in the youth team now will give me that option in the future.

"Someone told me he's just become the club's youngest player which I didn't know when we picked him. That's not the reason why we put him on the pitch, we put him on because we do not have many strikers and we felt he had the right character."

9:49am Monday 5th May 2008

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