View source for Darlington F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in Darlington, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Darlington
| image = Darlington FC crest.svg
| image_size = 145px
| alt = Club logo: described in detail in Colours and badge section
| fullname = Darlington Football Club
| nickname = The Quakers, Darlo
| founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|1883|}}
| ground = [[Blackwell Meadows]], [[Darlington]]
| capacity = 3,300
| coordinates = {{coord|54|30|34|N|1|33|51|W|display=it}}
| owntitle = Major shareholder
| owner = Darlington FC Supporters Group
| manager = [[Steve Watson]]
| mgrtitle = Manager
| league = {{English football updater|Darlingt}}
| season = {{English football updater|Darlingt2}}
| position = {{English football updater|Darlingt3}}
| website = {{URL|https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/}}
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'''Darlington Football Club''' is an [[association football]] club based in [[Darlington]], [[County Durham]], England. As of the 2025–26 season, the team competes in the [[National League North]], at the sixth level of English football.

The club was founded in 1883, and played its matches at [[Feethams]]. The club originally played in regionally organised leagues, and was one of the founding members of the [[Northern Football League|Northern League]] in 1889. They were first admitted to [[the Football League]] when the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] was formed in 1921. They won the Third Division North title in 1925, and their 15th place in the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] in 1926 remains their highest ever league finish. After their admission to the League, they spent most of their history in the bottom tier. They won the [[Football League Third Division North Cup|Third Division North Cup]] in 1934, their first victory in nationally organised cup competition. They reached the last 16 of the [[FA Cup]] twice, and the quarter-final of the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] once, in 1968. In the early 1990s they won successive titles, in the [[Conference National]] in 1990 and the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in 1991. In 2011 they won the [[2011 FA Trophy Final|FA Trophy]], defeating [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]] 1–0 at [[Wembley Stadium]].

Darlington moved to the [[all-seater]], 25,000-capacity [[The Darlington Arena|Darlington Arena]] in 2003. The cost of the stadium was a major factor in driving the club into [[Administration (British football)|administration]] in 2003, 2009, and 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Darlington enter administration|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16395001|access-date=2021-02-22}}</ref> As the fan owned club was unable to agree a [[Trading while insolvent#Company voluntary agreement|creditors voluntary agreement]] it was expelled from the [[The Football Association|Football Association]] (FA). A new club was immediately formed and moved to Blackwell Meadows stadium but the FA ruled that, as a new club, it must have a different playing name from the expelled club. The name chosen was '''Darlington 1883''', and that club was placed in the Northern League Division One, the ninth tier of English football, for the 2012–13 season. They won three promotions in four seasons before the FA approved their request to change to the traditional Darlington FC name.

The club have at times worn strips of black and white shirts, black shorts and black and white socks. The club's crest depicts [[Locomotion No. 1|''Locomotion'' No. 1]], referring to the town's railway history; as well as a stylised [[Quakers|Quaker]] hat, referring to the religious movement that had a historic influence on the town, and which was the source of the team's nickname, the Quakers. The club's main rivals historically are [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]].

==History==

===Founding and pre-war===
[[File:Darlington FC Winners of the Cleveland Challenge Cup 1887.jpg|thumb|right|The 1887 team posing with the Cleveland Challenge Cup]]
In July 1883, a meeting was called in Darlington Grammar School to address concerns that so few [[Darlington]]-based football clubs were entering the major competition in the region, the [[Durham Challenge Cup]]. The meeting agreed with the view expressed by the ''[[Darlington & Stockton Times]]'' newspaper, that there was "no club, urban or rural, sufficiently powerful to worthily represent Darlington", decided to form a new club, and elected one Charles Samuel Craven, a local engineer, as secretary. Darlington Football Club duly entered the Durham Challenge Cup, reached the final in their first season, and won the trophy in 1885.<ref name="Echo Memories">{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7032045.Feethams__football_glory_days_recalled/ |title=Feethams' football glory days recalled |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=7 May 2003 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="Durham Cup">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefed.myby.co.uk/ddc.htm |title=Durham Challenge Cup Winners |publisher=Dunston Federation F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025043222/http://www.thefed.myby.co.uk/ddc.htm |archive-date=25 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The following season Darlington entered the [[FA Cup]] for the first time, only to lose 8–0 to [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]].<ref name="History In Brief">{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/History/0,,10339~1027804,00.html |title=History in brief |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=7 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113112714/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/History/0%2C%2C10339~1027804%2C00.html |archive-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Craven was instrumental in the formation of the [[Northern League (football)|Northern League]] in 1889.<ref name="Echo Memories"/> Darlington were one of the founder members, and went on to win the league title in 1896 and 1900; they reached the semi-final of the [[FA Amateur Cup]] in the same two seasons.<ref name="fchd">{{cite web |url=https://www.fchd.info/DARLINGT.HTM |title=Darlington |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Darlington-1910-11.jpg|thumb|left|The Darlington team of the 1910–11 season, who reached the last 16 of the FA Cup]]
The club turned professional in 1908 and joined the [[North Eastern League]]. The [[1910–11 FA Cup|1910–11]] season saw Darlington reach the last 16 of the FA Cup, progressing through five qualifying rounds to lose to [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] in the third round proper, and two years later they won the North Eastern League.<ref name="History In Brief"/> Ground improvements begun before the First World War left the club in financial difficulty during it; the chairman of Darlington Forge Albion financed the completion of the East Stand and cleared the debts, allowing them to continue to compete.<ref name="Inglis">{{cite book |last=Inglis |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Inglis |title=Football Grounds of Britain |orig-year=1985 |edition=3rd |year=1996 |publisher=CollinsWillow |location=London |pages=147–48 |isbn=0-00-218426-5}}</ref> When competitive football resumed after the war, Darlington finished second in the North Eastern League, and were champions for a second time the following year. This victory was well timed, as it coincided with the formation of the [[Football League Third Division North|Northern Section]] of [[the Football League]]'s Third Division, which Darlington were invited to join.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1920-21/Div31920-21.htm |title=Division 3 1920/21 |website=footballsite.co.uk |access-date=20 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017202942/http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1920-21/Div31920-21.htm |archive-date=17 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Their first season in the Third Division was a successful one and they ended up in second place. Three years later, in 1924–25, they were champions and won promotion to the [[Football League Second Division]]. The 15th-place finish in 1926 remains Darlington's best League performance,<ref name=records/> but they were [[promotion and relegation|relegated]] back to the Third Division in 1927, where they remained until the Second World War put an end to competitive football. They came as high as third in 1929–30, but twice had to apply for re-election to the League, in 1932–33 and 1936–37, after finishing in last place in the section.<ref name="fchd"/> In 1934, they enjoyed their first success in a nationally organised cup competition, defeating [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]] 4–3 at [[Old Trafford]] to win the [[Football League Third Division North Cup]],<ref name="History In Brief"/> and reached the final again two years later, this time losing 2–1 at home to [[Chester City F.C.|Chester]].<ref name=3ncup>{{cite web |url=http://fchd.info/cups/div3ncupsummary.htm |title=Football League Division Three North Cup Summary – Contents |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref>

===Post-war===
[[Image:Darlington FC League Performance.svg|thumb|300px|right|Chart of Darlington's yearly table positions in the football league.]]Soon after [[the Football Association]] gave permission for competitive matches to be played under floodlights, Darlington beat [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] 3–1 in the first floodlit FA Cup match between Football League clubs, a [[replay (sports)|replay]] held at [[St James' Park]], [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]'s ground, in November 1955.<ref name=NUFClights>{{cite press release |url=http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/c2/45/0,,10278~148930,00.doc |format=DOC |title=Plymouth Argyle v Newcastle United |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |date=31 December 2009 |access-date=22 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418222446/https://www.nufc.co.uk/staticfiles/c2/45/0%2C%2C10278~148930%2C00.doc |archive-date=18 April 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>{{ref label|floodlit|B|}} The [[1957–58 FA Cup|1957–58]] season saw the club equal their previous best FA Cup run, reaching the last 16 by defeating [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], Football League champions only three years earlier, in the fourth round. After letting slip a three-goal lead at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]], Darlington won the replay 4–1 after [[extra time]], described as "a most meritorious win, earned by a combination of sound tactics and an enthusiasm that Chelsea never equalled" by ''[[The Times]]''' correspondent, who felt it "surprising that extra time was necessary, for Darlington always seemed to have the match well in hand".<ref>{{cite news |title=Darlington's three quick goals |newspaper = The Times |location=London |date=30 January 1958 |page=12}}</ref> In the League, Darlington's fourth place in 1948–49 was their only top-half finish in the first twelve seasons after the war, and when the regional sections of the Third Division were merged, they were allocated to the new [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]].<ref name="fchd"/>

The Supporters' Club raised £20,000 to pay for a roof at one end of the [[Feethams]] ground and for floodlights, which were first used on 19 September 1960. Later that night, the West Stand burned down due to an electrical fault.<ref name="Inglis"/> Darlington's attendance record, of 21,023 against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] in the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] fourth round, was set two months later.<ref name="Anniv 42-83">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:MNEB1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=127EA4204D647F50&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Darlington FC 125th Anniversary 42–83 |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=29 June 2014 |page=4 |via=Newsbank}}</ref> Under the management of [[Lol Morgan]], they won promotion to the Third Division in 1966. A crowd of 16,000 watched the draw against [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] on the last day of the season which ensured they finished as runners-up, but they were relegated the following year.<ref name="Anniv 42-83"/>

Darlington reached the quarter-finals of the [[1967–68 Football League Cup|1968 League Cup]]; drawn away to [[Brian Clough]]'s [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]], they took the lead, only to lose 5–4. During the 1970s the club had to apply for re-election to the League five times, and by 1982 they were facing a financial crisis which they survived thanks to fundraising efforts in the town.<ref name="Anniv 42-83"/> Three years later they won promotion by finishing third in the league under manager [[Cyril Knowles]]. Darlington spent two seasons in the Third Division; the 13th-place finish in 1986 was the highest position they achieved in the Football League since the introduction of the four-division structure in 1958, but they were relegated [[1986–87 in English football|the following season]].<ref name="fchd"/>

Though [[Brian Little (footballer)|Brian Little]]'s appointment as manager in February 1989 was too late to stave off relegation to the [[National League (English football)|Conference]], he went on to lead them to successive promotions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/brian-little/ |title=Brian Little |publisher=League Managers Association |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418084215/https://leaguemanagers.com/managers/brian-little/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> An immediate return to the Football League as Conference champions preceded the Fourth Division title in 1990–91, but Little's departure for [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] was followed by relegation and a succession of short-term managers.<ref name="fchd"/><ref name="Anniv 84-125">{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:MNEB1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=127EA42050911E90&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Darlington FC 125th Anniversary 84–125 |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=29 June 2014 |page=6 |via=Newsbank}}</ref><ref name="soccerbase managers">{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=719&teamTabs=managers |title=Darlington manager history |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=9 August 2011}}</ref> They came close to a return to the Third Division via the [[Football League Two play-offs|play-offs]] in 1996; on their first visit to [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]], against [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]], they were beaten by a [[Ronnie Mauge]] goal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/pilgrims-progress-1349280.html |title=Pilgrims progress |first=Rupert |last=Metcalf |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=26 May 1996 |access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref>

===New stadium, administration and decline===
The 1999–2000 season, the first under [[George Reynolds (businessman)|George Reynolds]]' chairmanship, was marked by Darlington becoming the first team to lose an FA Cup tie and still qualify for the next round. [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]'s involvement in the [[FIFA Club World Championship]] meant they did not enter the FA Cup. To decide who took their place, a "lucky losers" draw was held from the 20 teams knocked out in the second round; Darlington were selected, and lost their third-round tie 2–1 to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] at [[Villa Park]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/may/03/newsstory.sport3 |title=Quaker shaker |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=3 May 1999 |access-date=6 February 2010}}<br>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/544737.stm |title=Lucky Darlington land Villa trip |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 December 1999 |access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref> Their second Wembley appearance came later that season, facing [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] in the play-off final after automatic promotion had seemed certain earlier in the season. After a 3–0 aggregate semi-final win over [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]], Quakers missed numerous chances and were again undone by a single goal, this time from [[Andy Clarke (footballer)|Andy Clarke]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/764092.stm |title=Darlo feeling the strain |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 May 2000 |access-date=5 February 2010}}<br>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/765808.stm |title=Posh pull it off at Wembley |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2000 |access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref>

In 2002, Darlington made unsuccessful approaches to sign international stars [[Paul Gascoigne]] and [[Faustino Asprilla]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/3033681/Asprilla-rejects-Darlington-move.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/3033681/Asprilla-rejects-Darlington-move.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Asprilla rejects Darlington move |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=30 August 2002 |access-date=5 February 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and moved into their new stadium, named the [[The Darlington Arena|Reynolds Arena]], in summer 2003. Reynolds had paid the club's debts when he took over, but the cost of the stadium, partly financed with high-interest loans and built without realistic expectation of filling it, drove the club into [[administration (British football)|administration]] six months later.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sport/poolandquakers/content_objectid=13760462_method=full_siteid=50081_headline=-Whistle-is-blown-on-George-name_page.html |title=Whistle is blown on George |first=John |last=Gibson |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |date=27 December 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031230185039/http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sport/poolandquakers/content_objectid%3D13760462_method%3Dfull_siteid%3D50081_headline%3D-Whistle-is-blown-on-George-name_page.html |archive-date=30 December 2003 |url-status=dead}}<br>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/mar/11/darlington |title=Reynolds' grand designs lie at the root of Darlington's woe |first=David |last=Conn |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=11 March 2009 |access-date=6 February 2010}}</ref><ref name="Reynolds holds key">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/david-conn-reynolds-holds-key-to-darlingtons-20m-debt-76396.html |title=Reynolds holds key to Darlington's £20m debt |first=David |last=Conn |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=31 January 2004 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> Reynolds resigned as a director in January 2004 with the club under threat of imminent closure. A benefit match, featuring footballers such as Gascoigne, [[Bryan Robson]] and [[Kenny Dalglish]], played in front of a crowd of over 14,000, raised £100,000 to help ensure survival in the short term.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7003323.Turn_up_or_the_Quakers_will_die/ |title=Turn up or the Quakers will die |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=17 January 2004 |access-date=30 May 2017}}<br>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4275679.All_stars_match_announced_to_save_struggling_Quakers/ |title=All-stars match announced to save struggling Quakers |first=Paul |last=Cook |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=8 April 2009 |access-date=11 February 2010}}</ref> Despite the off-field problems, [[David Hodgson (footballer)|David Hodgson]], in his third spell as manager, and his players produced some fine performances as the team avoided relegation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/football-focus-3822693 |title=Football focus |newspaper=Evening Gazette |location=Middlesbrough |date=3 August 2004 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Darlington arena 002.jpg|thumb|right|Darlington playing [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] at the Darlington Arena in 2008]]
At the end of the season, Reynolds was obliged to hand over control to the Sterling Consortium to bring the club out of administration,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/david-conn-creditors-call-for-investigation-after-darlington-escape-administration-565070.html |title=Creditors call for investigation after Darlington escape administration |first=David |last=Conn |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=29 May 2004 |access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref> [[Stewart Davies]] taking over as chairman. He and his staff adopted a fan-friendly approach, in contrast to the abrasive Reynolds, before in 2006, the club was sold to property developer [[George Houghton (businessman)|George Houghton]].<ref name="Reynolds holds key"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/we-wont-stand-still-3801793 |title=We won't stand still |first=Andrew |last=Wilkinson |newspaper=Evening Gazette |location=Middlesbrough |date=5 March 2005 |access-date=30 May 2017}}<br>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7159223.Darlington_FC_announce_new_owner/ |title=Darlington FC announce new owner |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=17 March 2006 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> For four consecutive seasons, under Hodgson, sacked in 2006, and then under successor [[Dave Penney]], the Quakers finished in the top half of the table, reaching the play-off semi-final in 2008 only to lose to [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]] on penalties.<ref name="fchd"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/6097242.stm |title=Penney named as Darlington boss  |publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 October 2006 |access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref> In February 2009, Darlington again went into administration, triggering an automatic 10-point deduction, without which they would have again reached the play-offs.<ref name="fchd"/><ref name=bbc_admin>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/7909576.stm |title=Darlington enter administration |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2009 |access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref> Fundraising efforts kept the club going,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/7949373.stm |title=Quakers 'action day' to save club |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=15 February 2010 |work=BBC News}}<br>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4338232.Club_faces_most_important_game_in_its_125_year_history/ |title=Club faces most important game in its 125-year history |first=Paul |last=Cook |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=2 May 2009 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> but when no buyer was found for the club by a May deadline, the administrators made the majority of the first-team squad available for transfer and cut staff numbers to a minimum.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8037396.stm |title=No buyer found for Darlington FC |work=BBC News |date=7 May 2009 |access-date=15 February 2010}}<br>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/8039511.stm |title=Darlington put squad up for free |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2009 |access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref> On 20 May, Houghton returned to the club as chairman, appointed former [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] boss [[Colin Todd]] as manager,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/8059089.stm |title=Houghton and Todd to lead Quakers |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 May 2009 |access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref> and brokered an agreement which led to the club coming out of administration and ownership passing to local businessman [[Raj Singh (businessman)|Raj Singh]] and enabling it to compete in the 2009–10 season without any points deduction.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/8118362.stm |title=Darlington edge toward agreement |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=15 February 2010}}<br>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/8189266.stm |title=Darlington out of administration |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2009 |access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref> Todd left the club after losing seven of his first nine games<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/8276584.stm |title=Darlington part company with Todd |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 September 2009 |access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref> and was replaced by former [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] manager [[Steve Staunton]], who only won four of 23 league games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10339~2000768,00.html |title=Quakers part company with Staunton |first=Martin |last=Walker |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=21 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328111730/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10339~2000768%2C00.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=CooperIn>{{cite news |url=http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/sport/8246141.Cooper_a_big_hit_with_Singh/ |title=Cooper a big hit with Singh |first=Peter |last=Barron |newspaper=Darlington & Stockton Times |date=30 June 2010 |access-date=1 July 2010}}</ref>

The club were eventually relegated to the Conference,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10339~2023850,00.html |title=Win at Rochdale is not enough |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=14 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328111745/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10339~2023850%2C00.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and suffered more managerial turmoil during the summer when [[Simon Davey]] and successor [[Ryan Kidd]] both left within 11 days, to leave [[Mark Cooper (footballer, born 1968)|Mark Cooper]] in charge.<ref name=CooperIn/> He led the club to victory in the [[2011 FA Trophy final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]], defeating [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]] 1–0 with a goal from Chris Senior in the last minute of [[extra time]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13296719 |title=FA Trophy final: Darlington 1–0 Mansfield Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2011 |access-date=7 May 2011}}</ref> Following a succession of poor performances at the start of the 2011–12 season, Cooper and his assistant [[Richard Dryden]] were sacked by the club in October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10339~2492825,00.html |title=Quakers part company with Cooper |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=24 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109190222/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10339~2492825%2C00.html |archive-date= 9 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A little more than two months later, Singh placed the club into administration for the third time in less than a decade.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9449253.Quakers_in_Crisis__Darlington_FC_placed_into_administration/ |title=Quakers in Crisis: Darlington FC placed into administration |first=Andrew |last=Douglas |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=3 January 2012 |access-date=3 January 2012}}</ref> A number of players were released and allowed to join other clubs for nominal fees in January before interim manager [[Craig Liddle]] and the remaining playing staff had their contracts terminated by Darlington's administrator.<ref name=EchoNoplayers>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/darlington/9474769.No_players___but_sacked_Liddle_carries_on/ |title=No players&nbsp;– but sacked Liddle carries on |first=Paul |last=Fraser |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=17 January 2012 |access-date=17 January 2012}}</ref> Two days later, the club was spared from liquidation after a last-minute injection of funding by supporters' groups.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/darlington/9480962.Quakers__Back_from_the_dead/ |title=Quakers: Back from the dead |first=Scott |last=Wilson |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=19 January 2012 |access-date=21 January 2012}}</ref> Enough funds were raised for Darlington to complete the season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17047594 |title=Fans group given time to raise Darlington rescue funds |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 February 2012 |access-date=15 April 2012}}</ref> but relegation was confirmed with three matches remaining.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/9649664.Darlington_relegated_after_2_2_draw_with_Bath_City/ |title=Darlington relegated after 2–2 draw with Bath City |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=14 April 2012 |access-date=15 April 2012}}</ref>

===Darlington 1883===
On 3 May 2012, the club was taken over by DFC 1883 Ltd with the intention of moving into community ownership. Because it failed to agree a [[Trading while insolvent#Company voluntary agreement|creditors voluntary agreement]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17926586 |title=DFC 1883 Limited group complete purchase of Darlington |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 May 2012 |access-date=5 June 2012}}</ref> the club was expelled from the Football Association and was eventually wound up in the High Court. DFC 1883 Limited immediately formed a new club. Because the club proposed to play at a ground without the required grading for the [[Northern Premier League]],<ref name=Wilson>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/darlington/9731388.Darlington_s_appeal_hopes_dashed___and_FA_claims_club_will_have_to_change_its_name/ |title=Darlington's appeal hopes dashed – and FA claims club will have to change its name |first=Scott |last=Wilson |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=21 April 2012 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> the new club was placed in the [[Northern Football League|Northern League]] Division One, by the Football Association.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18209679 |title=Darlington relegated four divisions after FA recommendation |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 May 2012 |access-date=25 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlofc.co.uk/news/934 |title=FA explain decision |website=darlofc.co.uk |date=18 June 2012 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> [[Martin Gray (footballer)|Martin Gray]] was appointed manager.<ref name=June2012Mgmt>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/darlington/9729779.Quakers_appoint_Gray_as_new_boss/ |title=Quakers appoint Gray as new boss |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=28 May 2012 |access-date=2 January 2014}}</ref> An appeal against the new club not being treated as a continuation of the old club was rejected, confirming that the club was to be treated as a new club and would not be able to play under the name Darlington F.C.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/darlington/9775174.Quakers_lose_FA_appeal_over_drop_into_Northern_League/ |title=Quakers lose FA appeal over drop into Northern League |first=Joe |last=Willis |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=21 June 2012 |access-date=30 June 2012}}</ref> The new owners opted to name the new club Darlington 1883.<ref name=rename>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18582393 |title=Darlington 1883 replaces former club name after FA ruling |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2012 |access-date=30 June 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Darlington Fans Invading the pitch.jpg|thumb|right|Fans celebrate winning the [[2012–13 Northern Football League|2013 Northern League]] title.|alt=People in everyday clothing on football pitch]]In February 2013, the club became 100% fan- and community-owned after the Darlington Football Club Community Interest Company (DFC CIC), representing around 800 members, had taken a 52% stake; the Supporters' Club held 15%, and individual fans held the remaining 33%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington1883.co.uk/?p=3450 |title=Club fan and community owned |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=3 March 2013 |access-date=5 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617070537/http://www.darlington1883.co.uk/?p=3450 |archive-date=17 June 2013}}</ref> The new ownership were committed to paying off debts incurred under the previous owners; five months later, the club made a final payment on tax owed to [[HMRC]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/10578712.Quakers_set_2014_target_for_return_to_Darlington |title=Quakers set 2014 target for return to Darlington |first=Joe |last=Willis |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=29 July 2013 |access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref>

On the pitch, Darlington were crowned Northern League Division One champions in [[2012–13 Northern Football League|2012–13]] with a club record haul of 122 points, having scored 145 goals in the process,<ref name=1883records>{{cite web |url=http://darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk/history/club-honours-records/ |title=Club Honours & Records |publisher=Darlington 1883 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> thus gaining promotion to the [[Northern Premier League Division One North]] for the [[2013–14 Northern Premier League|2013–14 season]]. The season saw them finish as Division One North runners-up, before losing in the play-off semi-final to [[Ramsbottom United F.C.|Ramsbottom United]].<ref name=1883records/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/11185397.Match_analysis__Darlington_0_Ramsbottom_2/ |title=Play-off hoodoo goes on for deflated Darlington |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=1 May 2014 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> In [[2014–15 Northern Premier League#Division One North|2014–15]], Darlington again finished second, and this time won the play-off final 2–0 against [[Bamber Bridge F.C.|Bamber Bridge]], earning promotion to the Premier Division. Darlington clinched their second successive promotion and the [[2015–16 Northern Premier League#Premier Division|2015–16 Northern Premier League Premier Division]] title on 21 April 2016 after beating [[Whitby Town F.C.|Whitby Town]] 7–1.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/14444581.No_horror_show_as_Quakers_clinch_the_league_title_and_promotion_in_style/ |title=No horror show as Quakers clinch the league title and promotion in style |first=Scott |last=Wilson |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=22 April 2016 |access-date=23 April 2016}}</ref> However, the club were unable to make it three promotions in a row, as despite finishing in the National League North play-off positions in [[2016–17 National League#National League North|2016–17]], ground grading issues prevented their participation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15247888.Darlington_s_promotion_dreams_are_dashed_after_FA_appeal_rejected/ |title=Darlington's promotion dreams are dashed after FA appeal rejected |first=Julia |last=Breen |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=26 April 2017 |access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

===Return to Darlington F.C.===
In April 2017, the FA approved the club's request to change to the traditional name of Darlington F.C. for the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/conference-north-step-two/18832/football-association-approve-darlingtons-wishes-to-revert-to-historic-darlington-fc-name/ |title=Football Association approve Darlington's wishes to revert to historic Darlington FC name |first=Steven |last=Coney |newspaper=The Non-League Paper |date=4 April 2017 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref>

In the summer of 2017, it was reported through the club website that work had begun on a new playing area and a new seated stand, following the addition of more fundraising.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk/history/brief-history/|title=A Brief History of Darlington FC|publisher=Darlington F.C.|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>

In October 2017, Gray resigned as manager to join rivals [[York City F.C.|York City]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk/statement-from-darlington-fc-re-martin-gray/ |title=Statement from Darlington FC re Martin Gray |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=1 October 2017 |access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> He was succeeded by former player [[Tommy Wright (footballer, born 1984)|Tommy Wright]], with another former player [[Alan White (English footballer)|Alan White]] as his assistant.<ref name=WrightWhite>{{cite web |url=http://darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk/36619-2/ |title=Quakers appoint former players Tommy Wright and Alan White as new management team |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=20 October 2017 |access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> Wright led Darlington to a 12th and 16th-place finish respectively during the two seasons he was in charge before leaving by mutual consent in April 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wright leaves Darlington |date=26 April 2019 |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/17601565.wright-leaves-darlington/ |publisher=The Northern Echo |access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref>

In May 2019, Wright was succeeded by another former player [[Alun Armstrong (footballer)|Alun Armstrong]] who joined from [[Blyth Spartans A.F.C.|Blyth Spartans]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Armstrong named Darlington manager |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/17652725.armstrong-to-be-named-darlington-manager/ |publisher=The Northern Echo |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> Assistant Manager [[Alan White (English footballer)|Alan White]] also left the club in July 2019 before replacing him with another former player [[Darren Holloway]] a week later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darren Holloway appointed as assistant manager |date=19 July 2019 |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/darren-holloway-appointed-as-assistant-manager |publisher=Darlington FC |access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

In Armstrong's first season as manager, Darlington qualified for the [[2019–20 FA Cup#First round proper|first round]] of the FA Cup for the first time since they were reformed in 2012, including wins all away from home against [[Trafford F.C.|Trafford]], [[Leamington F.C.|Leamington]] and [[Tamworth F.C.|Tamworth]].<ref name="fchd" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/all-set-for-walsall |title=All set for Walsall |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=8 November 2019 |access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref> In the first round, they played away again against [[EFL League Two|League Two]] side [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] and the match finished 2–2 with midfielder Joe Wheatley getting a 97th-minute equaliser to get a replay at Blackwell Meadows.<ref>{{cite news |title=Walsall 2–2 Darlington |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50290418|publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref> Darlington did then lose the first round replay 1–0 in a record crowd since their first game at Blackwell Meadows with the attendance of 3,106, which was shown in front of the [[BT Sport]] cameras.<ref>{{cite news |title=Darlington 0–1 Walsall |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50421847|publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref>

After a 10th-place finish in the 2019–20 season, the 2020-21 campaign was disrupted by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in England|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="fchd" /> Darlington finished 13th in 2021–22 and after being top of the league in January 2023, fell to 10th in the 2022–23 season.<ref name="fchd" /> The poor run continued into the 2023–24 season, and Armstrong was dismissed on 6 September 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23770699.darlington-sack-alun-armstrong-poor-start-season/ |title=Club statement: Darlington sack Alun Armstrong after poor start to season |first=Scott |last=Wilson |newspaper=The Northern Echo |date=6 September 2023 |access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref> [[Josh Gowling]] replaced Armstrong, but only lasted three months before he was dismissed after only winning three out of sixteen games during his tenure and left the club second bottom in the league.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/24012039.darlington-part-company-josh-gowling-scarborough-defeat/ |title=Darlington part company with Josh Gowling after Scarborough defeat |first=Scott |last=Wilson |newspaper=The Northern Echo |date=26 December 2023 |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref> [[Steve Watson]] replaced Gowling and brought Terry Mitchell from [[Workington A.F.C.|Workington]] with him as his assistant manager.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/24020201.darlington-appoint-former-newcastle-defender-steve-watson-new-boss/ |title=Darlington appoint former Newcastle defender Steve Watson as new boss |first=Scott |last=Wilson |newspaper=The Northern Echo |date=31 December 2023 |access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> They guided Darlington to a 16th-place finish after being 9 points adrift from safety at one stage of the season and winning 10 out of the last 15 games of the season, completing "The Great Escape".<ref name="fchd" />

==Colours and badge==
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: center; margin-left:1em; float: right"
|-
! colspan=3 | Kit suppliers and sponsors
|-
!style="width: 20%"|From!!Manufacturer!!Shirt sponsor
|-
| 1975 || [[Umbro]] || rowspan=4 |
|-
| 1976 || Litesome
|-
| 1977 || [[Bukta]]
|-
| 1979 || rowspan=2 | [[Le Coq Sportif]]
|-
| 1982 || DONN
|-
| 1984 || [[Hummel International|Hummel]] || [[McEwan's]]
|-
| 1987 || rowspan=2 | Hobott || United
|-
| 1988 || rowspan=2 | I-S-L
|-
| 1989 || rowspan=2 | Jack Hatfield
|-
| 1991 || [[Hutchison Telecommunications International|Hutchison Telecom]]
|-
| 1995 || rowspan=2 | ICIS || [[Orange (UK)|Orange]]
|-
| 1996 || Soccerdome
|-
| 1997 || On Time Sportswear || rowspan=5 | [[Darlington Building Society]]
|-
| 1998 || Biemme
|-
| 1999 || Xara
|-
| 2007 || Vandanel
|-
| 2009 || rowspan=3 | [[Erreà]]
|-
| 2010 || The Morritt
|-
| 2011 || Lakeside Care Homes
|}

In 1888, Darlington's kit consisted of a shirt with black and white vertical stripes, black shorts and black socks. Apart from a period between the 1910s and 1936, when blue shorts were worn, the basic colours of the home kit have remained black and white. The shirt design has varied, from the 1888 vertical stripes, through hoops, plain white, and back to hoops again in the 1990s.<ref name=hkitsdarlo>{{cite web |url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Darlington/Darlington.htm |title=Darlington |website=Historical Football Kits |publisher=Dave & Matt Moor |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> Sponsors' names have appeared on Darlington's shirts since the 1980s. A table of kit manufacturers (since the 1970s) and shirt sponsors appears on the right.<ref name=hkitsdarlo/>

The club badge is in the form of a shield, divided diagonally into two parts; the smaller section, to the upper right, is in the club's home colour of white, the larger is red, their traditional away colour. In the white section is a stylised Quaker hat, emblematic of the major role played by the [[Religious Society of Friends]] (Quakers) in the history of the town. The larger section depicts [[George Stephenson]]'s [[Locomotion No 1]], the [[steam locomotive]] that hauled the first train on the [[Stockton and Darlington Railway]] in 1825, representing the importance of the railway industry to the area. Across the bottom of the shield is a ribbon bearing the club's nickname, ''The Quakers'', and the whole rests on a bed of oak leaves, symbolic of strength and endurance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://behindthefootballbadges.com/DARLINGTON.php |title=Darlington |website=behindthefootballbadges.com |publisher=Paul Wild |access-date=21 January 2010}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead link|date=August 2011}}</ref>

==Stadiums==
{{Main|Feethams|The Darlington Arena|Blackwell Meadows}}
{{multiple image
| total_width = 300
| perrow = 2
| image1 = Feethams Football Ground, Darlington - geograph.org.uk - 76612.jpg
| alt1 = A grandstand whose coloured seats spell out the word Darlington. A floodlight pylon stands at one end. The stand faces a grassed area overgrown with weeds.
| caption1 = [[Feethams]], derelict in 2005
| image2 = Darlington arena 001.jpg
| alt2 = Inside an almost-empty modern stadium whose coloured seats spell out the initials D F C and the word Darlington. Players appear to be warming up on the pitch.
| caption2 = [[The Darlington Arena]] in April 2009
| image3 = The Blackwell Meadows sports ground (geograph 6220671).jpg
| caption3 = [[Blackwell Meadows]] in 2019
}}
[[Feethams]] was originally used by Darlington Cricket Club, but began to be used for football in the 1860s. Darlington F.C. began playing there when they formed in 1883. With growing crowd figures, the ground was expanded with the construction of the West stand at the turn of the century and the Polam Lane end in 1905. In 1913, a pair of towers were built at the entrance to the ground, and in 1920, offices and changing rooms were built underneath the East stand. [[Floodlights (sport)|Floodlights]] were installed in September 1960, but after their first use an electrical fault gutted the West stand in a fire, prompting its rebuilding. In 1997, the East stand was demolished and rebuilt as an all-seater stand, but its cost had a major negative effect on the club's finances. George Reynolds came in to the club, paid its debts and initiated construction of a new stadium. The last match played at Feethams was a 2–2 draw with [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] on 3 May 2003.<ref name="History In Brief"/><ref name=feethams>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/Feethams/ |title=Feethams |date=7 July 2009 |publisher=Darlington F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610012618/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/Feethams |archive-date=10 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the closure of the ground, the floodlights were sold to [[Workington A.F.C.]] and the stadium demolished.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.btinternet.com/~duffnort/DAFTS100.htm |title=Feethams 1883–2003 |publisher=DAFTS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013153453/http://www.btinternet.com/~duffnort/DAFTS100.htm |archive-date=13 October 2008}}</ref> A housing estate was planned for the cleared site.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/1322964.housing_estate_plan_for_feethams/ |title=Housing estate plan for Feethams |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=12 April 2007 |access-date=15 April 2011}}</ref>
The 25,000-seat Reynolds Arena was opened in 2003, at a cost of £18&nbsp;million. The first match at the new stadium was a 2–0 loss to [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] on 16 August 2003. The attendance of 11,600 still stands as a record for the ground.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballgroundmap.com/ground/the-darlington-arena/darlington |title=The Darlington Arena |work=footballgroundmap.com |access-date=15 April 2011}}</ref> After Reynolds left the club, the stadium had a variety of sponsored names, but it is generally known as [[the Darlington Arena]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/venues/england/the-966-tfm-darlington-arena/ |title=The Northern Echo Darlington Arena |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> The capacity was restricted to just 10,000 because of county and local planning regulations,{{ref label|capacity|A|}} but attendances rarely reached 3,000, and in 2011, the club's receivers put it up for sale.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-12985917 |title=Darlington Arena put on sale by football club receivers |work=BBC News |date=6 April 2011 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> In May 2012, Darlington confirmed they would no longer play at the Arena.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17916404 |title=Darlington set to quit Arena home |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 May 2012 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> Later that year, it was bought by [[Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/20626002 |title=Darlington Mowden Park: Rugby team buy The Arena |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref>

Before the stadium was sold, there was interest by the local council to build a new railway station next to the stadium as part of the [[Tees Valley Metro]] scheme to improve public access to D.F.C matches. The scheme also included better services to [[Darlington railway station|Darlington]] and [[Saltburn railway station|Saltburn]], new rollingstock, as well as possible street running to Darlington town centre.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=LOWES |first=RON |last2=PARKER |first2=IAN |date=18 September 2007 |title=Executive Report - Tees Valley Metro |url=https://moderngov.middlesbrough.gov.uk/Data/Executive/200709181300/Agenda/$att6855.rtf.pdf}}</ref> However, the rail scheme was eventually abandoned by 2011, and unlike other proposed stations in the project, Darlington Arena never received a station.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-02-04 |title=When the Tees Valley was set to get its own £220m metro system and what went wrong |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23298160.tees-valley-metro-system-plans-improved-rail-services/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=The Northern Echo |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Blackwell Meadows under floodlights.jpg|alt=|thumb|Blackwell Meadows, Darlington. Photograph taken from the Tinshed stand, during Darlington - Ashton United. Photograph taken 29/12/18. Darlington won the game 2–1.]]
Plans had originally been laid down to [[groundshare]] with [[Shildon A.F.C.|Shildon]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9692504.Darlington_FC_to_ground_share_with_Shildon_next_season/ |title=Darlington FC to ground share with Shildon next season |first=Andy |last=Walker |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=8 May 2012 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> but arrangements were eventually for Darlington to share [[Bishop Auckland F.C.|Bishop Auckland]]'s Heritage Park ground from the start of the 2012/13 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9736049.QUAKERS_LATEST__Darlington_to_play_at_Bishop_Auckland__not_Shildon/ |title=Quakers latest: Darlington to play at Bishop Auckland, not Shildon |first=Joe |last=Willis |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=30 May 2012 |access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref> In December 2013, it was confirmed that a deal had been reached in principle for the football team to share [[Darlington RFC]]'s ground at Blackwell Meadows ground, and thus return to the town of Darlington.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/10876940.Quakers_coming_home_to_Darlington___if_funds_can_be_found/ |title=Quakers coming home to Darlington – if funds can be found |first=Vicki |last=Henderson |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=13 December 2013 |access-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> In March 2016, it was confirmed that Darlington aimed to relocate by the start of the 2016/17 season, with expansion plans in place to increase the capacity to 3,000, as required for promotion to the [[National League (division)|National League]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14353694.They_re_coming_home__Darlington_Football_Club_to_play_at_Blackwell_Meadows_from_next_season/ |title=Video: They're coming home! Darlington Football Club to play at Blackwell Meadows from next season ... appeal to fans to raise at least £75,000 |first=Joe |last=Willis |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=18 March 2016 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> In the event, they played their first match at Blackwell Meadows on 26 December 2016, a 3–2 [[National League North]] win against [[F.C. Halifax Town]] in front of 3,000 spectators.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/14988259.Darlington_3_FC_Halifax_Town_2/ |title=Darlington 3 FC Halifax Town 2 |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=Darlington & Stockton Times |date=26 December 2016 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> Darlington expanded the seated stand at Blackwell Meadows to seat 588 in 2018, after a successful funding drive by their fans, allowing for the club to be promoted to the National League. This was built following the 2016–17 season, where Darlington finished the season in the playoff, but were disqualified from playing due to the inadequate number of seats at Blackwell Meadows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/16071360.darlington-fcs-new-blackwell-meadows-stand-to-open-this-weekend/|title=Darlington FC's new Blackwell Meadows stand to open this weekend|website=The Northern Echo|date=8 March 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-15}}</ref> The club continues to explore further ways to improve Blackwell Meadows, including a stand at the currently empty west end of the ground.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/netcafe-with-the-dfc-directors|title=Netcafe with the DFC directors - News|website=darlingtonfc.co.uk|date=14 December 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-15}}</ref>

As of 2025, Darlington FC are attempting to lock down a site for a new ground, so they can enjoy increased revenue and continue to kick on.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-01 |title=Darlington FC's new stadium plans hit by delays as land sold |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4n19qlz7v8o |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Supporters and rivalries==
Darlington's supporters consider [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] their main rivals. The feeling is reciprocated: in a 2008 survey, 95% of supporters of both clubs named the other as their bitterest rivals. They have fierce competition each time they come up against each other. The clubs, based {{convert|25|mi}} apart, had met 147 times in the Football League, as of 2009–10, of which Hartlepool won 60 to Darlington's 57.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballpools.com/football-fever/Rivalries_Report_2008.pdf |title=Football Rivalries Report |publisher=The New Football Pools |date=February 2008 |access-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015233159/http://www.footballpools.com/football-fever/Rivalries_Report_2008.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2013}}<br>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/6480563.stm |title=Northern lights |first=Pete |last=Oliver |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 March 2007 |access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref> The meeting between the two clubs in 2007 attracted a crowd of 10,121 to the Darlington Arena, the largest attendance for that League fixture for 50 years,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/1285282.Penney_still_has_play_offs_in_sight_despite_derby_disaster/ |title=Penney still has play-offs in sight despite derby disaster |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=26 March 2007 |access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref> though the average League attendance at the stadium declined from over 5,000 in its opening season to 2,744 in 2009–10.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/Attendance/0,,10339~200310339,00.html |title=Attendance: 2003/04 |publisher=Darlington F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328111854/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/Attendance/0%2C%2C10339~200310339%2C00.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead}} Select other seasons via dropdown menu.</ref>

In the 2012–13 season, Darlington's first season as a renamed club, its main rivals were [[Spennymoor Town F.C.|Spennymoor Town]] owing to the hotly contested title for the Northern League. Spennymoor Town had won the league for the three previous years, but had not applied for promotion until the 2012–13 season<ref name="Application for Promotion Statement">[http://www.spennymoortownfc.co.uk/club-news/application-promotion-statement/ Application for Promotion Statement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102221348/http://www.spennymoortownfc.co.uk/club-news/application-promotion-statement |date=2 January 2014 }}</ref> when Darlington entered the league. Spennymoor Town were the only club to contend with Darlington for the title towards the end of the season. To a lesser extent, landlords [[Bishop Auckland F.C.|Bishop Auckland]] were also rivals owing to their shared home ground. In the 2014–15 season, Darlington once again locked horns with [[Spennymoor Town]] after they achieved promotion from the [[Northern Football League|Northern League]] in 2014. Again, they contested Darlington for promotion in a semi-final playoff match that Darlington won 3–2.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk/quakers-into-play-off-final-with-two-goals-in-last-12-nerve-shattering-minutes/ | title=Darlington 3–2 Spennymoor Town| date=29 April 2015}}</ref> The rivalry with Spennymoor was re-ignited in 2017–18 when Spennymoor booked their place in the [[National League North]], with the first game ending all square 1–1 at Blackwell Meadows on 28 August 2017.

The team's [[mascot]]s included Mr Q, "a flat-looking cartoon man with a very big hat", Darlo Dog, a [[Dalmatian (dog)|Dalmatian]] who was once ejected from the ground for climbing on the advertising boards in front of television cameras,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7155378.Mascot_s_tail_of_two_halves/ |title=Mascot's tail of two halves |first=Olivia |last=Richwald |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=23 January 2006 |access-date=29 May 2017}}<br>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1056534.Wuff_justice_as_dog_gets_red_card/ |title=Wuff justice as dog gets red card |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=5 December 2006 |access-date=2 January 2014}}</ref> and a [[panda]] named Feethams.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/8403800.Mascot_bears_the_name_of_Quakers____old_ground/ |title=Mascot bears the name of Quakers' old ground |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=21 September 2010 |access-date=29 September 2010}}</ref> [[Fanzine]]s included ''Mission Impossible'', first published in the early 1990s,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/fans-eye-view-darlington-darlos-faithful-few-waiting-for-worm-to-turn-1187891.html |title=Fan's Eye View: Darlington: Darlo's faithful few waiting for worm to turn |first=Steve |last=Harland |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=28 November 1998 |access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref> and ''Where's The Money Gone'', whose teenage editor, along with the editor of the ''Darlo Uncovered'' website, were among several supporters banned from the ground by chairman George Reynolds for criticising the running of the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/2533/29/ |title=Safe hands Reynolds |first=Ron |last=Hamilton |magazine=When Saturday Comes |issue=194 |date=April 2003 |access-date=22 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322103550/http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/2533/29/ |archive-date=22 March 2011 |url-status=dead }}<br>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7015434.I_ll_confront_you_at_home___Reynolds/ |title=I'll confront you at home&nbsp;– Reynolds |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=18 September 2003 |access-date=29 May 2017 }}</ref> Since 2013, a fan-run [[internet radio]] station, Darlo Fans Radio, has provided commentary on Darlington matches both home and away.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk/media/darlo-fans-radio/ |title=Darlo Fans Radio |publisher=Darlington F.C. |access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref>

Darlington had an official supporters' club<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/SupportersClub/0,,10339~75546,00.html |title=About The Supporters Club |publisher=Darlington F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328111912/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/SupportersClub/0%2C%2C10339~75546%2C00.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and an away supporters group, known as Darlington Away Far Travelling Supporters (DAFTS), who represented Darlington supporters from places elsewhere in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://188.65.112.140/~daftscou/steve/DAFTS41.htm |title=About DAFTS |publisher=DAFTS |access-date=22 June 2011 |archive-date=26 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626122340/http://188.65.112.140/~daftscou/steve/DAFTS41.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> A [[supporters' trust]] was founded in 2002; it established a Disabled Supporters Group, tried to maintain a working relationship between club and supporters, and, together with the Darlington Camera Club, staged a "Farewell to Feethams" exhibition in celebration of the club's longtime home. Together with the supporters' club, the trust was actively involved in fund-raising particularly during the club's periods of administration.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.btinternet.com/~duffnort/Trust2.html |title=A few questions answered... |publisher=Darlington Supporters Trust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160304/http://www.btinternet.com/~duffnort/Trust2.html |archive-date=4 June 2011}}<br>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlotrustdsg.co.uk/ |title=Welcome to the Darlington Disabled Supporters Group |publisher=Darlington Supporters' Trust (Disabled Supporters Group) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724092351/http://www.darlotrustdsg.co.uk/ |archive-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Players==

===Current squad===
{{updated|19 November 2025}}<ref name="Darlington Squad">{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/squad |title=Squad |publisher=Darlington F.C. |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=England|name=[[Peter Jameson]]|pos=GK|other=on loan from [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=England|name=[[Ben Hedley]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=Wales|name=[[Scott Barrow (footballer)|Scott Barrow]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=England|name=[[Tom Platt]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=England|name=Toby Lees|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=England|name=Elliot Forbes|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=England|name=Matty Cornish|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=England|name=[[Will Hatfield]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=England|name=Jack Maskell|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=Suriname|name=[[Cedric Main]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=England|name=[[Thomas Allan (footballer, born 1999)|Tom Allan]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=England|name=Jack Mortimer|pos=FW}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=England|name=Josh Scott|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=England|name=[[Charlie Lennon (English footballer)|Charile Lennon]]|pos=FW|other=on loan from [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=England|name=Max Howells|pos=MF|other=on loan from [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=England|name=Alfie Myers-Smith|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=England|name=Tye Barton|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=England|name=Will McGowan|pos=MF|other=on loan from [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=England|name=Aidan Rutledge|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=England|name=Kallum Griffiths|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=England|name=Ellis Stanton|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=29|nat=Northern Ireland|name=[[Paddy McLaughlin (footballer, born 1991)|Paddy McLaughlin]]|pos=MF|other=on loan from [[York City F.C.|York City]]}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=England|name=Liam Murray|pos=MF}}
{{fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=13|nat=England|name=Liam McGrath|pos=GK|other=on loan at [[Tow Law Town F.C.|Tow Law Town]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=United States|name=Matthiew Kirokiro|pos=FW|other=on loan at [[Northallerton Town F.C.|Northallerton Town]]}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=England|name=Will Maddison|pos=MF|other=on loan at [[Crook Town A.F.C.|Crook Town]]}}
{{fs end}}

==Staff==
:{{updated|1 July 2024}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-appoint-steve-watson-as-new-manager |title=Quakers appoint Steve Watson as new manager |first=Ray |last=Simpson |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=31 December 2023 |access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/about/whos-who/ |title=Who's who at Darlington FC |publisher=Darlington F.C. |access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref>

===Boardroom===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Position
!Name
|-
|Chairman / CEO||David Johnston
|-
|Director / Company secretary||Jonathan Jowett
|-
|Director||John Vickerman
|-
|Director||Chris Stockdale
|-
|Director||Darlington 1883 Supporters Society Limited (Jon Saddington)
|}

===Football===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Position
!Name
|-
|Manager||[[Steve Watson]]
|-
|Assistant Manager||Terry Mitchell
|-
|Physiotherapist||Nathan Liddle
|-
|S&C Coach and Physiotherapist||Luke Roberts
|-
|Goalkeeping Coach||Steven Rodden
|-
|First Team Analyst
|Jamie Lauder
|-
|Kit Manager||Gary Smith
|-
|Assistant Kit Manager||Zak Dunne
|-
|}

==Reserve team==
{{Main article|Darlington Town F.C.}}

In October 2016, it was announced that [[Horden Colliery Welfare A.F.C.|Horden Colliery Welfare]] would move 30 miles to Darlington to become the [[reserve team]] of Darlington;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/local/horden-cw-name-dies-as-club-becomes-darlington-1883-reserves-1-8166359 |title=Horden CW name dies as club becomes Darlington 1883 Reserves |first=Malcolm |last=Pratt |newspaper=Hartlepool Mail |date=6 October 2016 |access-date=16 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917071413/https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/local/horden-cw-name-dies-as-club-becomes-darlington-1883-reserves-1-8166359 |archive-date=17 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> they will change their name to Darlington 1883 Reserves and play on the 4G surface at Eastbourne Sports Complex. Horden chairman Norman Stephens said "If the move had not have happened, Horden would have been dead by Xmas". Stephens and some of the playing staff were retained by Darlington who took Horden's place in the [[Wearside Football League|Wearside League]]. They played their first game under the new name on 6 October in a 1–0 away defeat to [[Boldon Community Association F.C.|Boldon C.A.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://connorsfootball.wordpress.com/2016/10/05/boldon-ca-vs-darlington-1883-reserves/ |title=Boldon CA v Darlington 1883 Reserves |first=Connor |last=Lamb |website=Connor's football travels |date=5 October 2016 |access-date=16 October 2017}}</ref>

In June 2024, Darlington announced that they would be forming an Under 23s team. The team would be a continuation of Grant Cuthbertson and John Walters' U18s team, that won 3 successive county cups, and would be entering the Wearside League Division Three.<ref>{{cite news |title=Quakers Set Up Under-23s Team |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-set-up-under-23-team|publisher=Darlington FC |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> Numerous players completed the step up between the teams during the 2024-25 season, including Matthew Kirokiro and Will Maddison<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=Quakers sign Will Maddison from under 23s - News |url=https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/quakers-sign-will-maddison-from-under-23s#:~:text=Darlington%20have%20today%20signed%20Will,great%20start%20to%20the%20season. |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=darlingtonfc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Honours==

Honours achieved by Darlington since their foundation in 1883 include the following:<ref name=1883records/>

'''League'''
* [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] (level 3)
** Champions: [[1924–25 Football League|1924–25]]
** Runners-up: [[1921–22 Football League|1921–22]]
* [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] (level 4)
** Champions: [[1990–91 Football League|1990–91]]
** Runners-up: [[1965–66 Football League|1965–66]]
** Promoted: [[1984–85 Football League|1984–85]]
* [[National League (English football)|Football Conference]] (level 5)
** Champions: [[1989–90 Football Conference|1989–90]]
* [[Northern Premier League Premier Division]] (level 7)
** Champions: [[2015–16 Northern Premier League|2015–16]]
* [[Northern Premier League Division One North]] (level 8)
** Runners-up and play-off winners: [[2014–15 Northern Premier League|2014–15]]
** Runners-up: [[2013–14 Northern Premier League|2013–14]]
* [[Northern Football League|Northern League]]
** Champions: [[1895–96 Northern Football League|1895–96]], [[1899–1900 Northern Football League|1899–1900]], [[2012–13 Northern Football League|2012–13]]
** Runners-up: [[1896–97 Northern Football League|1896–97]], [[1898–99 Northern Football League|1898–99]]
* [[North Eastern League]]
** Champions: 1912–13, 1920–21
** Runners-up: 1919–20

'''Cup'''
* [[FA Trophy]]
** Winners: [[2010–11 FA Trophy|2010–11]]
* [[Football League Third Division North Cup]]
** Winners: 1933–34
** Runners-up: 1935–36
* [[Durham Challenge Cup]]
** Winners: 1884–85, 1890–91, 1892–93, 1896–97, 1919–20, 1999–2000

==Records==
Darlington's highest league finish was fifteenth in the [[Football League Second Division]], during the [[1925–26 in English football|1925–26]] season. The club's best performance in the [[FA Cup]] has been two appearances in the last 16 of the competition. This first was in [[1910–11 FA Cup|1910–11]], when they lost to [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] in the third round. The second was in the [[1957–58 FA Cup|1957–58]] season, when they beat [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] 4–1 in a replay to reach the fifth round, in which they lost 6–1 to [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]. The club's best [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] performance was reaching the quarter-final in the [[1967–68 Football League Cup|1967–68]] season.<ref name=records>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/History/0,,10339~1027802,00.html |title=Club Honours and Records |publisher=Darlington F.C. |date=7 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725004244/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/History/0%2C%2C10339~1027802%2C00.html |archive-date=25 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Quakers' biggest home win was a 13–1 defeat of [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]] in the FA Cup on 24 October 1891. Their best away win in the Football League was on 22 October 1921, when they beat [[Durham City F.C.|Durham City]] 7–3 in the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]].<ref name=records/> They achieved 7–1 wins in the Northern League Division One against [[Billingham Town F.C.|Billingham Town]] in October 2012 and [[Hebburn Town F.C.|Hebburn Town]] in February 2013, and in the Northern Premier League against [[Whitby Town F.C.|Whitby Town]] in April 2016.<ref name=1883records/>

The player with the most league appearances for Darlington is [[Ron Greener]] with 439 between 1955 and 1967. He made a total of 490 senior appearances for the club. [[Alan Walsh (footballer)|Alan Walsh]] scored a club-record 87 league goals between 1978 and 1984, and scored 100 goals for Darlington overall. The most league goals scored for the club by a single player in a season is 39, by [[David Brown (Scottish footballer)|David Brown]] in the 1924–25 season.<ref name=records /> [[Franz Burgmeier]] has the most senior international appearances while a Darlington player, with seven [[cap (sport)|caps]] for [[Liechtenstein national football team|Liechtenstein]] in the 2008–09 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/3751104.Burgmeier_suspended_from_Germany_match/ |title=Burgmeier suspended from Germany match |first=Craig |last=Stoddart |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=13 October 2008 |access-date=24 October 2010 }}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.lfv.li/nationalmannschaften/nationalmannschaft/statistik?cfc_league_fe%5Bplayer%5D=13&cfc_league_fe%5Bstatskey%5D=played&cfc_league_fe%5Bstatstype%5D=default&cHash=b2e798f6878f6c820aa4615ad888b55f |title=Franz Burgmeier stand bei folgenden Spielen im Einsatz |language=de |trans-title=Franz Burgmeier took part in the following games |publisher=Liechtensteiner Fussballverband |access-date=13 March 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128081746/https://www.lfv.li/nationalmannschaften/nationalmannschaft/statistik?cfc_league_fe%5Bplayer%5D=13&cfc_league_fe%5Bstatskey%5D=played&cfc_league_fe%5Bstatstype%5D=default&cHash=b2e798f6878f6c820aa4615ad888b55f |archive-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>

===Dream team===
As part of the 2003 "Farewell to Feethams" celebrations, a competition in the club programme selected the following all-time "Dream Team": [[Mark Prudhoe]], [[Ron Greener]], [[Craig Liddle]], [[Kevan Smith (footballer)|Kevan Smith]], [[John Peverell]], [[Andy Toman]], [[David McLean (English footballer)|David McLean]], [[Alan Sproates]], [[Alan Walsh (footballer)|Alan Walsh]], [[Marco Gabbiadini]] and [[Colin Sinclair (footballer)|Colin Sinclair]]. Gabbiadini, scorer of 53 goals in his two seasons at Darlington, was voted greatest ever player.<ref name="Farewell 4">{{cite web |url=http://www.btinternet.com/~duffnort/Feethams4.html |title=Looking back at the past |website=Farewell to Feethams Online |publisher=Darlington Supporters Trust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050118040115/http://www.btinternet.com/~duffnort/Feethams4.html |archive-date=18 January 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notes==
A. {{note|capacity}} The Darlington Arena was built to hold 25,000<!-- the cited planning statement says 25,000 and not 25,500 --> seated spectators, yet a condition was imposed at the planning stage that "at no time should the owner of the property admit or permit the admission of more than 10,000 people to the new stadium".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/Document%20Library/Development%20and%20Environment/Development%20and%20Regeneration/Planning%20Services/Projects/DFC/PlanningStatement.pdf |title=Plannng statement |last=Ward Hadaway |publisher=Darlington Borough Council |date=May 2007 |page=18 |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110928020821/http://www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/Document%20Library/Development%20and%20Environment/Development%20and%20Regeneration/Planning%20Services/Projects/DFC/PlanningStatement.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Capacity was for a time restricted to 6,000 for weekend events and 4,500 for midweek events unless prior written permission was granted to exceed those limits.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/2309598.club_nears_backing_for_its_first_concert/ |title=Club nears backing for its first concert |first=Paul |last=Cook |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=2 May 2008 |access-date=21 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington.gov.uk/PublicMinutes/Planning%20Applications%20Committee/June%2028%202006/0600214FUL%20Darlington%20Football%20Club.pdf |title=Minutes: 0600214FUL Darlington Football Club |publisher=Darlington Borough Council Planning Applications Committee |date=28 June 2006 |access-date=21 January 2010}}</ref>

B. {{note|floodlit}} Though not the ''first'' FA Cup match to be played under lights, as the club history suggests:<ref name="History In Brief"/> a preliminary round replay between [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] and [[Brierley Hill Alliance F.C.|Brierley Hill Alliance]] took place under floodlights on 14 September 1955, some two months before Darlington's match against Carlisle United.<ref name=NUFClights/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-switched-on-to-the-future-1072324.html |title=Switched on to the future |first=Norman |last=Fox |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=21 February 1999 |access-date=22 January 2010}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|North East England|Association football}}
{{commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* {{facebook|darlingtonfc}}

{{Darlington F.C.}}
{{National League (English football)}}
{{Former football league members}}

[[Category:Darlington F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1883]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Fan-owned football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Sport in Darlington]]
[[Category:Football clubs in County Durham]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in England]]
[[Category:National League (English football) clubs]]
[[Category:Northern Football League]]
[[Category:Northern Premier League clubs]]
[[Category:North Eastern League]]
[[Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom]]