2026/27's Budget Boosted!

Following 31 days of donations and over 730 pledges made, we all woke to the news on the morning of Monday 1st June 2026 that Darlington FC fans had raised a staggering £188,320 for Steve Watson and Terry Mitchell's playing budget for the coming season via the 2026/27 Boost The Budget campaign.

Some may not have been surprised by this, given the fan's BTB efforts since 2017 and the fact that just over 1,450 fans own the football club. However, late-heartbreak in the 2025/26 season as the club dropped out of the National League North play off spots right at the death, coupled with the ongoing 'cost of living' crisis, did lead some to think that Darlington fans would fall short of the £180,000 target this time.

But, as they always do, Darlington fans got right behind the campaign, raising nearly 15% of target on day one, over £50,000 by the end of week one, £100,000 with ten days to go, and then racing from c£125,000 to over £188,000 inside the final three days of the month. The last day alone saw just over £50,000 donated, including a fantastic £6,000 donation made by a very generous fan at around 10.30pm! Amazing.

Indeed, The £188,320 final amount raised is the seventh time that a BTB total has beaten the previous years' total (from ten full BTB campaigns to date, not including January's mini-BTB). The average pledge this time was an incredible £258, which is a new BTB record average pledge.

And since May 2017, Darlington fans have invested £1.37m in total into the club's playing budget. Absolutely phenomenal.

Across the month, as donations were made, the club had new contracts accepted by key players Tom Platt, Scott Barrow, Toby Lees and Ben Hedley, all of whom spoke exclusively to DFR's Michael Price.

Chief Executive David Johnston, as ever, gave an open and honest interview to DFR's Stuart Armstrong at the outset of the campaign on the future direction of the club and manager Steve Watson talked to Stuart about last season's disappointment, plans for next season and how Boost The Budget is vital to both his and Terry Mitchell's work.

The club's retained list was released, a new front of shirt sponsor was unveiled for next season and we also heard from DFC legend Will Hatfield who, along with Matty Young for loan player, was voted by the fans as the club's best permanent signing since 2017 using Boost The Budget investment in a poll conducted during this latest BTB campaign.

DFCSG Chair Jon Saddington commented:

"Raising more than £188,000 is an extraordinary achievement and a powerful reminder of what makes Darlington Football Club so special. Our supporters and owners have once again stepped up in a way that few clubs at our level could ever dream of. Every single contribution, large or small, shows the strength of our community and our belief in the future of this football club. On behalf of the Supporters Group Directors, thank you. Your commitment gives us the platform to keep building, keep improving, and keep pushing this club forward.”

Whilst DFCSG Vice-Chair David Steel said:

"To have now backed numerous Darlington managers with over £1.3m in playing budget donations alone since 2017 is absolutely superb. Yes; we are fan owned, which comes with a big responsibility, and yes; Boost The Budget is all about the club's owners investing in the following season's squad, but at the end of the day Boost The Budget is all about local people in the North East of England, in a tough economic period, putting their hard earned money into something they love, believe in and want success for, and what could be better than that? Darlington fans, I salute you. Yet again. And I just know that I will be doing so again and again in the future."

The DFCSG board and Boost The Budget project team would like to thank every single person who pledged to this year's campaign. Darlington fans proving, yet again, that they are indeed the best fans in the game.

Roll on next season!