D-A-R-L-O, WE ARE D-A-R-L-O! - Hebburn Town (26/27)

Hebburn Town, Saturday 26th September 2026 - David Steel

NAME – David Steel (beatroute66 online…)

AGE – 48

HOW LONG FOLLOWED THE CLUB – Since late-1989. My first two seasons were 89/90 and 90/91. I assumed every following season would be the exact same as those two…

DARLO RELATED ANECDOTES/THOUGHTS…

The very first time I stepped foot into Feethams was on Boxing Day 1989; a tense 0-0 draw with Barrow in front of a big Christmas crowd. Dad and I went back four days later to watch us wallop Chorley 3-0. Gary Gill made his debut for us, having signed from Boro in the week. Paul Emson was superb that day. I was hooked.

I always find it difficult to pick out one player or one manager from such a long period of time, but for various reasons I’m extremely fond of Brian Little and that squad that got us out of the GM Vauxhall Conference in 1990 and then won us the Division Four championship the year after. Mark Prudhoe, Frank Gray, Kevan Smith, Jimmy Willis, Mick Tait, Gary Gill, David Cork…to many great names and memories to share.

Obviously, the likes of Steve, Hodgy, Dave Penney, Mark Cooper and Martin Gray have all ‘achieved’ for the club in different ways down the years. Not necessarily winning trophies in all cases, sometimes just surviving or building teams/signing players that were great to watch. Dave Penney would have taken us up were it not for the financial rug being pulled.

Steve and Terry did an exceptional job in those first 12 months at the club, taking us from certain relegation to the play-off spots in that time. Remarkable really. That home game against Farsley Celtic back in April 2024 that secured survival was celebrated just as much as any promotion winning game over the last 13/14 years, I’d say!

I’m writing these notes after the first four games of the season – a difficult start with only one win and three defeats. I still have lots of faith in Steve and Terry, of course – the task they faced in January 2024 was almost impossible, so to keep us up that season, steady the ship the season after and then get us to within an inch of the play offs last season has been excellent work. Keep the faith and I’ve no doubt that we’ll be climbing the table again soon enough.

Graeme Armstrong has been my favourite player since the 2012 rebirth and his hat-trick away at Whitby to secure the 2016 title still gives me goosebumps now…

I have sat on the DFCSG board since January 2020, becoming Vice Chair in 2022. I love it and to be involved in the club I’ve followed for just shy of 37 years in that way is a total honour. I’m very proud to be a part of the very talented team that has built YOURCLUB, improved ownership numbers and (hopefully) made fans feel more engaged with the club, as well as being able to buy match tickets, 50/50 tickets, make donations, vote in polls, etc, etc, at the click of a button.

Those who know me know what I think and feel about fan ownership. I recognise that it means we’re not the wealthiest club in the world and that it can sometimes temper aggressive ambition, but in this day and age stability and sustainability are both key and – for someone who grew up following Darlo in the 90s/00s – those two factors were very rarely at the top of owner’s agendas.

I’m excited about the next few years, the opportunities the new stadium will bring and ultimately pushing on to achieving Football League status again in time. We have a brilliant club that we should be very proud of.

PLAYLIST

I’ve run out of Darlo season-themed playlists (I’ve worked through 1965/66, 1984/85, 1989/90 and 1990/91 in previous seasons!), so for a third time I have simply spelt out 'DARLINGTON FC', this time via group/artist’s names with no connection whatsoever (other than they are all marvellous, of course!):

• Denim – Back In Denim
• Allah-Las – Every Girl
• Round Robin – Kick That Little Foot Sally Ann
• Lionrock – Scatter & Swing
• International Submarine Band – Luxury Liner
• Norman Greenbaum – Spirit In The Sky
• Ghostwoman – The End of a Gun
• Traffic – Medicated Goo
• Odetta – Hit or Miss
• Noonday Underground – Nobody But You
• Freedom – Nobody
• Campag Velocet – Cacophonous Bubblegum

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5EPYnjaItpqAmDXV8EF8YE?si=336d94f089e04bfb