WELCOME FROM JON SADDINGTON

Welcome to Blackwell Meadows for the opening fixture of the 2025/26 season. 

Chorley are always difficult opponents and have become Darlo's bogey team since our promotion to National League North. The Magpies have strengthened their squad with the addition of right-back Jack Moore from Bolton and winger Tom Walker from Radcliffe. Mark Ellis (Player of the Season) and Mike Calveley (top goalscorer) have been retained and are like to turn-out this afternoon. 

I expect to see Chorley feature in the play-offs come the end of the season; a sentiment backed by the bookies. Kidderminster Harriers are favourites to win the league followed by King's Lynn, Chester and AFC Fylde. Quakers are currently 16/1 to finish top of the pile, joint 7th favourites alongside Spenny, Shields and…Chorley.

Steve and Terry have done some decent work in the transfer market, thanks to Boost the Budget. We've made some cracking signings with Aidan Rutledge and Will McGowan looking particularly impressive. The lads appear to have clicked during pre-season, collecting some impressive results along the way. 

August will be a tough month for Darlo with away fixtures at Alfreton, King's Lynn and Macclesfield and home matches against Chorley, Fylde and Telford – many of which should be pushing for promotion. Our vocal away following will be very important.

The close season has been very busy with £181,600 raised through Boost The Budget (what an incredible response from everyone!), 900+ season tickets sold, the new kit launch, and packed pre-season schedule. A wholehearted thank you to everyone who contributed so generously.   

Finally, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to the supporters, players, and officials of Chorley FC.

FOOTBALL GOVERNANCE BILL

On 21st July the Football Governance Bill achieved Royal Assent legislating for the introduction of an Independent Football Regulator (IPR). The regulator is tasked with protecting our clubs from reckless owners, giving supporters a bigger voice in the game, improving heritage safeguards and ensuring domestic clubs cannot enter any breakaway European Super League.

Hopefully, in future the IPR will prevent the sort of situations currently ongoing at Sheffield Wednesday and Morecambe.

FAN OWNERSHIP

We were delighted to hit the 1,300 DFC Owners mark for the very first time last season and we want to keep that number growing across the 2025/26 season. Our next target is 1,500 Owners!

The raising of just over £180,000 in May for the latest Boost The Budget campaign was yet another extraordinary example of what this Club's owners and fans will do to support the team on the pitch. These critical funds have gone towards providing Steve and Terry with a competitive budget for this season and helped to facilitate the signings of players such as Aidan Rutledge, Tom Allan, Josh Scott and Will McGowan in pre-season.

So, if you’re not part of the DFCSG/DFC fan ownership community, click here to read more about the benefits of being a DFC Owner and sign up today!

BOOKING YOUR SEAT ON THE SUPPORTERS’ COACH FOR OUR AWAY MATCHES

Darlington fans can now book their seats on our supporters' coach for the first four away matches of the new season. Atkinsons will again be providing the coaches, and they have agreed to keep prices the same as last year for the equivalent journeys.

All bookings will need to be done via the DFC App (click on 'Shop'). We would urge supporters to remind themselves of our Conditions of Travel, particularly those under 18.

Our first scheduled away trip is next Saturday (16th August), when we travel to Alfreton Town. The coach will depart from Park Place at 11am. The price for adult DFCSG members is £25 (£13 juniors) and adult non-members is £28 (£14 juniors).

We then travel to King’s Lynn Town on Saturday 23rd August. The coach will depart from Park Place at 9am. The price for adult DFCSG members is £30 (£15 juniors) and adult non-members is £33 (£17 juniors).