David Steel | 7th April 2024
Missed yesterday's game or just couldn't get hold of a programme? YOURCLUB Content brings you DFCSG's programme notes from the Southport game.
WELCOME FROM JON SADDINGTON
Three cup finals await, with us needing four, possibly five points to secure safety. Two wins at home is the target and its certainly achievable. The management team are focussed, the boys are fired up, and big crowds are expected…the scene is set!
Today we entertain Southport. At the time of writing, the Sandgrounders occupy 15th place in the league on 53 points and should be safe. Their recent form has been fairly decent with two wins (Chester & Bishop’s Stortford), two draws (Buxton & Farsley Celtic) and a loss (Blyth Spartans). The away win at Chester on 12th March 2024 being the stand-out result.
Southport are steered by experienced manager Jim Bentley (formerly of Morecambe, Fylde & Rochdale) and have some decent players amongst their ranks, including Marcus Carver (on loan from Scunthorpe), Richie Bennett (on loan from Scunthorpe) and Danny Philliskirk (on loan from Fylde).
Darlo will be looking to exact revenge for a 2-0 defeat at Haig Avenue back in January. Cedric Main is in decent goalscoring form, Cam Salkeld continues to be a threat, and Aiden Rutledge is a great attacking option, so I have every confidence we’ll get the goals and points needed to maintain our National League North status.
It's great to see Gavin Worboys in hospitality. Gavin joined Darlo in late 1994 from Notts County and scored 8 league goals in 41 matches during a 14-month spell with Quakers.
Against Cardiff City in September 1995, Gavin took over in goal after Mike Pollitt was sent off, and Darlington had no goalkeeper on the bench. Unfortunately Gavin couldn’t stop the resulting penalty, but that was the only goal he did concede! Gavin's Football League career ended at Northampton Town in 1996 before he moved into non-league football.
Finally, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the supporters, players, and officials of Southport FC. Enjoy the game!
YOURCLUB DFC MEN'S PLAYER OF MARCH
On Wednesday we launched the vote for the "YOURCLUB DFC Men’s Player of March", so head on over to 'Polls' within 'Your Account' on YOURCLUB now and have your say! The poll ends tomorrow (Sunday 7th April) at 6pm, so there is still time.
In February Matty Cornish took an impressive 50% of your votes, beating Matty Young (10%) into second place to steal that particular POTM crown.
But who has done enough in March to get your vote this time? We look forward to finding out on Monday!
DFC FAN OWNERSHIP
Why not join 1,250+ other DFC Owners, including the likes of Ben Hedley, Tommy Taylor, Gary Smith, David Hodgson, Peter Kirkham, Gavin Worboys, Paul Ward and Kasabian's Chris Edwards, all of whom have a say in how our football club is run?
For just £25 a year (or £2.09 a month) you can gain access to a range of benefits/offers as well as feeling the pride and passion of knowing that you own YOUR football club! You have a proper say in how DFC is run. How many football fans around the world can genuinely say that?
If you're interested in becoming a DFC Owner, click here!
PREMIERSHIP SEASON TICKET PRICE HIKES
There's a lot of disquiet amongst the season ticket holders of a number of Premiership clubs who have announced significant price increases for next season.
Spurs, for example, are proposing to phase out the concession. On the back of record profits, Manchester City are proposing average increases of 5% with some nearer 10%. To put this in context, in 2022-23 the club generated £299.4m in broadcasting revenue and £341.4m in commercial revenue for a combined £640.8m. Matchday revenue brought in £71.9m by comparison.
Bumping up tickets by 5%-10% could bring in another couple of million pounds but is that really a gamechanger on an overall turnover of £712.8m with pre-tax profits of £80.4m?
DFCSG AWAY TRAVEL
On Saturday 20th April we travel to Chester FC for our final game of the season. The coach will depart from Park Place at 10am. The price for adult DFCSG members is £30 (£15 juniors) and adult non-members is £33 (£17 juniors).
For details on how to book, including our 'Conditions of Travel' section, please click here.
