DFCSG News - Spennymoor Town, Saturday 24th October 2026

WELCOME FROM JON SADDINGTON

Let's be honest, it's not been the start to the season that any of us wanted. Two wins, eight points from twelve games and a goal difference of minus ten isn't where a club of our size and ambition expects to be.

A lot of people will point to injuries, and they're right to do so. We've lost key players at key times and it's killed momentum. I genuinely believe that any team, perhaps with the exception of Manchester City, would struggle if five or six regular starters were unavailable for long periods. That's not an excuse, it's just reality.

What I do know is that the players and staff care deeply and are hurting as much as the supporters. Nobody is accepting where we are. The lads are working hard to put it right and what an opportunity they've got today. A home game against Spennymoor isn't one that should need any extra motivation.

Off the field, I appreciate there is frustration as well. Projects such as a new stadium, attracting external investment and expanding the academy haven't progressed as quickly as we would all have liked.

If I were looking from the outside in, I'd probably be frustrated too. The difference is that I get to see the work that's going on behind the scenes. I see the hours people are putting in, the obstacles they're facing and the effort that's being made every single day to move things forward.

These are big, complicated projects and they don't always move at the pace we'd like because they involve external organisations and partners as well as the club. We can't always dictate the speed of progress, but we're continually working behind the scenes to keep things moving in the right direction.

That's why I have complete faith in David Johnston and the rest of the board. I see first-hand just how much they care about this football club and how hard they're working to make these ambitions a reality.

The one thing this football club has always had is togetherness. It's helped us rebuild from some very difficult times and has put the club on a stable footing, both financially and in terms of governance.

So my message today is simple: stick with us.

We need a few breaks to go our way on the pitch and we need some big projects to come to fruition off it. Neither has happened as quickly as we'd hoped, but I remain convinced that better days are ahead.

As always, thank you for your support.

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

TWAN FAESSEN – OUR FIRST OWNER FROM GERMANY (BUT HE’S ACTUALLY DUTCH…)

We surpassed 1,530 fan owners/DFCSG members earlier this month, including recent sign up Twan Faessen.

Twan is a keen fan of TSV 1860 (Munich), who are also fan-owned. They are in the 4th tier of German football and their 15,000-capacity stadium always sells out and has done for the past 8 years.

Welcome Twan and all our recent new DFCSG members!

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

Our next away trip is to Morecambe on Tuesday 27th October. That coach will depart at 4.30pm. The price for adult DFCSG members is £25 (£13 juniors) and adult non-members is £28 (£14 juniors).

We then return to Spalding United on Saturday 31st October. That coach will depart at 10.15am. The price for adult DFCSG members is £30 (£15 juniors) and adult non-members is £33 (£17 juniors).

All bookings will need to be done either via the DFC App (click on 'Shop') or by clicking here on YOURCLUB. We would urge supporters to remind themselves of our Conditions of Travel, particularly those under 18, at https://yourclub.darlingtonfc.co.uk/away-travel-conditions-of-travel.