WELCOME FROM JON SADDINGTON

Good afternoon and welcome to Blackwell Meadows for our visitors from Shropshire, AFC Telford United.  

"The Bucks" were regular visitors to Blackwell Meadows until they were relegated to the Southern League Premier Division in 2023. Having kept faith with Manager Kevin Wilkin, after a gap of only two seasons, he led them back into the National League North by beating Kettering Town 4-2 in the Play-Off Final.

AFC Telford United have re-settled in nicely into their familiar surroundings, so we should be prepared for a tough game.   

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the supporters, players, and officials of AFC Telford United.

A WARNING OF THINGS TO COME IN THE PREMIERSHIP?

Last week the Spanish Football Federation agreed to allow Barcelona’s away game at Villarreal in December to be moved to a "neutral" venue in Miami, Florida pending further approval from UEFA, FIFA and US Soccer.

Spanish supporter organisations (FASFE) reacted with anger to the news and say they will take legal action if necessary. FASFE described the move as "embarrassing" and said it "breaks the integrity of the competition" and violates the rights of local season ticket holders.

Football Supporters Europe - the continental umbrella organisation for national fan group - restated its opposition to competitive games being played overseas. FSE said: "We stand with all those affected by these reckless and ill-considered proposals and call on all parties to prioritise the good of the game over short-term commercial gain".

Hopefully, with the new Independent Football Regulator no similar proposal would succeed in the Premiership.

YOURCLUB DFC MEN’S PLAYER OF AUGUST 2025

We will soon be asking you to vote on your YOURCLUB DFC Men’s Player of August 2025. Look out for details on how to vote on both social media and YOURCLUB soon.

At the end of last season, Jack Maskell took 60% of your votes to be crowned the YOURCLUB DFC Men’s Player of April 2025, pipping Will McGowan into second place with 16% of the vote.

But who has caught your eye at the start of this season in the four games played to date?

DFC FAN OWNERSHIP

Now that the 2025/26 season is well underway, why not get more involved and join 1,330+ other DFC Owners, including the likes of Ben Hedley, 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?

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!

TRAVELLING AWAY ON THE SUPPORTERS’ COACH

Our next scheduled away trip is on Saturday 30th August, when we travel to Macclesfield FC. The coach will depart from Park Place at 9am. The price for adult DFCSG members is £25 (£13 juniors) and adult non-members is £28 (£14 juniors).

Then on the following Tuesday night (2nd September) we make the trip to Marine. The coach will depart from Park Place at 2.25pm. The price for adult DFCSG members is £25 (£13 juniors) and adult non-members is £28 (£14 juniors).

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, at https://yourclub.darlingtonfc.co.uk/away-travel-conditions-of-travel