Paul Cooper | 23rd January 2023
DFCSG Director Paul Cooper takes a look back at a very difficult week for everyone concerned with Darlington Football Club, none more so than for defender Paddy Almond and his family, following our FA Trophy clash with Southend United and considers the positives that can be taken from the whole experience thanks to the care and generosity of people.
On the morning of Saturday 14th January 2023, the day of Southend United vs. Darlington in the FA Trophy, my phone was buzzing with activity as notifications from the DFCSG WhatsApp group flooded in.
Some of the board members had braved the long trip to Southend United and were not shy about sharing their experiences with the group! Videos of the Southend coast, selfies taken in front of the amusements, and photos of toasted tea cakes filled my screen. It was clear everyone was having a great time and looking forward to the game ahead.
It was a tough one to take with Darlington losing the game 2-1. The game was intense and closely contested throughout, but unfortunately our opponents were able to secure the winning goal in stoppage time. However, little did we know, this game would soon be overshadowed by something far more serious.
After the game we received confirmation that Paddy Almond, one of our own, had been taken to hospital with suspected concussion. This was later confirmed as a bleed on the brain. My heart sank as I thought about Paddy and his family. How would he manage financially? What impact would this injury have on Paddy moving forward?
When I heard the news of Paddy's injury, I immediately knew we had to take action. Being a part of Darlington Football Club means more than just supporting the team on a match day, it also means being there for each other during tough times. That's why I suggested launching a fundraiser for Paddy.
DFCSG board Chair, Jon Saddington, worked closely with the Operations board of the football club to get the necessary permissions from Paddy and his family to start the campaign.
The fundraiser officially kicked off on Monday 16th January with an email sent out by Steve Rennie on behalf of the club, informing everyone of the situation, the launch of the fundraiser and asking for donations. The DFCSG contributed £150 to get the campaign started.
In addition to mine and Steve's efforts, everyone on the DFCSG board and across the club stepped up to help promote the fundraiser. David Steel and Stacey Fletcher were particularly active on our social media accounts, repeatedly shouting about the campaign and encouraging others to donate.
Jo Cameron also played an important role, closely monitoring the scheduled social media posts for the football club to ensure that the fundraiser received maximum visibility.
Ray Simpson and the DFC media team regularly updated the club's official website with news of Paddy's recovery and visits from the likes of David Johnston, Chief Executive, and John Barker, the club's chaplain, during Paddy's first few days in hospital.
I reached out to David Stockdale, current Sheffield Wednesday shot-stopper and former Darlo goalkeeper, and asked him to tweet about the campaign.
To my surprise and within minutes, he had donated £250 himself. We continued chatting privately for some time, discussing all things Darlo! It was truly heart-warming to see the support from our former player and the outpouring of generosity from our community.
One of the most generous donations came from Isaac Hayden, currently on loan at Norwich City from Newcastle United, who donated a massive £1,000.
It was truly touching to see Isaac, who was also struggling with an injury and had recently undergone a procedure, showing such generosity and support towards Paddy. We were incredibly grateful for his donation and wished him all the best in his own recovery.
Another generous donation came from Ellis Taylor, a 19-year-old player at Sunderland. His donation was a testament to the kindness and compassion of the football community. We were also grateful for the large contributions from Sunderland Football Club and Maurice Louis-Dreyfus, the brother of the Sunderland owner.
These donations demonstrated the power of community and the willingness of others to come together to support one of their own during difficult times.
With the efforts of everyone at the club, the campaign quickly gained momentum and surpassed our expectations in terms of donations.
The fundraising campaign for Paddy has now officially come to a close and we are thrilled to announce that we have raised an incredible £13,652!
We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who donated, shared, and supported our campaign. When we first started just over a week ago, we had a goal to raise £2,500 and we increased this goal to £4,500 early on, but with your support and the wider football community, we were able to smash those goals. We couldn't have done this without you.
It is important to remember that the moment Paddy joined Darlington Football Club, he became a part of our family too. The outpouring of support from our community, rival clubs, and even former players, is a testament to the power of our community and the kindness of people.
We wish Paddy a very speedy recovery and send all our love and support to him and his family during this difficult time.
