Good video but just want to point out a couple of inaccuracies, Darlington didn’t officially go bust, the fans formed a new limited company (Darlington 1883 ltd) and raised enough money to buy X amount of the clubs assets such as the rights to the crest and the existing debt, ex chairman Raj Singh then refused to hand over the footballing share/golden share or whatever it’s called which included the rights to the clubs name and league placement, meaning that the FA then treated us as a “new club” and demoted us to the Northern League, if we truly were a new club then surely we wouldn’t have taken on the old debt and paid it off? Also the old Feethams site has 2 or 3 streets named after former players. Attendances at the arena we’re mainly around the 3.5K mark, over 5K for a handful of seasons and only eventually fell to just over 2k during our relegation seasons. Dropping out of the football league wasn’t a gradual process either, we were sitting pretty in the top 3 throughout the 08/09 season and were suddenly plunged into administration, after a points deduction we fell outside of the playoff places and started the next season with a team of kids and journeymen, I’m half certain we held or still hold a record for the most players used in one season that year? After finishing dead last we went on to win the FA trophy in our first season in the Conference, fast forward another year and we went back into administration which eventually let to the demotion. On another note, the “new” ground shown in this video isn’t our permanent home, we are leasing and ground share with a local rugby club DRFC, it was recently announced that we are in the process of securing funding and land to build a new permanent home, a much more sensible 5-8k capacity ground within the town, see the news article here…. www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/darlington-fc-move-new-stadium-24016699.amp Anyways, enjoyed the video just thought I’d stick my two pence in 👍

I lived in Darlington for a year due to work reasons, which happened to be their relegation season from the Football League. I've been to the odd game there and it was just weird to see such a big ground with so few fans inside. Fans I spoke to told me that George Reynolds thought that once he built the new ground, they would attract fans from Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough etc. He was clearly not realistic at all and obviously that never happened. But that's why he built a 25K stadium. Their fans I spoke to in that year made clear they hated that ground & Reynolds. And I remember a few telling me: "the stadium will be the death of us". They were right...

You are extremely so right regarding one of my favourite respective English clubs Darlington which was quite a famous club in the English Football League system where they have won some titles and being competitive in the cup competitions but the idea of the new stadium really made them to suffer till being in a bankruptcy,good friend!!!I fully hope that the revitalised club would bring the glory days to themselves in near future and am planning to watch all the respective English Non League matches which included Darlington's from next season onwards,good friend!!!🙏

Great video mate . As a Darlo fan , I think all Darlo fans appreciate you taking time to make such a video about us . The last 10 years have been the most enjoyable years I have experienced in the 7 different decades I have followed the club 70s upwards so its not all doom and gloom . As you may now be aware we did not actually go bankrupt . One of the most pleasing things is that wethe fans/owners paid off all the debt owed after the administration . Any way great video that I believe all darlo fans will enjoy . Josh Charles Post about what happened is pretty accurate . We had to play about 6 seasons away from darlo in a neighbouring town 11 miles away called Bishop Auckland when we won those promotions . Our journey back has stalled slightly but its been great so far and it will continue,which is the important thing We'll done any way on the video .

Idk why the “here’s the culprit” line cracks me up so much, but I love it and it’s stuck with me enough that after a month I had to come back and watch that part of the video. Love your work man, from a footy/soccer fan in North Carolina

Thanks for the interesting video. My son joined the Darlo development centre at a young age - just as the club problems were starting to hit. I remember going to a match that was designated as a "benefit" event. Come in your club colours. Remember nothing about the match (other than I think Darlo lost), but remember meeting another Owls fan who was very pleased I'd attended, the kids got on the local TV news, was impressed by the size of the car park, and the stadium appeared impressive but was only half finished inside. Seem to recall that there were some dodgy characters somewhere in the background at that time. (Isn't there always!)

I’m a darlo fan, and this was a really well put together video mate👍keep em coming

If you can come to a game as the atmosphere is still really good for the average 1.5k we get in Blackwell and it’s good to see the ground again while the football season is off. Also it’s great to watch you go round clubs you went to earlier or even new ones as it’s fascinating but keep up the good work🙌🏻👍🏻

Always enjoyed going to Motherwell pre games vs Darlo. They stopped due to COVID but hopefully they will start back soon. Always felt good to bring a few fans down and help support them, their supporters were always welcoming to those who travelled down

i’m a darlo fan, unfortunately never got to experience feethams but i’ve been a season ticket holder since i was 5 and i’m now 20. even with all the stuff we have went through with the administration, the relegations, the owners etc, we have still by far the most loyal fans. numbers might not look big but the miles we have to travel in our league is ridiculous but we still take fans all over the country. we hope to be back in the football league but it’s got to take a lot! great video as always👍

I remember going to that new Darlington ground with Torquay and the attendance was 1400 in a 25,000 seater stadium it was a really weird experience, I hope they come up the divisions as they deserve it.

Amazing video there's a great new adventure each video keep up the great work

There are two streets on the Feethams site named after former DFC players - Greener Drive & Peverell Walk. The big arena wasn't liked by many fans. The atmosphere was awful when the seats were only 10% occupied. After leaving the arena, the club played their home games at Bishop Auckland for a few seasons. That was where the three promotions were achieved.

Many happy memories at Feethams growing up. The arena was a bad choice and ultimately ended the club as it were. Sad to see and I’m reminded of it every time we drive past it when I go home. I moved to Elgin in 2013 and in I’ve seen your video on teams up here such as Elgin city and Forres athletic. Small world in ways mate. 👍

I really enjoy your videos Sam, this one is no exception. I'm a Portsmouth supporter and at the moment their Fratton Park ground is undergoing redevelopment. Pompey have a really interesting history and may be well worth a visit sometime.

Fantastic vids already subscribed. Keep them coming 👍

Great video as always. I've waited to hear about the demise of Darlington FC in detail. Their new ground looks quite nice and wouldn't seem out of place in the National League.

Enjoyed the video mate. Used to go to Feethams for every home game as a nipper in the early 80's, was a lovely ground. Best wishes.

Really enjoyed this one! I was Darlington on FIFA once and had Manucho up front, good times

Keep doing what you are doing young man! Your blogs are superb great content, keep up the exelent work your doing mate and take Care of yerself.👏👍🤞

Great video, still remember when they went bust, amazed the rugby team hasn't gone bust from the stadium costs too as I doubt they get high amounts either

I remember going to the Darlington arena with Swindon in 2006 in a 2-1 win COYRs🔴⚪️ The stadium was so empty that game the Attendance was 4,571 (430 away fans) nice stadium glad I visited it before the club moved.

Living between Stockton and Darlington we would be in the village pub on Saturday lunchtime and at 2pm we would set off to either Darlo or The Boro depending on who was at home that week. At Darlo we would get in just before kick off and wait by the half way line to see which they kicking so see which end to go and stand, either the open end or the 'Tin Shed' backing on the cricket ground ... the Tin Shed being the one relocated to the new ground. At half time you would change ends although you didn't need to go round the cricket pitch. Incidentally the Darlo stadium announcer in those days was a certain Radio Tees DJ 'Me' Mark Page... I wonder what he's doing these days.... I think it's 14 years apparently

You're right about those new stadiums. When Sparta Prague opened the newly renovated stadium, they also lost first match on it. Looks like it's some kind of curse for new stadiums.

Great vid,as ever, Sam. I'm glad my team,Portsmouth, never got a nice,new,shiny stadium. A lot of these new grounds are soulless. Fratton Park is finally being refurbished and in a few years the capacity should be raised.

Scarborough, Darlington, Macclesfield, AFC Wimbledon, Hereford U and Bury are actually phoenix clubs of the original teams

I last watched Darlington play in 1990 in their promotion season from the Football Conference. They were managed by Brian Little and played a style of football that would grace the EPL these days, that team under Little was good deserved to win the Football Conference that season.

Enjoyed the video, thanks, as a Darlo fan I had a season ticket for many years in the West Stand at Feethams from the late 1960s onwards as they battled around mostly in the then 4th Division, but in latter years the pitch, being close to the River Skerne, had serious problems with water-logging, I remember at one time they even imported 1000s of worms to try and aerate the soil, but sadly the worms drowned! This was part of the reason they needed a new ground, plus the football ground was only rented from the Cricket Club. The local businessman who took over the club, George Reynolds, had high ambitions of taking Darlington to Division 1 in 4 years and I believe it was he who built the new stadium with that in mind, but the football didn't improve and the new spacious stadium was sterile compared to nicely compact Feethams so the atmosphere, with only a couple of thousand in the place, was virtually non-existent. Plus Mr Reynolds was a man with a colouful reputation and wasn't well liked in the local council who, as I remember, prevented him from using the 'Reynolds Arena' for other purposes like events, concerts, boot sales etc which he hoped would supplement the income. Great example of fan ownership now though!

Rushden & Diamonds is a story that needs to be told here, if it has not already. Love hearing about how clubs went out of business.

Just to hear my beloved team hull be said makes me very happy fingers crossed and hoping you might do a video about hull city great content as normal thank you

Darlo were a solid lower league club, could get 7k when doing well, 25k stadium was just ridiculously optimistic...very sad how it all turned out...from a Boro Lad.

Love your videos man.

Used to love going to Feethams away end..you were so close in. Went away to the new ground the season it opened and it never made sense, empty and could hear a pin drop.

really enjoyed the video. subscribed!!

great video once again! HITC sevens has done a great documentary video on darlington, great video I would really reccomend a watch if your'e interested in finding out abit more behind the context of their fall from grace

My club my town, wouldn’t change how we’ve been since being a fan owned club except the ground which we’re getting another new one by 2025/2026 season, the only time I miss in the football league was the play off season but getting beat to rochdale on pens was heartbreaking 💔

Great episode Mate 👏

Great Video, long time Darlo fan since I was a kid walking to Feethams, the Arena (the big stadium that made us fold) while was impressive was way too large for our club, I now live in the Feethams housing estate and I just get a glimpse of my house while your walking around

Good luck for the future, regards from a Bahamas Evertonian 👍🇧🇸🧢

As an AFC Wimbledon fan I visited the Darlington Arena in our first year in the National / Conference league. I think the result was 0-0 on an icy pitch and the game should probably not have been played. I think Darlo were relegated that season. It's always good to see such clubs (like my own) rise again after having to restart much lower down after either being shafted or going out of business or for whatever reason. Stay positive Darlington fans, it would be good to see you back in the league one of these days. Up the Darlo.

It will happen to Southend United next whenever they move to their new stadium

Sad story. Thank you for covering. Btw hope you've all healed up for England's relegation in September 😁

Great video thanks for the super info

Scarborough would be a good video!

Great video again Garry mate. Up the Monks !

Love your channel

We didnt have to walk around the cricket pitch to change ends. Only had to navigate the cricket ground to enter/leave the football ground. The away fans were often in the corner of the Polam end and part of the West Stand depending on size of opposition travelling fanbase.(Carlisle always travelled well) The only fans that could change ends were the home fans. You could walk around the rear of the East stand from the Tin Shed to the part of the Polam end allocated for home support. Brilliant ground, some fantastic memories of Feethams before i moved away from the North East.

Would be great if you did a video about Hereford FC and the original Hereford United which was mis managed basically from when we were promoted to the old Div 2( Championship as now) club overspent on players etc and struggled a lot until Graham Turner came to Manage and eventually join the board but after he left we had some characters that were as the say ‘all mouth no trousers ‘ and then the club eventually folded in 2014 ,the only bright spot before the club folded was a young local lad that played for us and has done well in the career to date by the name of Jarrod Bowen ! Since the new Phoenix side started in 2016 we had 3 back to back promotions. Now living in the Philippines for the last 4 yrs it would be brilliant to see you at Edgar Street a place I have loads of memories good and bad over 50 yrs of following Hereford.

great info and good to see the club hasnt folded and disappeared completely

I used to work for Darlington Football in the Community as a coach, the offices were in the Arena, but we still used "the quaker centre" at the old ground. I've been to matches at all the grounds the team have used in the town.

Great vid, Darlington arena, riverside and Stadium of light are all basically the same just slightly different sizes

Great video mate, any chance you can come and do a video of us South Shields, we're not far from Darlington about half an hour 45 minutes.

At Feethams at half time the home fans used to swap ends to get behind the goal darlo were trying to score in.

Abit off topic but Dorking would be a good visit and to share their story of rising to the National league with an Owner who was just a football/championship manager fanatic who wanted to start a team

Definitely a video on bury fc required

Love your videos ,but you forgot to mention their biggest rivals are hartlepool united as a pools fan I totally miss the local derbies

My first ever football game was at that ground watching Huddersfield there in 2003. Fond memories, but sad that it’s caused Darlington so so much trouble!

Great video

Huddersfield Towns old ground does have a centre spot plaque in the car park of the retail park that now stands in its place.

The tin shed stand behind goal at feethams, brilliant.

I went to both their grounds Feethams & the Darlington arena when Darlington were in the football league.

Credit to all those loyal people who resurrected the club. I hate to see any football club go out of business it is soul destroying. I hope the club finds its level and is successful in its quest for a new ground.☺️

Come down to Yeovil mate! Historic club with a very friendly atmosphere

Cool thanks for the effort

I remember Newcastle playing a friendly or two there and the fans knew the stadium was a total white elephant and would soon bankrupt the club. Owner had notions of making Darlo a big club

great content again

Quality video and chat.

Darlo were a good team in the 70’s/80’s…..David Speedy went to Chelsea from There.Ive been to the first 2 Darlington stadiums.They played Leeds in the FA cup it was on sky mid 2000’s.Great vid by they way👍

Getting close to the Boro!

I went to Feethams saw Hull play in the F.A. Then to the Reynolds Arena to see their 3rd home match v Carlisle u. I actually have the programme for the match against Chelsea

Never went there but always liked playing Darlington as a Torquay fan

Great Video, few pieces of mis interpreted data. We did not go bust, the fans bought the rights, but had to wait to buy the history. The FA treated us as a new club. We have had our fair share of great players Pickford, Schmiechiel, Dan Burn, Stockdale, to name a few. We also shared Bishop Auklands Ground for a few years whilst we established ourselves as a club and made plans for this new ground

I am a St Mirren fan....BUT I have been to Feethams, the Darlington Arena and Backwell Grange. Cracking wee club. The last Darlo fixture I was at to date was an away game, New Years fixture at Spennymoor (good atmosphere to say the least).

This was really interesting

I remember sitting in my local park in Cheltenham years ago and the the Darlington team bus rolled up so they could train before the match with Cheltenham pretty sure Marco Gabbiadini was playing for them would have been around 98-2000 I think. I now live and Worcester and St George's lane the home of Worcester city has become houses as well sad because they once beat Liverpool in the cup there. For a while Worcester didn't have a home and went on the road to kiddi and then Bromsgrove but they're finally home in Worcester at claines lane.

Saw my team tranmere at feethams 88/89 remember the view would have been impared by fences but for £1 more you could stand on a few steps in front of the old stand with a no restrictions. Think I saw lincoln at the Reynolds arena and the parking chaos outside...

Hereford are a fan-owned phoenix club too. Hereford Utd went out of business in 2014. They still play in the same ground though and it's an old beauty, I'm sure you'll like it. Hereford is a nice place to stroll around too.

I've been to Feethams many times and even then there were usually only a thousand rattling around in there, they'd have gone under anyway at some point.

Got my first season ticket at feethams when I was 6, that new stadium killed my enjoyment as it was ludicrous. Only go to a few games now and then but was a shame what happened to us

Is this a hint you're finally going to do Hull? I mean they also had a housing estate built on the old ground. However this does have references to footy. If you've not been yet. The two rugby league clubs could be good to also discuss. Hull KRs craven park has hosted a hull city game in the past few years.

I've been past this stadium on the train on my way to Newcastle. What a waste of a truly lovely stadium. What was George Reynolds thinking?

You shud do one on Oldham PL founders to non league in 30rys Lov ya content dude 🇾🇪✌️

My grandad had the old tin shed stored away as he was chairman for a while and he moved it back into Blackwell when we moved in

We couldn't have possibly been unluckier with George Reynolds and Raj Singh.

Losing the old division 3 play off final at Wembley 2000 to Peterborough will always stick in my head

Plans recently announced to move to a new site probably within the next 5 years..couple of locations on the outskirts of town under consideration.

yea that is true Sam, i heard Darlington are a fan own club now

All I remember about Darlington Arena was the food was out of this world. You walked in and it was basically a bakery full of pies etc.

I haven't been to feethams or the arena but I do like the home now (might be biased considering I'm a darlo fan). And darlo are in the middle of planning a new stadium somewhere. 4 stadiums 😁

Played here the year they left cracking stadium way too advanced for where they were in the football pyramid unfortunately

That old stand from Feethams is actually in pretty good shape still it seems!

Drove past there, so eerie

Gretana in the SPL is what got me interested into how the British football system works. I am an American sports fan. My teams always finished last but we’re still in MLB and NFL. They where incentivized to have poor seasons to be able to draft the best prospects.

HITC Sevens did an in-depth video on Darlington and how the club was destroyed by George Reynolds building that big monument to his own ego, his lunatic vision of getting Darlington into the Premiership in just five years and his even more lunatic vision that he could approach football the same way as his bargain kitchen countertop business, and the club's re-emergence as a fan-owned phoenix organisation. I think one of the problems was that the Arena was located outside the town and off any bus lines, so supporters had to drive there to get to matches and that helped depress attendance. The fact that building a 25,000 seat venue for a fourth-tier club was insane to begin with, combined with the depressing sight of playing matches inside a mostly empty stadium, definitely did not help matters at all. I've thought several times of what I would have done if I had owned that club. Yes, they did have to have a new ground. For all its legacy and character, Feetham's day was done. The facilities had become very run down over the years, there was no room for expansion and the field drainage was terrible. It would not have been worth the effort or expense in trying to modernise the place. For myself, I'd have tried to find a site that was accessible to public transportation and large enough to accommodate an expandable venue. I'd have built a far more modest 5000-8500 capacity stadium with space to add additional stands if conditions warranted such expansion. But my imperatives would have been for a facility that wouldn't run to astronomical construction or maintenance costs, with modern accommodation for the teams playing there, and providing a pleasant place for fans. I'd have had studies done on the expected attendances and the league conditions and chosen a stadium plan reflecting those factors before having one ounce of concrete poured.

Darlington Are working on changing ground to go closer to the original ground so they can have more seating to get promoted

Went to my first ever football match at Feethams, Darlington 3-1 Shrewsbury. Had a lot of fun going to matches in the 'tin shed' for a few quid. It's a shame how it all ended when they had the potential to invest in the team and get promoted instead.

That England Netherlands game... Ouch!

I remember that Chairman now. He pumped big money into Darlington got Sven Goran Eriksen as manager. Even Kasper Schmeichel in goal. Then it felt like no sooner than it started it all came crashing down.

Drive past the stadium along the A66 all the time for work. Very sad story. As a Middlesbrough fan these should be a local rival. Them and Hartlepool

Never a dull moment.