© Photos: Ted Blair

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DAFTS DIARY

Two steps forward, one step back

Deja vu at Hereford, but still signs of improvement. It's at the back where we are still too vulnerable, with the Hereford strikers finding the defence easier to pick apart than an arthritic auntie's knitting. We looked more of a threat when Diop (he could be a handful when fully fit) replaced Thomas up front and provided some understanding for the youngster Collins, who took his goal well and managed two more reasonable efforts. As a squad of new incomers, that old musical number Getting To Know You springs to mind, but there is not a lot of time for dress rehearsals. The gap is widening at the bottom so the fix has to be reasonably quick now.

Back to Barnet after Cup draw

A quick return to Barnet then, scene of our 3-0 reverse last Saturday, for the FA Cup first round on 7th November. Definitely worth buying an Oyster card, with all those trips to the capital in recent weeks.

Relief at first win

Unlucky 13 was lucky for some. The long-awaited first win of the season came, with the new manager's first home match and what must have been the eerie experience of the Darlington Arena on a Saturday. While one of Steve Staunton's old clubs was in the north east getting beaten by a beach ball (The last time something so large, round and red was seen in the Liverpool penalty area, Jan Molby was playing for them), Darlo managed an almost equally freakish occurrence by winning a football match.

Darlo managed it without the assistance of a fluke and the three points not only took us within sight of fellow strugglers but gave us an injection of confidence, as it came against one of the division's strongest sides.

In the meantime, following the Shrewsbury victory, Kevin Gall has been released - a little surprisingly, but with the guess that the new management team have their eye on someone else to bring in. More worryingly, Jamie Devitt has returned to Hull after a terrific performance and his first goal. It was unclear whether his loan spell would be extended. But there are hopes Russell Hoult will be back again after his return to Notts County.

And we never quite made it...

Possibly our fault for lingering a little too long in the pre-match pub in Plaistow, but we never quite made it.

We got onto the platform at the Tube station just as the Barking train's doors closed, and we never quite made it.

Another one eventually came, and then we went in search of the replacement bus to Dagenham. It never quite made it.

Fifteen minutes later, the bus arrived and the 15 minute journey took 25 minutes. As we walked to the ground, the texts came in with news of the Daggers' two goals. Our defence, again, didn't quite make it.

We got to the away turnstiles (closed) and were directed around the ground to the only open turnstile. But the news didn't quite make it, and we were told by the stewards there to go back to the away turnstiles.

It was getting on for half time now, and frustrated and sensing it was not quite our day, we decided to go to the "away" pub up the road instead. We made it this time (as closing time was midnight, we had a chance), but lack of food and the proximity of a pie and mash shop was too good to resist. But sorry, they'd run out of pies. They obviously didn't quite make enough.

Back to central London for a pint or two. Guest ale was Brains. That's 250 miles for a pint I could get down my local! Still, despite the frustrations, the awful result, we saved the admission price and had a good day. And I just about made it back.

Staunton's big, or Little job

There's an adage which says the best managers start at the bottom and learn on their way up. Well, there is only one place for Steve Staunton to go as boss of Darlington, from 92nd place, and that's up. Well, of course, there is the trap door of the Blue Square Premier creaking open a little. But we shouldn't dwell on that too much, or Staunton's unhappy time in charge of Ireland. What can be of no dispute is that "Stan" as he was known to fans of Aston Villa and Liverpool, played consistently at the highest level, as well as during some of the glory days for the Republic.

He should have a pretty full contact book, and a real eagerness to make his mark after being given his chance. The choice of No 2, Kevin Richardson, a former Villa team-mate and captain, as well as a member of Arsenal's Championship-winning side, will also bring some coaching experience and grit.

It's risky, but our predicament probably means a choice beyond the usual merry-go-round of tried, trusted and failed, must be worth a roll of the dice. Remember, another quietly-spoken Villa favourite who after a short and inauspicious wobble on the management ladder found his feet with the Quakers in crisis. Could Staunton do a Little?

The Darlington Arena will probably seem a world away from Anfield or Villa Park, but Staunton will know, if he halts the club's demise, it will as good as anything he's achieved.

More nostalgia

We took a peek inside Feethams before the Bournemouth game. It's not surprisingly very overgrown now, full of weeds and a few wild flowers. If someone had thought to create a pond for some newts, it might be declared a protected wildlife habitat. Shame they can't protect football clubs in the same way.

See also Feethams Then and Now

There have been at least visiting supporters since July 2001.
Last updated November 2nd 2009 StatCounter

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    DAFTS at the Darlo beer festival, 2009

    The 30th Darlington Rhythm and Booze Festival happily coincided with another home game, so a decent DAFTS turnout was assured. A shame we had to go to the match, really. Thanks to Tony for organising another excellent curry night on the Friday.

    Is it that time of the season already? DAFTS' pub of the year


    Bob and Jim from the pub, pictured with DAFTS at the presentation.

    We've awarded the much-coveted DAFTS away pub of the year award. A piece of rough card, fashioned into a certificate and framed was presented to Bob, landlord of the Bulls Head at Burslem before the Port Vale match. This proved to be the highlight of our day, and hopefully Bob's too. The very supporter-friendly and real-ale focused pub follows previous winners ranging from Lincoln, Macclesfield to Lewes. Bob makes an effort with like-minded real ale pubs in the towns with visiting real ale/football fans to promote his pub before fixtures. They put on a decent BBQ, and sell copies of the Vale fanzine Derek I'm Gutted.

    The simple criteria is that the pubs must welcome visiting football fans and also serve good real ale, before we get down to the nitty-gritty and sub-catergories of crunchiest pork scratchings and Scotch egg availability.

    The shortlist 2009 was:
    Bricklayers Arms, Luton
    The Bulls Head, Burslem (Port Vale)
    Derby Tup, Chesterfield
    Magpie & Crown, Brentford
    VAT & Fiddle, Nottingham
    Waters Green Tavern, Macclesfield
    Wellington, Rotherham
    White Lion, Aldershot


    Barrack room: Trevor, Rod and John muse on Darlo's opening first half at Aldershot.

    Lincoln DAFTS photos

    Before the match - and only then - is the time to enjoy yourself

    When you're lying 92nd in the Football League and ahead of what turns out to be a wretched performance, you have only one thing to cling to. The solace of a fine pint or two of ale with the good companionship of some fellow football fans. Nothing can ruin the sanctity of that ritual.

    Some DAFTS shots from Lincoln by Ted Blair - click on the photos for larger images.

    This day 116 years ago, we went amateur again

    15th August 1893, Northern Echo - "Lovers of football in Darlington will be glad to know that, notwithstanding that Darlington Football Club has reverted to amateurism, the quality of football which they may expect during the forthcoming season will not fall short of previous years. Last night the first practice of probable players for the club took place at Feethams and both, as regards the numbers of amateurs who put in an appearence, and the skill they displayed was exceptionally satisfactory."

    The club had turned professional for a season, much against the wishes of vice president Edward Ensor, who believed "the game was best played for the love of it."

    © www.dafts.co.uk 2009 Words and pictures used by permission. E-mail DAFTS

      DAFTS ARE a social group of exiled and far-flung fans of Darlington FC, set up in 1994, who follow the fortunes of the League Two club at home and especially away.

    As you'd expect, the contents of this website in no way express the views of the club or anyone at Darlington FC. For any queries about this site, the webmaster is Steve Duffy and about DAFTS generally, the DAFTS organiser is Neil Johnson. Thanks to Ted Blair for most of the (decent) photos. Why not use the DAFTS Travel messageboard to get in touch with other travelling fans, beg or offer lifts or discuss travel arrangements? It can also put fans in touch with others living in their area.

    Quick essential links:
    Official Darlington FC/
    QuakersWorld/ D@rlo Uncovered/ D@rlo Uncovered messageboard/Darlington Supporters' Trust/ Virtual Quakers/ Eddie Rowles' Blogspot Loidland Loidland messageboard The Tinshed messageboard/ Darlington Supporters' Club/ Darlington Disabled Supporters' Group Guide for Disabled fans Northern Echo/ Evening Gazette/ North East Football website/BBC Darlo page/ Sport Tees Online/ Darlington Fans Online Darlington Vital Football/ Quakers Mad/ Homes of Football


    Feethams Then and Now plus Farewell To Feethams exhibition, 2002 and DAFTS Travel Messageboard

    A W A Y   G U I D E S    M A P

    Click on the clubs above for links to DAFTS' away guides, including public transport and coach travel, driving directions, ticket details, and full guide to recommended pubs near the ground.

    NB: These are being updated for League 2 and Cup trips for 2009-2010 but some others are out of date or in old templates

    Carlisle Hartlepool Darlington town guide Yeovil Exeter Plymouth Torquay Bournemouth Aldershot Swansea Bristol Rovers Oxford Reading Wycombe Gillingham Southend Utd Dagenham Barnet Leyton Orient Watford Cheltenham Hereford Luton Town MK Dons Cambridge Utd Northampton Rushden Kidderminster Harriers Aston Villa Walsall Wolves Shrewsbury Town Boston Utd Notts County Stoke City Port Vale Wrexham FC Chester City Tranmere Rovers Macclesfield Town Stockport County Mansfield Town Lincoln City Peterborough Utd Morecambe York York Bradford Halifax Accrington Bury Rochdale Huddersfield Doncaster Scunthorpe Grimsby Town Barnsley Rotherham Chesterfield Burton Crewe