Darlington Supporters' Trust presents:Farewell to
Feethams
Supported by Darlington Borough Council
We're grateful for the financial assistance of Northern Arts' lottery funding.
Farewell to Feethams
is a community, photography and arts project, organised by Darlington
Supporters' Trust to mark the last few months of Darlington FC at Feethams
(1883-2002) - ahead of the move to the new stadium.
Catalogue of photographs
(1) SOUTH FOR THE WINTER: A classic panoramic
view of the ground from the back of the South Terrace - the old "Park
End." Photographer: Jim Lycett. Sponsored by Colin Fletcher in memory
of Lucy Fletcher
(2) 120 ALL OUT: The Quakers' move from Feethams will sever the last surviving
link between English football and cricket clubs sharing a ground. This
particular relationship dates to 1883. Photographer: Kathryn Mouncey.
Sponsored by Ted Blair. We wanted a photograph which showed cricket playing at Feethams - a sight familiar at the start and end of the football season. Wandering out of the football ground and around the pitch, stopping to watch a few balls, was a familar routine to many fans.
(3) SILENT MOMENT: Players observe a quiet
tribute to the late Princess Margaret in the centre circle. Darlington
v Luton Town, January 2002. Photographer: Bernard Garner.
(4) AT WORK, AT PLAY 1: While the match goes on, there
are plenty of match-day staff on duty. Photographer: Adrian Wintle
A few photographers took time out for images of people on duty behind the scenes, from St John's Ambulance, police to stewards and ball boys.
(5) LONG RUNNING PROGRAMME: Eighty year old
Mabel Neil and son David in their customary positions in their stall,
just inside the Feethams entrance. Season ticket holder Mabel, a supporter
for 55 years, has been selling programmes since the mid 1980s. Photographer:
Tony Maclean. Sponsored by Reeds Rains Estate Agents. David
and Mabel were guests on the opening night of the exhibition. They had
their photos taken by a few photographers during the project, but apparently
none really captured how cold it was inside that hut! Incidentally, Mabel
says it's steadied by a piece of rope tied to a tree...
(6) SHADOW PLAY: Ghostly figures at the Polam Lane
turnstiles on match night make spectres of spectators.
Photographer: Jim Lycett. Photographer: Jim Lycett Sponsored by The Northern Echo Jim captured a familiar sight, with the shadows creating a spooky spectacle outside the away turnstiles.
(7) PRYING EYES: An unusual view of the South
Terrace, from a position hidden away on the bank of the River Skerne.
Photographer: Alan Hall. Sponsored by Virtual Quakers
(8)VIEW FROM OUTSIDE 1: The photographer's daughter, looking at the empty
stadium from the fence at the South Terrace, on her way to the match.
Photographer: Nick Blake. Sponsored by Ted Blair. Nick took this as he and his daughter walked around the ground on the way to the match - she climbed up for a quick look and he told her to stay there until he'd taken the photo. The image works as a pair, with a quite different photo Jim Lycett took of three local lads sneaking a view of the action.
(9)
CUP HOLDER: Two veteran fans at the front of the East Stand, with one
keeping out the winter chill. Photographer: Nick Blake. Sponsored by Iain
Swalwell.
(10)IT'S IN THE BAG: A boy looks forward to
the match - something in his expression says it all. Photographer:
Alan Hall. Sponsored by Neil Johnson. This photo
was nearly overlooked. There were very few photos taken outside the immediate
vicinity of Feethams but this match day photo of a young lad eating chips
and obviously looking forward to the game encapsulates football-watching.
The graffiti written on the dirty van.
(11) NIGHT VISION: A boy looks ahead to the evening match, from the Tinshed.Photographer: Janice Woodhouse, Sponsored by members of DAFTS
(12) STANDING OVATION: Hopes rising, arms aloft, there's nothing like
celebrating a goal is there? Photographer: Jim Lycett. Sponsored by Peter
Stockill and Vivian Hoffman.
(13)VIEW FROM THE OUTSIDE 2: Three boys climb to a vantage point. A scene at a
football ground that could be anywhere or at any time going back
generations. Photographer: Jim Lycett. Sponsored by Steve Duffy.
(14) SHED SOME LIGHT: Behind the Tin Shed roof, a cold snap under floodlights.
Photographer: Jim Lycett. Sponsored by Neil Raper.
(15)TIME LAPSE: The 1960 floodlight pylon and the 1997 East Stand on the
Feethams skyline. Photographer: Jim Lycett. Sponsored by Oerlikon Welding
(16) MEET THE MASCOT: Mr Quaker keeps fans amused
before the game. Photographer: Jim Lycett
(17) FOOTBALL GROUND END: The skeleton of the cricket sight-screen
frames Feethams. The Tin Shed stand roof is painted white to help batsmen
playing at Darlington Cricket Club. Photographer: Jim Lycett. Sponsored by
www.dafts.co.uk
(18) AWAY POINT: A pretty walk for visiting fans towards the Polam Lane
turnstiles. We all hope the trudge back isn't so delightful. Photographer:
Jim Lycett. Sponsored by Mark Meynell.
(19) SEASON'S END: Pitch celebration - but it's visiting
Plymouth fans who're delighted, after securing the Division Three
championship in April. Photographer: Jim Lycett. Sponsored by Howard
Bradley. © Darlington
Supporters Trust and Darlington Camera Club 2002. Please click on
the photographs for larger images. Left to right, pictures 1 and 18 at
the exhibition and two for the archive that didn't make it to the show
- a different view of the programme hut and a supporter in Darlo headgear.
Exhibition posters available
for just £1 from the Trust All proceeds to project funds
(20)LIGHT BITE: The Tin Shed refreshment stall
has a quiet afternoon Photographer: Bob Rafferty
(21) DOWN TO IT: Goalkeeper making it safe. Photographer: Robert Elliot
(22) TABLE TALK: Chairman George Reynolds in a
pre-match discussion with fans at Strikers bar in the
East Stand. Photographer: Ron Grainger. Photographer: Ron Grainger.
Sponsored by Darlington FC Supporters' Club
(23) GET IN!!: The Tin Shed shout for all their worth at the victory over
Scunthorpe. Photographer: Jim Lycett. Sponsored by The Waters family, for
seasons spent in the Tin Shed.
(24) HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS The dressing room
- Darlington winger Richard Hodgson caught wearing only a Sunderland FC
towel!Photographer: Ron Grainger.
(25)SAME AGAIN PLEASE: The West Stand - an exact replica of the old
main stand - was rebuilt in 1960 after the original was gutted by fire.
Photographer: Nick Blake. Sponsored by The Language Service Ltd.
[26] EVERY FACE TELLS A STORY: All happy now, as fans celebrate. Photogapher: Ron Grainger, Sponsored by members of DAFTS
(27) SPRING IN THEIR STEP: Not the normal April shower – fans head home from Feethams after the win over Scunthorpe. Photographer: Jim Lycett, Sponsored by members of DAFTS
(28) NIGHT MOVES: A view under floodlights from the East Stand. FA Cup tie
v Peterborough United, January 2002. Photographer: Robert Elliot. Sponsored
by Mark Meynell.
(29) WAITING GAME: Ball boys keep in touch
with the action in the far corner. Photographer: Nick Blake. (30)
AT WORK, AT PLAY 2 Something above the call of duty for
this police officer. Photographer: Wendy Richardson
(31) THE TWIN TOWERS: Darlington's unmistakable shared entrance to the football
and cricket clubs. Built in 1913. Photographer: Malcolm Noble. Sponsored by
Nick Blake.
(32) CORNERED: Midfielder Ian Clark prepares to cross. Photographer: Don Giles
(34) PLAYING FIELDS: Feethams viewed from
Polam High School, with the hockey goal in the foreground.Photographer:
Nick Blake. Sponsored by Simon Meynell.
(35) ABOVE AND BEYOND: Photographer Jim Lycett crammed into the cabin of a
light plane for this view of Feethams, 1,500ft up. Photographer: From Jim
Lycett's private collection. Sponsored by Mark Meynell.
(36) SUBSTITUTE: Encouragement from the
East Stand as a new player makes an appearence. Photographer: Nick Blake. Sponsored by J Bibby Agriculture.
(37) STILL IN THE CROWD: A little girl in the East Stand concourse remains
aloof from the rush. Photographer: Paul Woodhouse. Sponsored by David Lippett.
(38) APPLAUSE AND A PAUSE: East Stand regulars greet a goal and talk it
over. Photographer: Nick Blake. Sponsored by Doug Embleton in memory of Joe
Embleton.
(39)VILLA AT HOME: Polam Villa behind the
South Terrace, remembered by fans for stoking its chimney during winter
night matches. It won't be around much longer. From this angle, it appears
to have also gained a floodlight. Photographer: Nick Blake. Sponsored by Ted Blair.
(40) SNOW STOPPED PLAY: A winter scene on
the cricket field is loved by photographers but not necessarily football
fans next door. Photographer: Bernard Garner. Sponsored by Peter Ashmore.
(41) TEAM LINE-UP: Darlington Camera Club photographers line up on the official opening night of the exhibition, Darlington Arts Centre, July 2002.
Photographer: George Reynolds.
You could be at home
with a Feethams memory...
Limited edition
fine art photographic prints from original negatives are
available to buy during the Farewell to Feethams
exhibition. The photographers are offering two sizes: Approx 15"x9" photograph
mounted on 20"x16" conservation board (same size as the exhibition
prints) at £110 each. Or approx 9"x7" photograph mounted on 16"x12"
conservation board at £70 each. Contact: e-mail
Darlington Supporters Trust and we will put you in touch with Darlington
Camera Club direct.
Exhibition contents
WATCHING AND WAITING: A sea of faces in the East Stand
Photographer: Nick Blake. One of the 1,200 or so photos in the archive, although
this did not get selected for the exhibition.
(33) SUBSTITUTION:
(right) Applause from the East Stand as a change is
made. Photographer: Don Giles.