The Quakers have lost their eighth game out of 10, just three days after losing their manager and are now in serious danger of losing their league status for the second time in their history as they remain rock bottom with only two points.
The new manager, whoever he may be, really does have his work cut out for him.
Paul Johnson reckons “The Drugs Don’t Work” but they seem to be doing him no harm at the top of the table. Paul’s got a three-point cushion with his 36 points, but Stephen Nicholson’s maximum score jumps him to joint second place on 33, where he joins Lance England and Steve Austin. Carl Hankin is now in contention with his eight points, moving into joint 5th spot on 31.
Lance Alot and Sue Oldham can’t complain on 30 points, well within shouting distance of top spot. Other top-scoring boys and girls are: Adrian Pape, Chris Vallis, Colin Wakefield, Jonny Simpson, Josh Slack, Kevin Kidger, Lewis Raper, Luke Hewitson, Mark Hathaway, Paul Hodgson, Richard Sole, Scott Dinsdale, Stephen James, Steve Calvert, Susan Weston, Terry Simpson, Trevor Gretton, Troy Lacend
The Exclusive Bottom Spot Club is still occupied by Dave Brown and Lemsip Opic, whose scoring record is worse than Darlington’s . . . but not by much!
More mini-league updates following the home match with Macclesfield – surely now a must-win game before the gap at the foot of the table becomes a chasm - it’s widening after each game.
Pete
Wednesday 30 September 2009
Monday 28 September 2009
Thanks for a rocking night!
The Trust was recently pleased to say thanks to members of local rock bands, who staged a fund-raising gig back in June in aid of the Supporters' Trust, when things looked far from certain.
Darlo Bands for Darlo Fans was a great success, raising £500 from the gig, raffle and auction of Darlington memorabilia.
Auctioned items included a 1960s framed Darlington shirt, signed by Quakers legends John Peverill and Ron Greener - won by Rory Todd.
The Trust would like to offer a big thanks to the bands who took part -The Steady Boys, Lifetime Skiver, Si Kelly, The Brocks and March of the Dogs as well as to The Forum, Rich, Phil, Jo, Billy, Mike and everyone else who helped or came along on the night.
Pictured with Trust secretary Peter Plant and vice chair Paul Hodgson are (left to right) Billy Cass (fundraiser) Martin Cass (Lifetime Skiver) Dave Chebs ( The Brocks) Mike Cass (gig organiser & Lifetime Skiver) Richie Tearle (fundraiser)
Darlo Bands for Darlo Fans was a great success, raising £500 from the gig, raffle and auction of Darlington memorabilia.
Auctioned items included a 1960s framed Darlington shirt, signed by Quakers legends John Peverill and Ron Greener - won by Rory Todd.
The Trust would like to offer a big thanks to the bands who took part -The Steady Boys, Lifetime Skiver, Si Kelly, The Brocks and March of the Dogs as well as to The Forum, Rich, Phil, Jo, Billy, Mike and everyone else who helped or came along on the night.
Pictured with Trust secretary Peter Plant and vice chair Paul Hodgson are (left to right) Billy Cass (fundraiser) Martin Cass (Lifetime Skiver) Dave Chebs ( The Brocks) Mike Cass (gig organiser & Lifetime Skiver) Richie Tearle (fundraiser)
For more information on Lifetime Skiver, go to http://www.lifetimeskiver.co.uk/
Talk-in reminder with Lidds and Maddo
Talk-in reminder with Lidds and Maddo
Meanwhile, a reminder that the next Trust talk-in has been confirmed for Thursday 15th October at The Beaconsfield Arms, Barnard Castle, starting at 8pm.
The price is £4 which includes a pie and peas supper. Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison, at time of writing our caretaker managerment team. will be the guest speakers. All are welcome for what promises to be an interesting evening.
The price is £4 which includes a pie and peas supper. Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison, at time of writing our caretaker managerment team. will be the guest speakers. All are welcome for what promises to be an interesting evening.
Prediction League Match 9
On what turned out to be a beautiful, hot and sunny day late into September, the saying “It never rains, but it pours” couldn’t be more true!
And as if there wasn’t enough with Darlo claiming only their second point of the season - and with only 10 men too - but on arriving home we find out that Colin Todd has resigned as manager “by mutual consent”.
After recent poor scoring weekends, most of our managers probably felt like resigning as the top of the table looked liked a waiting room for free gold bars – crowded!
No one is dominating as the leap frog game continues – new leaders on 33 points are Lance England (a close relative of the Irish branch) and Paul Johnson, both scoring that maximum eight points. In fact, all the Lances scored maximum points, apart from the Irish and Scottish cousins!Brian Main’s eight points have got him in the mix in joint fifth place on 28 along with Paul Soderman. John Berry has jumped to equal 10th spot on 25 points with his max score, joining Steve Duffy who also saw his second XI scoring eight, too.
Loads of other managers with eight points: Alex Wilson, Anthony Leigh, Barbara Woodshed, Buzz Lightyear, Chris Mackenzie, Gary Cooke, Ian Bonsall, Ian Davidson, James Longstreet, James McNaughton, John Sainsbury, Kev Leatherbarrow, Malcolm Cundick, Mike Wells, Neil Danby, Neil Jordison, Paul Robinson , Peter Armstrong, Peter Ashmore, Peter Morris, Rhonda Fleming, Richard Collin, Steve Gawthrop, Steve Mann, Tim Hewitson, Tracey Pickersgill, Wayne Gibson, Will Ellis
And all those extra points now see only two managers yet to score – Dave Brown and Lemsip Opic. Richard Collin has managed to drag both his teams above this select group.
Pete
And as if there wasn’t enough with Darlo claiming only their second point of the season - and with only 10 men too - but on arriving home we find out that Colin Todd has resigned as manager “by mutual consent”.
After recent poor scoring weekends, most of our managers probably felt like resigning as the top of the table looked liked a waiting room for free gold bars – crowded!
No one is dominating as the leap frog game continues – new leaders on 33 points are Lance England (a close relative of the Irish branch) and Paul Johnson, both scoring that maximum eight points. In fact, all the Lances scored maximum points, apart from the Irish and Scottish cousins!Brian Main’s eight points have got him in the mix in joint fifth place on 28 along with Paul Soderman. John Berry has jumped to equal 10th spot on 25 points with his max score, joining Steve Duffy who also saw his second XI scoring eight, too.
Loads of other managers with eight points: Alex Wilson, Anthony Leigh, Barbara Woodshed, Buzz Lightyear, Chris Mackenzie, Gary Cooke, Ian Bonsall, Ian Davidson, James Longstreet, James McNaughton, John Sainsbury, Kev Leatherbarrow, Malcolm Cundick, Mike Wells, Neil Danby, Neil Jordison, Paul Robinson , Peter Armstrong, Peter Ashmore, Peter Morris, Rhonda Fleming, Richard Collin, Steve Gawthrop, Steve Mann, Tim Hewitson, Tracey Pickersgill, Wayne Gibson, Will Ellis
And all those extra points now see only two managers yet to score – Dave Brown and Lemsip Opic. Richard Collin has managed to drag both his teams above this select group.
Pete
Sunday 13 September 2009
Prediction League Match 7
It’s official - Darlington’s new nickname is The Whipping Boys, as yet another defeat . . . 2-1 away at Accrington Stanley (who?) . . . condemns Darlo to a further week at the foot of the table.
And at this moment, it’s hard to see where that first win will come from. It’s proving equally as difficult for all our managers, as this bad run of results coupled with pre-season predictions of average expectations has becalmed the points scoring . . . not quite into The Doldrums yet as we did have some correct score predictions.
Emma Davis has taken advantage of this with her eight points and moved into joint first place with Andrew Hodgson and Paul Johnson on 25 points. Steve Austin has seen his correct prediction put him right into contention only 3 points behind the leaders on 22 with several other managers. Robert Mitchum is up to joint 13th with his old pal Humphrey Bogart on 19 – not sure how well they both know Lyn Williams, who is also on 19.
John Berry’s third XI joins the first XI on 17 points as does Richard Tilly; Chris Mackenzie’s first XI joins his second team on 14 points in joint 35th spot; and Lynne Pape’s eight-pointer means a joint 35th place also along with our last top-scoring manager Scott Morland, who has achieved his team name’s request (“Please Finish Top Half!) . . . well, so far anyway!!!Another of our mini-leagues is shaping up . . . CIU COD . . . where the six players are spread far and wide across the table. Martin Cass won’t mind because he’s top dog on 16 points in joint 30th place; with Keith Appleton next up on 14 and Damian Dickson on 11. Mark Stephenson . . . reigning champion for the past two seasons and “Going for a Club Treble” is just pacing himself (yeah, right) on 9 in joint 88th with Paul Dickson just behind on 8 in joint 106th. But bringing up the rear is Paul White on 6 points . . . but such is the low scoring nature at the moment, he can catch all in his mini-league except Martin Cass . . . if only he could pick up that correct score! (and if only I could get six correct numbers in the lottery I’d be a millionaire)
In Davy Jones’ Locker down in the very depths of the oceans, Richard Collin steadfastly refuses to move either of his teams from a zero-points rating. And while this happens his band of nul-pointers is dwindling after each game, with only Raymond Percival, Malcolm Cundick, Lemsip Opic and Dave Brown keeping him company. Even a correct score prediction won’t take them out of the bottom half of the table.
Pete
And at this moment, it’s hard to see where that first win will come from. It’s proving equally as difficult for all our managers, as this bad run of results coupled with pre-season predictions of average expectations has becalmed the points scoring . . . not quite into The Doldrums yet as we did have some correct score predictions.
Emma Davis has taken advantage of this with her eight points and moved into joint first place with Andrew Hodgson and Paul Johnson on 25 points. Steve Austin has seen his correct prediction put him right into contention only 3 points behind the leaders on 22 with several other managers. Robert Mitchum is up to joint 13th with his old pal Humphrey Bogart on 19 – not sure how well they both know Lyn Williams, who is also on 19.
John Berry’s third XI joins the first XI on 17 points as does Richard Tilly; Chris Mackenzie’s first XI joins his second team on 14 points in joint 35th spot; and Lynne Pape’s eight-pointer means a joint 35th place also along with our last top-scoring manager Scott Morland, who has achieved his team name’s request (“Please Finish Top Half!) . . . well, so far anyway!!!Another of our mini-leagues is shaping up . . . CIU COD . . . where the six players are spread far and wide across the table. Martin Cass won’t mind because he’s top dog on 16 points in joint 30th place; with Keith Appleton next up on 14 and Damian Dickson on 11. Mark Stephenson . . . reigning champion for the past two seasons and “Going for a Club Treble” is just pacing himself (yeah, right) on 9 in joint 88th with Paul Dickson just behind on 8 in joint 106th. But bringing up the rear is Paul White on 6 points . . . but such is the low scoring nature at the moment, he can catch all in his mini-league except Martin Cass . . . if only he could pick up that correct score! (and if only I could get six correct numbers in the lottery I’d be a millionaire)
In Davy Jones’ Locker down in the very depths of the oceans, Richard Collin steadfastly refuses to move either of his teams from a zero-points rating. And while this happens his band of nul-pointers is dwindling after each game, with only Raymond Percival, Malcolm Cundick, Lemsip Opic and Dave Brown keeping him company. Even a correct score prediction won’t take them out of the bottom half of the table.
Pete
Thursday 3 September 2009
Maddo, Lidds for talk-in
The first Darlington Supporters' Trust "talk-in" event of the season has been confirmed for Thursday 15th October (8pm, £4 admission) in Barnard Castle.
Youth team staff - and popular Darlo stars of the recent past - Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison will be at the Beaconsfield pub to answer your questions.
There will be a raffle and peas and pies supper on the night, food included in price.
Given the big changes at the club in recent months and hopes for our under 18s and under 16s, this will be a great opportunity for fans to chat about progress.
Prediction League Match 5
A point for Darlo, the first on our way to that magical 40 . . . or will it be 38 for safety?
Let’s hope it’s not too many more. A Kevin Gall goal saw a spirited fight-back after The Quakers went 1-0 down, an event which up to now has usually meant losing all three points. Our early leader in the Come On Darlo Prediction League Andrew Hodgson has maintained station, but is now joined on 22 points at the top by Lance England and Paul Johnson’s first and second XI . . . any more of that and there may be a steward’s enquiry :) . . . all three achieving the max score of eight points.
Only three points adrift in joint fifth spot are another clutch of max-scoring managers – Alf Hutchinson, Anthony Leigh, Dave Wilson and our old friend Humphrey Bogart. Kevin Kidger’s eight-pointer sees him occuping ninth place on 17 points.
It was a good scoring day for quite a few, other eight-pointers are: Avril Dent, Boss Prawn, Brian Main, Chris Mackenzie, Chris Walto, Emma Davis, Ian Bonsall, Ian Butler, James Longstreet, John Berry, John Scott, Lance Broken, Lorraine Arscott, Lyn Williams, Martin Cass, Martyn Walton, Maureen Taylor, Michael Hunt, Mick Moriarty, Paul Soderman, Stephen Lander, Steve Austin, Steve Duffy, Tracey Pickersgill and Will Ellis.
In the end of season predictions, managers have generally gone for “The Usual Suspects” in the top four places in the Premiership, though there is a smattering of predictions for Everton and Man City in particular with their galacticos. Down the bottom, the Birmingham and Burnley combo with A. N. Other seems to be the order of the day. For the Championship, it leans heavily towards Sheff Utd, Middlesbrough and Newcastle followed by West Brom with Cardiff, Reading and Ipswich as the next most popular . . . though Ipswich is looking a particularly weak choice at the moment. Barnsley and Scunthorpe seems to be a consistent choice for relegation accompanied by a variety of others, though I do like the selection of one manager for Newcastle to finish bottom . . . a closet Sunderland fan? :)
For League 1, there are two clear favourites for promotion – Norwich and Leeds . . . though predictions are also strong for Charlton and Franchise FC (MK Dons). Exeter are tipped as whipping boys along with Stockport, but this part of the league seems wide open according to our manager selections. In League 2, the Notts County factor has kicked in big style as rock solid champions contenders . . . though they seem to be wilting a little at the moment in the spotlight . . . with probably Bournemouth and The Daggers as next favourites. And respect to anyone who has put Darlington in the promotion places . . . you would deserve all the points you get with that one!!! Relegation favourites are Macc and Acc in that order.
As for the Conference, not many are looking past Luton as champions – though quite a few have gone for AFC Wimbledon to join them. Now wouldn’t THAT be a dream come true for many football supporters throughout the country.
Back to the Come On Darlo Prediction League, another five managers escaped the bottomless pit of NUL points which leaves ONLY 12 yet to score a point . . . thus escaping the weekly naming and shaming in this email.
Pete
Let’s hope it’s not too many more. A Kevin Gall goal saw a spirited fight-back after The Quakers went 1-0 down, an event which up to now has usually meant losing all three points. Our early leader in the Come On Darlo Prediction League Andrew Hodgson has maintained station, but is now joined on 22 points at the top by Lance England and Paul Johnson’s first and second XI . . . any more of that and there may be a steward’s enquiry :) . . . all three achieving the max score of eight points.
Only three points adrift in joint fifth spot are another clutch of max-scoring managers – Alf Hutchinson, Anthony Leigh, Dave Wilson and our old friend Humphrey Bogart. Kevin Kidger’s eight-pointer sees him occuping ninth place on 17 points.
It was a good scoring day for quite a few, other eight-pointers are: Avril Dent, Boss Prawn, Brian Main, Chris Mackenzie, Chris Walto, Emma Davis, Ian Bonsall, Ian Butler, James Longstreet, John Berry, John Scott, Lance Broken, Lorraine Arscott, Lyn Williams, Martin Cass, Martyn Walton, Maureen Taylor, Michael Hunt, Mick Moriarty, Paul Soderman, Stephen Lander, Steve Austin, Steve Duffy, Tracey Pickersgill and Will Ellis.
In the end of season predictions, managers have generally gone for “The Usual Suspects” in the top four places in the Premiership, though there is a smattering of predictions for Everton and Man City in particular with their galacticos. Down the bottom, the Birmingham and Burnley combo with A. N. Other seems to be the order of the day. For the Championship, it leans heavily towards Sheff Utd, Middlesbrough and Newcastle followed by West Brom with Cardiff, Reading and Ipswich as the next most popular . . . though Ipswich is looking a particularly weak choice at the moment. Barnsley and Scunthorpe seems to be a consistent choice for relegation accompanied by a variety of others, though I do like the selection of one manager for Newcastle to finish bottom . . . a closet Sunderland fan? :)
For League 1, there are two clear favourites for promotion – Norwich and Leeds . . . though predictions are also strong for Charlton and Franchise FC (MK Dons). Exeter are tipped as whipping boys along with Stockport, but this part of the league seems wide open according to our manager selections. In League 2, the Notts County factor has kicked in big style as rock solid champions contenders . . . though they seem to be wilting a little at the moment in the spotlight . . . with probably Bournemouth and The Daggers as next favourites. And respect to anyone who has put Darlington in the promotion places . . . you would deserve all the points you get with that one!!! Relegation favourites are Macc and Acc in that order.
As for the Conference, not many are looking past Luton as champions – though quite a few have gone for AFC Wimbledon to join them. Now wouldn’t THAT be a dream come true for many football supporters throughout the country.
Back to the Come On Darlo Prediction League, another five managers escaped the bottomless pit of NUL points which leaves ONLY 12 yet to score a point . . . thus escaping the weekly naming and shaming in this email.
Pete
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