Arena it is

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poppyfield
Posts: 1889
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Arena it is

Post by poppyfield » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:06 am

Darlington Football Club has been granted permission by the Vanarama National League to temporarily play league games at the Northern Echo Arena for safety reasons.
Help get the club back to Darlo by helping to spread the word about the "Back to Darlo!" fund. The image on the right will be constantly updated with the latest total so please feel free to use the image link below the thermometer on your own signatures, blogs, websites, etc.Image
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Darlopartisan
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Re: Arena it is

Post by Darlopartisan » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:08 am

My god common sense prevails

al_quaker
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Re: Arena it is

Post by al_quaker » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:09 am

Glad the league agreed. Not ideal - but far better than only being able to get 600 fans in at BM for the forseeable.

poppyfield
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Re: Arena it is

Post by poppyfield » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:13 am

Darlington Football Club has been granted permission by the Vanarama National League to temporarily play league games at the Northern Echo Arena for safety reasons.

The league informed the club of its decision following a League Board meeting, but the move is subject to a satisfactory ground inspection by the league and the granting of a safety certificate by Darlington Borough Council. These matters are currently in hand.

The club has played at Blackwell Meadows a mile away since December 2016, but the capacity of the ground has been greatly reduced to around 600 for the foreseeable future because of social distancing under Covid restrictions, and that revised capacity would be insufficient to cater for 650 season ticket holders and an average crowd of 1458 fans.

Darlington chief executive officer David Johnston said; “We are grateful to the league for swiftly granting us permission, and we will now prepare for the ground inspection on Wednesday.

“I would like to thank all those who have worked extremely hard together to bring this about. There has been a huge team effort over the last three weeks ever since we calculated that Blackwell Meadows would be unsafe and inadequate for our needs.

“We are now focusing on the forthcoming visit by the league’s ground inspector, and hopefully there won’t be any major issues.

“We have been in talks with Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club regarding the arrangements, and we hope to announce more details in due course.”

Darlington Mowden Park chairman Mick Birch commented: “We’re delighted to be able to assist our neighbours Darlington Football Club at such a difficult time for so many sports clubs. The current restrictions placed on sporting attendances have placed added pressure on a lot of clubs, and we’re pleased to be able to invite DFC and their supporters to the Arena."

The National League North season is due to start in week commencing 5th October, while the club might be given a home tie in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday 3rd October.

The club has been working very hard behind the scenes since permission was requested to move, and it is grateful to its own staff and volunteers, Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club, Darlington Borough Council, Darlington Rugby Club, Peter Gibson MP for Darlington and other bodies and people for their efforts.
Help get the club back to Darlo by helping to spread the word about the "Back to Darlo!" fund. The image on the right will be constantly updated with the latest total so please feel free to use the image link below the thermometer on your own signatures, blogs, websites, etc.Image
Image link: http://www.mydarlo.co.uk/img/BTD-therm-350x100.jpg

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theoriginalfatcat
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Re: Arena it is

Post by theoriginalfatcat » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:14 am

Fat Josh will be over the moon.
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onewayup
Posts: 2851
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Re: Arena it is

Post by onewayup » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am

Excellent news, the FA have at last done us a favour,
Hopefully the safety inspection doesn't through a spanner into the works. I personally hope that the town gets behind DFC after such a demanding time for all.
allowing the club to move forward. Shouldn't be a problem with social distancing at the arena.

Fat josh
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:07 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by Fat josh » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am

Not a surprise
Sad sad day
Arena worshippers paying back handers were always gonna win.
As they will when we conviently never leave the Arena.
Darlington fc ceased to exist today
Oh we'll stagger on for a couple of years but in the end
it's gonna kill us again.
Watch this space fools
King of uncovered

Leader of the true fans against the Arena return resistance movement

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Quaker85
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Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by Quaker85 » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:24 am

FO FJ


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al_quaker
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Re: Arena it is

Post by al_quaker » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:26 am

Fat josh wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am
Not a surprise
Sad sad day
Arena worshippers paying back handers were always gonna win.
As they will when we conviently never leave the Arena.
Darlington fc ceased to exist today
Oh we'll stagger on for a couple of years but in the end
it's gonna kill us again.
Watch this space fools
Are you accusing people of bribery? That seems quite an accusation if so.

Fat josh
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:07 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by Fat josh » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:27 am

FO yourself
Arena worshipping sheep
137 years of history ended today
King of uncovered

Leader of the true fans against the Arena return resistance movement

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Makka Pakka
Posts: 1302
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Team Supported: Darlington
Location: Newton Aycliffe

Re: Arena it is

Post by Makka Pakka » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:29 am

Fat josh wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am
Not a surprise
Sad sad day
Arena worshippers paying back handers were always gonna win.
As they will when we conviently never leave the Arena.
Darlington fc ceased to exist today
Oh we'll stagger on for a couple of years but in the end
it's gonna kill us again.
Watch this space fools
"Us"? Thought you were out, why should you care?
"At a meeting held at the Grammar School on Friday last - Mr Phillip Wood M.A., in the chair - it was resolved to form an Association Football Club for Darlington and neighbourhood. The opinions of those present were so unanimous as to the desirability of this step, that a committee was formed to complete the organisation of the club, and Mr Craven, 17, Garden Street, was appointed secretary pro tem." - The Northern Echo, Monday 23rd July 1883

Fat josh
Posts: 57
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Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by Fat josh » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:30 am

al_quaker wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:26 am
Fat josh wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am
Not a surprise
Sad sad day
Arena worshippers paying back handers were always gonna win.
As they will when we conviently never leave the Arena.
Darlington fc ceased to exist today
Oh we'll stagger on for a couple of years but in the end
it's gonna kill us again.
Watch this space fools
Are you accusing people of bribery? That seems quite an accusation if so.
Anyone who wants to play in the Arena is in effect paying back handers as that is not our home ground dumbass.
Clubkiller
King of uncovered

Leader of the true fans against the Arena return resistance movement

al_quaker
Posts: 5942
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Re: Arena it is

Post by al_quaker » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:32 am

Fat josh wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:30 am
al_quaker wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:26 am
Fat josh wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am
Not a surprise
Sad sad day
Arena worshippers paying back handers were always gonna win.
As they will when we conviently never leave the Arena.
Darlington fc ceased to exist today
Oh we'll stagger on for a couple of years but in the end
it's gonna kill us again.
Watch this space fools
Are you accusing people of bribery? That seems quite an accusation if so.
Anyone who wants to play in the Arena is in effect paying back handers as that is not our home ground dumbass.
Clubkiller
A legally sound, sophisticated argument. I'm convinced

poppyfield
Posts: 1889
Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:36 am
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by poppyfield » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:32 am

Fat josh wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:27 am
FO yourself
Arena worshipping sheep
137 years of history ended today
As you no longer support our club, why are you still posting on our message board, no answer required.
Help get the club back to Darlo by helping to spread the word about the "Back to Darlo!" fund. The image on the right will be constantly updated with the latest total so please feel free to use the image link below the thermometer on your own signatures, blogs, websites, etc.Image
Image link: http://www.mydarlo.co.uk/img/BTD-therm-350x100.jpg

Darlo Dodger
Posts: 284
Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:50 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by Darlo Dodger » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:34 am

Sensible decision from the league and brilliant work from David Johnson and all those who worked behind the scenes to achieve it.
Thanks again to them for the action taken to allow Darlington supporters to get to see the team play in the current difficult circumstances.

lo36789
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Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:58 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by lo36789 » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:41 am

onewayup wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am
Excellent news, the FA have at last done us a favour,
Has nothing to do with the FA?

Was a decision by the league board.

bigdavethemaddog
Posts: 259
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 11:52 am

Re: Arena it is

Post by bigdavethemaddog » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:41 am

Fat Josh has got to be the Hartlepool supporter thats found his mums internet password while she has gone out shopping

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theoriginalfatcat
Posts: 6717
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Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by theoriginalfatcat » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:51 am

I'm pleased with this.

In short it means that I can watch Darlo home games, in comparative safety.

If our move had been blocked then the chances would have been that I would have been denied access to watching and supporting my football team.

A few games back at The Arena will be interesting I feel, and if the pandemic turns into something longer then I would suggest that we will all have bigger things to worry about than the silly conspiracy theories and other nonsense written above.
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Darlo_Pete
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Re: Arena it is

Post by Darlo_Pete » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:54 am

Brilliant news, very excited to be going back to the Arena. Good to see that common sense has prevailed.

hodgie1
Posts: 1652
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:14 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by hodgie1 » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:57 am

Fat josh wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am
Not a surprise
Sad sad day
Arena worshippers paying back handers were always gonna win.
As they will when we conviently never leave the Arena.
Darlington fc ceased to exist today
Oh we'll stagger on for a couple of years but in the end
it's gonna kill us again.
Watch this space fools
What a load of tosh, firstly we dont own the Arena, second, what proof to you have re backhanders, bribery? It's a serious accusation!

QUAKERMAN2
Posts: 2826
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:43 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by QUAKERMAN2 » Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:01 pm

Fat josh wrote:Not a surprise
Sad sad day
Arena worshippers paying back handers were always gonna win.
As they will when we conviently never leave the Arena.
Darlington fc ceased to exist today
Oh we'll stagger on for a couple of years but in the end
it's gonna kill us again.
Watch this space fools
Great news, really looking forward to seeing football again and particularly the level of support we will have at the Arena.Will be very surprised if we don't exceed our gates at BM even though some fans have reservations, but needs must, and absolutely the right decision by DJ and the board.
Really feel for Fat Josh, have a gut feeling we may have lost a "fan", but what the hell.

Up the Quakers
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SFG
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:11 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by SFG » Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:05 pm

lo36789 wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:41 am
onewayup wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am
Excellent news, the FA have at last done us a favour,
Has nothing to do with the FA?

Was a decision by the league board.
But hopefully applies to cup ties as well?

Darlogramps
Posts: 6025
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:47 am
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by Darlogramps » Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:12 pm

The foresight from George Reynolds to predict a global pandemic nearly two decades in advance is astonishing.
If ever you're bored or miserable:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlZohZoadGY

lo36789
Posts: 10929
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Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by lo36789 » Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:16 pm

SFG wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:05 pm
lo36789 wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:41 am
onewayup wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:21 am
Excellent news, the FA have at last done us a favour,
Has nothing to do with the FA?

Was a decision by the league board.
But hopefully applies to cup ties as well?
If I am not mistaken the FA competition rules effectively state the normal ground of the home side in the league - so yeh by being allowed to play there by the league it is eligible for FA Comp also.

Exceptional is the national Sunday where clubs nominated a ground for those specific games.

Mister e
Posts: 411
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 3:08 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by Mister e » Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:21 pm

Fat Josh without giving your identity away what is your grudge are you a former employee of DFC ? Have you connections to Darlington rugby club ? Are you a former board member or if you hold a grudge against the club which you seemingly do why won't you at least have the decency to tell us what the grudge is.

spen666
Posts: 2296
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:12 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by spen666 » Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:31 pm

Mister e wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:21 pm
Fat Josh without giving your identity away what is your grudge are you a former employee of DFC ? Have you connections to Darlington rugby club ? Are you a former board member or if you hold a grudge against the club which you seemingly do why won't you at least have the decency to tell us what the grudge is.
Those are questions I think most on here would like answers to.


Whether you are pro or anti the Arena normally, these are not normal times & seems a sensible move in current situation.

Footifanreturns
Posts: 131
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 4:46 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by Footifanreturns » Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:37 pm

I was going to say it is about time the admin banned the ramblings of Fat Josh. I know the club have said that are looking into the false accusations of a few idiots on Social Media, which could end up with legal implications.

But now I think they should be highlighted...Some of the funniest crap I have read on here for ages. Let him carry on making an utter fool of himself.
Obviously the ramblings of a very sad little man,
the total definition of a ' Keyboard Warrior '.

Keep it up FJ ...comedy gold.
Last edited by Footifanreturns on Mon Sep 07, 2020 1:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.

StevieMardenboro
Posts: 1202
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:18 pm
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Re: Arena it is

Post by StevieMardenboro » Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:43 pm

Darlogramps wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:12 pm
The foresight from George Reynolds to predict a global pandemic nearly two decades in advance is astonishing.
:clap:

Exactly this. Darlington football club. Home of social distancing since 2003. I actually cannot wait.

(Will make it easier for exiles to come to games too I think.)

jjljks
Posts: 3014
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:25 am
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by jjljks » Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:48 pm

As Covid19 is known to target obese people, you would have thought Fat Josh would be all for a temporary move to a safer stadium, but apparently not. No pleasing some folk.

EDJOHNS
Posts: 1608
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2019 3:56 pm
Team Supported: Darlington

Re: Arena it is

Post by EDJOHNS » Mon Sep 07, 2020 1:09 pm

Well at least I now have the option of going if I want to. I will wait to see what the safety measures are before deciding if I should risk it, but at least this news makes it an option for me to go to games.

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