More Than Just A Game

It was a day full of nerves for the travelling Darlo faithful. After last weeks 3-2 victory against the Heed we knew we had a very good chance of getting to Wembley. I am sure if anybody had said to us in the past that they would give us a goal start against Gateshead to get to Wembley you would have snapped your hands off. But times have changed at Darlington and lets be honest The Heed showed in the first half at the Arena that they were more than capable of scoring goals.

For the Uncovered FC crew it was a train up to the Toon for pre match drink and strippers, but for me it was a trip with the kids to Greggs for sausage rolls and caramel doughnuts. Oh how times have changed!!

A pre match stop at the Angel of the North was called for due to the fact that we actually arrived at Gateshead at 1pm. Parked up straight away opposite the ground and by 13:15 we were there. Bugger! What to do now? The turnstyles werent even open but there were a few Quaker fans hanging around, more noticably a group of yoofs begging people to buy booze for them from the local Netto. After meeting up with a couple of friends we headed into the ground and to say I was nervous would be an understatement. This game wasn't just about getting to Wembley, it was about the clubs future and more importantly my kids psychological state.  You see to add further pressure to the result my wife had brought my attention to Connors football wallchart in his bedroom. The little mite had only gone and wrote 'wembly' in the box. Oh god no!

Raj Singh had stated that he wanted to see the towns people back their football club. This Trophy run has shown that, well it wasn't showing it when I went to the Histon match with 430 fellow fans but hey ho. But we had a big crowd last week and a large following away at Gateshead on Saturday. A huge following to Wembley would show Raj that the potential is there, put on good football and they will come. To me it was as simple as get to wembley and Raj will stay, lose and our future will be up in the air.

After the game Singh spoke of his delight "I was really nervous about today but we got the result in the end we were looking . I think everybody in the stand was more nervous than the players, we have conceeded alot of late goals and when the ref put up four minutes of added time I was still a bit nervous. I didn't look at my watch at all but I think in total he played over 5 minutes."

"I am proud of them and hopefully things are coming together with what we are trying to do here. I was really encouraged last we when we got 4200 fans and to say we had 2500 fans here today is fantastic. That tells me that it is worth carrying on now because people are backing us. That is all I wanting to see was people backing the team, we always said it was chicken and egg. The team plays well and the fans come. The team has played well and the fans have started coming."

I am with Raj with regards to the injury time, the goon of a ref stated that there was 1 minute of injury time at half time, he played over 2. He then indicated four minutes at the end but played 5 minutes 55 seconds, apparently because Sam Russell kicked the ball away. To say nerves were getting shredded would be an understatement. As a Darlington fans good things don't happen to us. For example my eldest son Connor is 10, he was born two weeks before our last visit to Wembley. He and his 7 year old brother have been followers of Darlington for a while now. I don't mean Daddy forcing them to go to the game etc. I mean the brainwashing process is now complete and they do actually love Darlo.

But since they started their support they have never had anything to cheer, not one thing. No big FA Cup tie, no promotion, diddly sqwuat. What they have had to deal with is firstly us being banned from the club, the youngest wasn't bothered because he wasn't born, but Connor was a bit confused!

Then we are allowed back in, superb! But weeks later the clubs goes into administration. Club then saved on the last day, but a few years later back into administration. Serious stuff this for an adult never mind a child. We are saved by Raj Singh but last season we were in trouble. Our team was just pants and week after week we turned up to watch dross. But week after week we turned up to put ourselves through it. Relegation duly arrived but the little buggers were not dettered, their bedrooms were decorated in Darlo merchandise and replica kits were bought out of their own pocket money.

They have been given the talk though, you know the Darlo supporter talk all parents will have had with their kids. "Don't expect us to win today lads, good things don't happen to Darlo. Lets just enjoy today, its a trip out and we have done well getting this far etc etc."

Throughout the game we clapped until our hands hurt, sang until our throats hurt and the referee got a few verbals too! But at the full time whistle it was jubilation and when I turned to Connor he was crying! Jesus Christ the lad is turning into Gary Mann! When the players came back out Sam Russell managed a wave at the kids, it was a young girl gets a wave off Justin Beiber moment and they are still talking about it.

I will be honest, I would like to see us win at Wembley and it is now do able with mansfield beating Luton Town but I am not really that bothered either way. This day out in the capital is for all of you fans who have put up with the shit over the last decade and more so the 1500 fans who have still gone week in week out this season. But for all the new and returning fans who will be off to the capital on May 7th welcome on board it is going to be a great day out. Only North East team to play at the old and new wembley!

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quakerray - 20th March 2011 09:10:20

well said scott, cant imagine how we'd feel if we'd lost.
its just given everyone a massive lift and its going to be a great day out. 1st north east team to play at new wembley cant wait

eddiegrundy - 20th March 2011 17:07:24

"1st north east team to play at new wembley cant wait"

Not so Quakerray - Whitley Bay have been there twice already, in the FA Vase Finals 2009 and 2010, and won both times.

Let's make it 3 out of 3 for the North East

darlobri - 20th March 2011 20:02:24

Great for the kids and hope they enjoy their trip to Wembley.Like you I have brought my son up to be a Darlo fan.......he is now 14........born in Beverley,East Yorks..........Hull City and Premiership football in the past on the doorstep......................but as he said 'Darlo are my team and I will support them......who wants Premiership football when you can watch Darlo'?!!!!! What have I done I sometimes asked myself.........he cried his eyes out when we missed out at Rochdale in the play-off's.........shed a tear when we got relegated to the conference.......but yesterday he just gave me a wink and said 'Dad............this is what football and supporting your team is all about'........so proud that we were in the 430 in the first match and all the way through to Wembley. So pleased for everyone but I will be so proud walking down Wembley Way with my 14 year old true Darlo fan!!! Keep going lads and lets make it a play-off double!!

mikkyx - 20th March 2011 23:55:43

I got something in my eye at the final whistle. Funny how these things time themselves.