What is your Darlington best 11?

[darloed19]

I know this would be difficult for new fans that have seen Darlington play in 4 different leagues over the last 10 years, obviously, the player's abilities are going to be different in respect to the league that we were in at the time. I am basing mine off who made the most significant impact in the league that we were in at the time:

GK- Russel

RB- Austin
CB- Brown
CB- Miller
CB- White
LB- Galbraith

CM- Hatfield
CM- Keltie
CM- Purdie

St- Thompson
St- Beck

I have based this on the players I grew up watching, so no hate for not including legends such as Neil Wainwright and Marco Gabbiadini

[Santino]

Andy Collett

Neil Austin
Craig Liddle
Steve Foster
Paul Heckingbottom

Neil Wainright
Brian Atkinson
Ricky Ravenhill
Neil Heaney

Marco Gabbiadini
Pawel Abbott

[darloed19]

Andy Collett

Neil Austin
Craig Liddle
Steve Foster
Paul Heckingbottom

Neil Wainright
Brian Atkinson
Ricky Ravenhill
Neil Heaney

Marco Gabbiadini
Pawel Abbott

Forgot about Ravenhill, what a player he was!

[lo36789]

Andy Collett

Neil Austin
Craig Liddle
Steve Foster
Paul Heckingbottom

Neil Wainwright
Brian Atkinson
Jason Kennedy
Neil Heaney

Marco Gabbiadini
Pawel Abbott

I've only got one change from your team.

Think this is indicative of my age and basically 97/98 was first season I had a proper understanding of what I was watching.

[darloed19]

Andy Collett

Neil Austin
Craig Liddle
Steve Foster
Paul Heckingbottom

Neil Wainwright
Brian Atkinson
Jason Kennedy
Neil Heaney

Marco Gabbiadini
Pawel Abbott

I've only got one change from your team.

Think this is indicative of my age and basically 97/98 was first season I had a proper understanding of what I was watching.

Mine was 07/08 season. 97 was when I was born.

[theoriginalfatcat]

Andy Collett

Neil Austin
Craig Liddle
Steve Foster
Paul Heckingbottom

Neil Wainwright
Brian Atkinson
Jason Kennedy
Neil Heaney

Marco Gabbiadini
Pawel Abbott

I've only got one change from your team.

Think this is indicative of my age and basically 97/98 was first season I had a proper understanding of what I was watching.

Mine would be something like the above, however no room for Carl Shutt? Perhaps in goal

[lo36789]

Andy Collett

Neil Austin
Craig Liddle
Steve Foster
Paul Heckingbottom

Neil Wainwright
Brian Atkinson
Jason Kennedy
Neil Heaney

Marco Gabbiadini
Pawel Abbott

I've only got one change from your team.

Think this is indicative of my age and basically 97/98 was first season I had a proper understanding of what I was watching.

Mine would be something like the above, however no room for Carl Shutt? Perhaps in goal

I mean it is not particularly creative...it is a mashup of the playoff teams from 1999/2000 (my favourite Darlo side) and 2007/2008

[Quakerlad]

Based on who I have enjoyed watching at the relevant time, not necessarily the very best in their position.

Collett

McJannet
Liddell
Brown
Gray

Thompson
Turnbull
Toman
Heaney

Gabbiadini
Currie

Mind you think Charmen at times this season was close to being in the team!

[e4sby]

Collett

Austin
Miller
Liddle
Gray

Ravenhill
Gregan
Bannister

Abbott
Blake
Gabbiadini

Had to squeeze Gregan into midfield but that forward line with Bannister in behind them would score goals!

[spen666]

The selections show a lot about age of posters. Nothing wrong with that

For me, Speedie, Walsh & Currie would be in my team

[Heaton out]

Gregan and Blake are two great shouts! Jimmy Willis would get in my team, also Jason De Vos was a cracking defender at our level but probably wasn't with us long enough to make the best XI

[Ghost_Of_1883]

Based on who I have enjoyed watching at the relevant time, not necessarily the very best in their position.

Collett

McJannet
Liddell
Brown
Gray

Thompson
Turnbull
Toman
Heaney

Gabbiadini
Currie

Mind you think Charmen at times this season was close to being in the team!

Toman, what a great player he was for us. And I only found out this recently, he's also a Darlo fan. Currie and Gabbiadini up top, it doesn't get any better than that.

[don'tbuythesun]

I'm struggling with how to fit Andy Crosby, Kevan Smith and Robbie Blake in. Loved watching Steve Mardenborough in full flight and the very determined O'Shaughnessy, not forgetting Robbie Painter and the mighty Barry Conlon. Maybe that's a problem for me and the other old gits, so many to choose from, favourites rather than best and memories playing tricks!

[Spyman]

Relative to their ability at the level we played at at that time I'd say:

Collett

Austin
White
Liddle
Galbraith

Thompson
Hatfield
Ravenhill
Heaney

Gabbiadini
Abbott

Although Turnbull would run Ravenhill very close.....maybe I'll go 4-3-3. All good managers have a plan B.

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[joejaques]

Here's one for the real oldies amongst us, old fashioned 2-3-5 formation:

Tony Moor

John Peverell
Brian Keeble

Ray Yeoman
Ron Greener
Joe Jacques

Neil Wainwright
Bobby Cummings
Lance Robson
Alan Sproates
Harry Kirk

We will not see there like again.

[banktopp]

Here's one for the real oldies amongst us, old fashioned 2-3-5 formation:

Tony Moor

John Peverell
Brian Keeble

Ray Yeoman
Ron Greener
Joe Jacques

Neil Wainwright
Bobby Cummings
Lance Robson
Alan Sproates
Harry Kirk

We will not see there like again.

Where's George McGeachie then ? I think I'd have him in for Wainwright.

[joejaques]

Here's one for the real oldies amongst us, old fashioned 2-3-5 formation:

Tony Moor

John Peverell
Brian Keeble

Ray Yeoman
Ron Greener
Joe Jacques

Neil Wainwright
Bobby Cummings
Lance Robson
Alan Sproates
Harry Kirk

We will not see there like again.

Where's George McGeachie then ? I think I'd have him in for Wainwright.

Good Call, knew there was a little winger whose name I couldn't remember. Alzheimers kicking in?

[bga]

Here's one for the real oldies amongst us, old fashioned 2-3-5 formation:

Tony Moor

John Peverell
Brian Keeble

Ray Yeoman
Ron Greener
Joe Jacques

Neil Wainwright
Bobby Cummings
Lance Robson
Alan Sproates
Harry Kirk

We will not see there like again.

Wainwright might feel a bit like "Back to the Future" in that team. I would replace Robson with Bryan Conlon I know he didn't play that long for us but he was one of my all time favourites. Presumably you would make yourself Captain?

[EDJOHNS]

Here's one for the real oldies amongst us, old fashioned 2-3-5 formation:

Tony Moor

John Peverell
Brian Keeble

Ray Yeoman
Ron Greener
Joe Jacques

Neil Wainwright
Bobby Cummings
Lance Robson
Alan Sproates
Harry Kirk

We will not see there like again.

Wainwright might feel a bit like "Back to the Future" in that team. I would replace Robson with Bryan Conlon I know he didn't play that long for us but he was one of my all time favourites. Presumably you would make yourself Captain?

Surly Yogie has to captain the side?

[joejaques]

Here's one for the real oldies amongst us, old fashioned 2-3-5 formation:

Tony Moor

John Peverell
Brian Keeble

Ray Yeoman
Ron Greener
Joe Jacques

Neil Wainwright
Bobby Cummings
Lance Robson
Alan Sproates
Harry Kirk

We will not see there like again.

Wainwright might feel a bit like "Back to the Future" in that team. I would replace Robson with Bryan Conlon I know he didn't play that long for us but he was one of my all time favourites. Presumably you would make yourself Captain?

Only put Wainy in because I couldn't remember McGeachie's name. Despit Joe being my first football hero, I think even he would have conceded captaincy to Big Ron.

[Spyman]

Interesting to see fans who have supported the club for 35+ years not include a single player from the team that got us to what is now known as League One, the highest level we've ever played at.

Almost as if they're just showing off about how long they've supported the club

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[Quaker-Ste]

Sorry but I think you’ll find we have attained the lofty heights of what is now the Championship, albeit for just two seasons 15th I think we reached the first season, our highest ever finish.

[Spyman]

Sorry but I think you’ll find we have attained the lofty heights of what is now the Championship, albeit for just two seasons 15th I think we reached the first season, our highest ever finish.

I take it back. Showing my age, clearly.

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[Quaker-Ste]

Showing both our ages To be honest it was nearly 100 years ago!!!

[StevieMardenboro]

As I started watching footie in the 80s so my team is 4-4-2.

Barber
McJanet
Heckingbottom
Kevan Smith
Gregan
Heaney
Bannister
Gill
Martin Smith
Blake
Gabbiadini

Subs ( is this cheating?): Prudhoe, Liddle, Foster, Thompson, Abbott ,Currie.

[eddie-rowles]

F Barber
J Craggs
K Smith
F Gray
C Liddle
E Rowles
D Mclean
S Thompson
D Currie
A Walsh
M Gabbiadini
Really difficult choice and possibly a little heavy with attackers but what the hell Barber could save anything

[Wiseacre]

Some great line ups so far but I'd nominate Gary McDonald for at least a place on the bench with the last two teams. Mention of our days in division two a hundred years ago made me consult some of the Echo archives and marvel at the mentions of our star man David Brown who 'fizzed like a rocket and got among the goals' he was also able 'to stand his ground firmly with any opponent'. Do they make them like that anymore ?

[ralphb]

Where is David Speedy?

[eddie-rowles]

Where is David Speedy?

Still in the bar perhaps?

[Wiseacre]

Who is David Speedy ? Did he play with John Storker ?