Darlington 1883 3-0 Scarborough Athletic, Friday December 26th 2014 (Evo-Stik First Division North)

Welcome to Darl...err....Bishop Auckland!

Darlo 3-0 Scarborough Athletic, att 1382

Christmas and a chance to see #2 side Darlo while at home visiting the alma pater.  And what with the hire car, it was nice to make it to the ground within 15 minutes of leaving home.  Still won't buy one though.  Darlo currently groundshare at Bishop Auckland's new(ish) ground on the edge of town (Bishop Auckland) approximately 10 miles from Darlington.  Handy for cars, being right next to the main drag from Bishop to Barnard Castle whilst there's any amount of parking thanks to massive Tesco and Sainsbury branches (why both?) adjacent.  Not sure how anyone would get there on a service bus though.  Mind, on a Boxing Day, they wouldn't.

The pre-match rush

£9 to get in - but only 6 if one is a season ticket holder at Newcastle, Sunderland or Boro. No mention of Barnsley.  Still, could be difficult tempting season ticketholders away from their team when they're playing at home themselves, as Boro and Sunderland were today.  But I'd pretty much guarantee better value, especially as one has the non-league ability to drink in the clubhouse while in view of the pitch, as one can at Heritage Park.  Shame one needs to drive, eh!?  (I guess the clever kids get a lift).  

***note: the bloke in front of me did actually use his Newcastle ST, so it's tempting some people.  Good.

The Press and/or DJ in the Main Stand

Despite the bar being packed I was able to meet my old childhood mate Joe and his dad Phil and enjoyed a J20 (true).  And I just about saw Darlo's opener, as a long ball was flicked on and centre forward Graeme Armstrong hooked it home with his left.  Drink up, time to join the terrace throng.

Phil's regular spot was on the far side, behind the giant dugouts, on a small grass bank.  The Main (only) Stand was season ticketholders only today, while the Tin Shed from the old Feethams has apparently been resurrected behind one goal.  That left a bizarre couple of temporary open seating areas behind the other goal, lovingly bought for thirty grand and which will apparently follow Darlo wherever they pitch up next (hopefully, and looking like-ily, Darlington.  A deal's in the offing to take them back home, with the rugby club)...though Phil assures me there's some Darlo fans would happily stay where they are.  (Those who live nearer to Bishop, for instance...like Phil!)

Dugouts bigger than stands at this level

Half time, another cheeky drink in the social, before positioning ourselves by the side of the pitch. You could SMELL the grass...and see the fog rolling in.  Darlo sealed victory when Mitchell beat the offside trap by standing on his own in the middle (theleft back hadn't bothered pushing forward) and trundling forward to sidefoot in, before Armstrong scored a header...which was cleared...before scrambled in again.  The game over, Scarborough despatched after 5 successive wins.  The Quaker promotion march goes on.  It was great to see a Darlo home game after an absence of 10 years or so. Hopefully the next tie will be in Darlington.

COME ON DARLO!

The Tin Shed (2014 version)

Damage:
£9 ent
£2.50 programme
80p badge

Darlo Uncovered

The Main Stand (over there...somewhere)