Darlington 0-3 Chorley, Saturday 7th January 2023

Darlington 0-3 Chorley, National League North, Blackwell Meadows, att. 1,727

I’m meeting up with a mate, Kev, today, so I thought I’d treat myself. Not for me the drive to Darlo, and restriction of ale; I’m going to catch the bus, get there early and have a few ales. Well, that was the plan. Sadly, This is England, 2023. The 12:08 ‘service’ fails to arrive. The 12:28, ditto. The electronic information board gives the barest of information – the time of the buses. Indeed, periodically, it tells us to ‘refer to the timetable’. (Thus, all the electronic board does is repeat the information already available on the bus stand.) The only information it gives is when the bus is due. When the due time duly arrives, the time disappears. There is no information as to what has happened to these services, whether they’re late, whether they even set off at all (from Durham City). I am appalled, but at least I can walk the 15 minutes home and take the car. The octogenarian lady who’s been waiting at the bus stop since I got there doesn’t have that option, nor do thousands of other people in the region who’re reliant on public transport.

The 12:48 DOES run. I know this, cos I saw it from the car as I passed through town. I still needed to visit the garage for air (I’ve got a slow puncture). One looks forward all week to footie on a Satdy and then there’s this. At least I have a smooth run to Darlo, picking Kev up and parking nearer to the ground than normal, since we’re still relatively early. I know we’re early – we get beers in the social club without having to wait 20 minutes in a queue. Alcohol isn’t allowed outside though (quickly negating the advantage of non-lge football – I’d considered going to South Shields today, a far better matchday experience, but, y’know, mates are important.)

With visitors Chorley not being of sufficient rivalry, we could stand where we liked today. The ‘away’ end, a grass bank 20 yards from the touchline, or the Tin Shed, behind the opposite goal? Well, with Darlo kicking towards the Tin Shed 1st half, we headed there. Cosy and covered, we found a spot near to a bloke Kev knows. (Surely ALL Darlo fans know each other?) And for 20 minutes it was one-way traffic, as it looked a matter of time before the home side opened the scoring. Even the ref could see it. Otherwise why else would he only book the goalkeeper for deliberately handling the ball outside the area as the centre forward was about to round him for an open goal? Without knowing it at the time, this took the wind out of the Quakers’ sails.

Half-time came round, scoreless. A flick through the programme offered the nugget that Darlo were the last visitors to Hull City’s Boothferry Park (winning 1-0). What a difference the two clubs’ fortunes have been since; Hull, Premiership and 2 goals up in the FA Cup Final v Arsenal….Darlo, administration, tumbling out of the league, FA Trophy win, bankrupt…though a renaissance of sorts, having scrambled their way up to the 6th tier from the 9th level Northern League. This season’s resurgence (top of National League North, though Kings Lynn have games in hand) has come as a pleasant surprise. So perhaps today’s proverbial kick in the nads was strangely comforting. The second half reverted to type, Darlo fell apart and couldn’t get out of their own half. Still, Kev and I hadn’t moved, so at least all the action was this end…Chorley romping home 0-3 and much of the crowd having left long before the end. Still, no national headlines this week, which represents progress of sorts. Last week’s game at Scarborough was held up for 40 minutes as the ref took the teams off due to misogynistic abuse of the lineswoman. And at least I was home in good time. None of that reliance on local public transport.

The Damage:
£15 ent
£3 programme= £18*

*Kev got the beers in, which was nice. Staropramen.

The Tunes:
Vulture Prince (Arooj Aftab)