Why we invested £10,000 in saving Darlington Football Club (From The Northern Echo)

Why we invested £10,000 in saving Darlington Football Club

8:43pm Monday 20th February 2012 in Peter Barron By Peter Barron

THE shares scheme aimed at securing the future of Darlington Football Club in community ownership has got off to a start that has exceeded all expectations.

Tonight, the running total smashed through the £200,000 barrier and, within a week of the launch, we are well on schedule to reach the £250,000 target of phase one of the campaign.

The Northern Echo has been at the heart of the campaign to save the club from the outset and today we announced our commitment to buy £10,000 worth of shares.

It was not a decision we took lightly. These are challenging economic times and we recognise the sensitivities of investing such a large amount of money in the future of a football club with a troubled recent history.

But it was a decision we felt we had to take as the predominant local paper in the Darlington area.

Had we not supported the campaign, through invaluable publicity and a significant financial contribution, we would have been condemned.

Darlington Football Club is part of our business - daily coverage of its fortunes help sell our paper.

But, more than that, we have a responsibility to a heritage which goes back to 1883.

Other local businesses will be grappling with the dilemma of whether to invest in the crisis-hit club at a time of economic strife. No one should imagine that it is an easy decision to make, nor take investment for granted.

But hundreds of individuals have already shown they care about Darlington Football Club by investing hard-earned cash to the value of £215,000 and counting.

Having put our £10,000 on the table, we hope other businesses can find a way to follow suit.