THE death of Irish crooner Ronnie Carroll was reported this week and prompted a memory from Darlington and Stockton Times deputy editor and Darlington Football Club fan Andy Brown.
During one of the Quakers' recurring cash crises, this time in the early eighties, there was a fundraising campaign to raise £50,000 to ensure the club’s survival. The appeal was backed by the Evening Despatch and The Northern Echo.
One of the fundraisers was a variety concert at the Civic Theatre. Among the ‘attractions’ was a dance performance, in tutus, by, among others, Despatch and Echo football writers Dave Lewis and Jim Gilchrist.
Top of the bill was Ronnie Carroll. His most famous hit was Roses are Red, and he twice represented the UK at Eurovision, in 1962 and 1963, with Ring-A-Ding Girl and Say Wonderful Things, finishing fourth both times.
The £50,000 was raised and Quakers lived to fight another day.
More than 30 years on, the Quakers are still appealing for help to survive. Our current Darlington FC reporter is Craig Stoddart but he wouldn't be much of a tutu draw.