THERE has been no shortage of dishonourable characters who have featured in the proud but turbulent history of Darlington Football Club over the years.

But there have also been plenty who have acted in the best interests of the Quakers.

Harvey Madden, who died this week aged 66 after a dignified battle against leukaemia, will be remembered as one of the latter.

Football club administrators, appointed in the midst of financial crisis, seldom become popular figures, but Mr Madden became just that because of his passion for grass roots sport, his generosity of spirit, and his determination to find a way forward when all hope seemed lost.

Darlington Football Club would have been consigned to history had it not been for Mr Madden's willingness to go the extra mile to find a way out of the big black hole the Quakers were in three years ago.

Long after his official responsibilities as administrator had ended, he continued to give his time and invaluable expertise on a voluntary basis.

His financial acumen as an accountant was combined with diplomacy, patience and a genuine love of sport to help guide the club away from extinction, and his role should not be underestimated.

Wouldn't it be nice if, at Darlington's next home game, the Quakers' fans came up with what would surely be a first in the world of football – a new chant in honour of a former administrator: "One Harvey Madden, there's only one Harvey Madden."