A SUNDAY league football team sitting rock bottom of their division after a series of double digit defeats are hoping to finally win something – the title of worst football team in the country.

Redhall Tigers FC were only formed in August last year but already have an unenviable record in the Darlington Sunday Football League division one, where they are regularly well beaten by their rivals.

Club captain Neil Richard admitted his players are looking forward to relegation, in the fervent hope that they won’t be the whipping boys of the lower league.

While a defeat of 21-0 against a team of florists from Sunderland in the county cup remains their worst result, the Tigers have shipped dozens of goals so far in the league this season and have a minus 44 goal difference.

Their lone victory came in the league cup against Green Dragon, but even that was only after extra time and penalties.

Goalkeeper Neil said his team are a talented group of young players but added: “I don’t think I can put it into words just how bad we are. We have a lot of people wanting to play for us and a lot of support but we just can’t grind out a result.

“We’ve got five or six players in defence, and they’re really good footballers, but there’s no connection with midfield.

“A lot of people have a laugh at our expense.”

The team have performed so badly that their manager - who had paid for the team's kit - got fed up and quit. Unfortunately, he also took the equipment and kits he'd bought with him.

After a whip round the Tigers were able to buy back their kits and carry on. But their last hope of continuing beyond a disastrous debut season is a competition run by pub chain Flaming Grills to find the worst football team in the country.

The winning team will receive £1,000 in sponsorship from the company.

Despite their poor form, the Tigers have been taken to the hearts of people on the Redhall estate, in Darlington, and they regularly see a decent turn out at home games at Redhall Community Centre.

Mr Richard, 27, who works as a taxi driver, said the aim had always been to create a club for the local community but admitted that funding was a problem.

“That’s why I entered us for this competition,” he added. “A bit of sponsorship would pick the lads up.

“We are taking the game to teams but we are still getting pasted.

“A few players go out with the mentality that we are going to be beaten but we are looking forward to relegation so we can start again. We should never have started out in this league.”

Due to an administrative error the Tigers have been placed in the competition for five-a-side teams and will vie with FC Fazio of Hartlepool, Norfolk’n’Good from Gillingham and Welsh side Scouting for Goals, from Cwmbran, for the title.

The public vote on Flaming Grill’s Facebook page will close on Sunday (January 25).

* The Redhall Tigers play their next game in the league against Darlington’s Spraire Lads, at Redhall Community Centre, at 10.30am on Sunday. If you can't make it there will be a full match report on The Northern Echo's website.