OPERA singer Suzannah Clarke is appealing for someone to join her in a duet.

Her only stipulation is that whoever joins her is a footballer.

Middlesbrough-born Suzannah, who sang before 70,000 fans and 440 million television viewers at Wembley Stadium at the opening of Euro 96, is doing her bit to help crisis-hit Darlington Football Club by leading a fundraising singalong in the town's Cornmill Shopping Centre.

Suzannah, who sang at England's World Cup qualifier against Albania in 2000, and at England's World Cup qualifier against Slovakia last year, is hoping to be joined by a football personality in leading the singalong.

She said: "I am hoping we will do a duet together, and it does not matter if they cannot sing. I will gladly give whoever it is a little singing lesson."

Boro supporter Suzannah will lead shoppers and supporters in singing You'll Never Walk Alone, Here We Go and popular opera pieces. She will sing personal favourites for donations to the Quakers' fighting fund.

She said saving the Quakers was essential. "I think it is very important. It is very easy to follow the big clubs, but it is the smaller clubs which sometimes struggle," she said.

"They are part of a community and are supported by the community and mean so much. People look forward to match days, particularly if a club actually does well.

"It is important not to let these clubs go down. I am very keen to see all clubs like this survive."

She will sing on Saturday, February 21, at a time to be decided. To help, turn up on the day.

* Donations yesterday continued to pour in for The Northern Echo's sponsor-a-minute appeal, in aid of the club.

Our initiative has now raised just over £24,000 to help cover running costs. It involved businesses and individuals sponsoring each of the 90 minutes in Saturday's home game against Rochdale.

Yesterday, pledges came in from Darlington Building Society, Northgate VSL, Elle Corney, Anthony and Kenneth Butcher, Geoff and Joyce Siddle, Susan, Katie and Denise Jefferson, and Mark Eccles.