Wedding blow for Darlington FC player (From The Northern Echo)
Send us your pictures, video, news and views by texting NORTHERN ECHO to 80360 or email us
Wedding blow for Darlington FC player
8:40am Saturday 4th February 2012 in News
VENUE PROBLEMS: Kris Taylor and his fiancee, Jenny Read, with their daughter, Lydia
A DARLINGTON footballer who has not been paid for three months has suffered another blow after the venue he had booked for his wedding closed suddenly.
Defender Kris Taylor was preparing to marry long-time fiancee Jenny Read at Weston Hall, a stately home in his home town of Stafford, in June.
He found out on Thursday that the property had closed, leaving dozens of couples in the lurch.
The couple, both 28, who live in the West Park area of Darlington with their one-year-old daughter, Lydia, said they have lost their deposit of about £1,000 and face a struggle to find another venue in time.
The news came as Mr Taylor, who joined Darlington FC from Port Vale last summer, and the rest of his teammates face continuing uncertainty about the future of the club.
He said: “We heard from an old coach of mine at Port Vale whose daughter is in the wedding industry that the venue had closed.
“My mum went up there to have a look and it is all closed up and the phone is cut off. We have got a couple of venues in the pipeline, but it will be difficult.”
Mr Taylor moved to Darlington following a transfer last summer.
He said the club’s precarious financial situation and the lack of solid information about its future has been tough on the players and staff.
He said: “I was last paid in October, although some of the lads did get a wage in November, and then in January we were paid something from what the supporters had raised for us.
“I do not want to sound like I am moaning because there are people out there who have it far worse, but I know it has been difficult for everyone.
“There were a few lads who had half an opportunity to move on in the transfer window, but I think everyone said the same thing and said we do not want to go anywhere at the moment. We only know what is going on through the media. We know as much as anyone else – and sometimes even less.”
