DARLINGTON defender Gary Brown is on the verge of being in the unusual position of winning two title medals for his efforts this season, but he wants only one of them.

Brown returned to Quakers midway through the season and played an integral part in helping the team win the Northern Premier League title, while former club Shildon are almost guaranteed the same honour at their level.

They are 13 points clear at the top of the Northern League and require five more from three games to secure top spot ahead of Marske United.

Brown, however, would pass on the opportunity of a Northern League medal, saying: “I think I played enough games (for a medal) but I would pass it on to one of their lads because they’ve got a massive squad.

“I didn’t play too well at Shildon, if I’m honest.

“Sometimes the shoe fits, as they say, and Darlington is my club. If I’d been released last year it would’ve been a different story, but it had been my decision to leave.

“But I just couldn’t let go (of Darlington) and it had a detrimental effect on my performances for Shildon.”

Next season Brown and team-mates will be in the National League North, having last weekend completed their fixtures by winning the Northern Premier League.

“It’s definitely been harder,” said Brown. It’s been another step up the ladder, teams are harder and you get punished for your mistakes, as you saw on Saturday at Rushall.

“It has been a massive achievement.”

The Darlington squad and manager Martin Gray celebrate the team’s title win this evening in Darlington’s market square.

They will leave from Blackwell Meadows in an open-top bus at 6.15pm before arriving in the square at 6.30pm.

The celebrations in the town centre will kick off at 6.15pm with 12-year-old singer Olivia Kate Smith taking to the stage before Darlington mayor, Coun Tom Nutt, welcomes the club back to Darlington.

Gray, said: “It’s a great honour for the club to be asked to bring the trophy to the market square, and to allow our supporters a close-up view of it.

“We hope lots of people come along and that it’s a great evening. Thanks to everyone who has organised it.”