DARLINGTON are relaunching their Football in the Community scheme following last season’s successful return to the club’s hometown.

The Quakers’ community arm was disbanded after a spell in administration forced the club’s relocation to Bishop Auckland, but with a new home at Blackwell Meadows, there is a desire to once again strengthen links with local youngsters.

The new Football in the Community scheme will work with local primary schools to help nurture a new generation of Darlington fans.

Primary school pupils will be able to enjoy a ‘match-day experience’ at a Darlington game in the Vanarama National League North, introducing them to football as a way to keep fit and improve their social skills.

They will meet at Darlington’s home ground two hours before kick-off, and will receive a tour of the ground, have a chat and photos with the players in the dressing room and compete in a penalty shoot-out on the field.

The community scheme will also deliver a series of football coaching sessions, which can form part of the match-day experience or take the form of specialist sessions within schools.

The initiative will be led by Deano Browne, who has extensive experience of Football in the Community schemes and is a qualified UEFA B coach.

Browne said: “Our aim is to persuade more youngsters who live in Darlington to become interested in the club. There are lots of them wearing the shirts of Premier League clubs, we would like to see more wearing Darlington shirts instead.

“Through our football coaching sessions, we can offer enrichment in various ways for all the youngsters.”

Darlington-born Browne is ideally-placed to lead the scheme – as a child his first became a Quakers supporter through Football in the Community.
“I took penalties on the pitch at half-time during a match at Feethams for my school, Gurnsey Pease, and that’s where it all started, it’s how I became a Darlington fan.”

David Johnston, Darlington’s chief executive officer, added: “We pride ourselves on being an integral part of the Darlington community, and with that we have a social responsibility by providing a match-day experience for children and visiting their schools to demonstrate the benefits of playing football and staying healthy.

“Engaging with the community is one of our main aims, and hopefully some of these children will become regular fans of our family-friendly club.”

More information on the Football in the Community scheme is available by Emailing fitc@darlingtonfc.org or media@darlingtonfc.org.