THE Feethams brick, saved when the “twin towers of the north” were toppled in 2013, raised an amazing £85 at auction recently for St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington.
The brick was one of only three that was salvaged from the distinctive towers at the entrance to the old Darlington FC ground. The towers were built in 1913, ten years before the more famous twin towers of Wembley stadium were built.
READ THE FULL STORY OF THE FEETHAMS BRICK, AND THE DEMOLITION OF THE TWIN TOWERS, HERE
The brick was auctioned by Thomas Watson in Darlington along with 28 lots which were donated by members of the Rotary Club with all proceeds going to the hospice.
The story inspired John Young to send in his inspired painting of the Feethams towers that he did in 2013.
John, a season ticket holder with the Quakers for the last 30 years, said: “I tried to do it as a cross between LS Lowry and Norman Cornish but it ended up mostly being John Young.”
It is still very atmospheric, capturing the excitement of arriving in the dark for a Tuesday night match with the pitch brilliantly illuminated.
“There’s something about floodlights – when you’re watching the game and the rain is going diagonally across them and you’re thinking ‘Am I really enjoying this?’,” says John. “It’s funny, you never remember the warm summer nights.”
The twin towers were one of the most memorable aspects of Feethams, although several people have mentioned the wall that was built in 1998 behind the East Stand (above). Fans donated £25 to have their name pressed into 270 bricks that formed the wall, but when the club left Feethams in 2003, the wall stayed in place.
In February 2006, as demolition of the old ground began, fans were assured that the wall would be saved but in the March it was destroyed.
The scar in the tarmac is where the "Wall of Heroes" once stood at Feethams
Tony Taylor, chairman of Darlington Supporters Trust, said at the time: "It is a great shame. It was part of the Feethams heritage, and is now part of the ongoing Feethams tragedy.”
But not all of Feethams’ heritage has been lost. We hear that a turnstile has been returned to the town and will soon be going on display. More on that in the New Year…
The East Stand being demolished at Feethams
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