Darlington's former home Feethams named in top 10 most missed football grounds

The list of ten beloved, long-lost grounds also includes Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Park and Sunderland’s Roker Park and has been compiled for FourFourTwo by Vince Taylor.

After 120 years of playing at their beloved home, in 2003 Quakers were taken to Feethams by then owner George Reynolds to a 25,000-seater stadium on the edge of town named the Reynolds Arena.

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Following a number of financial problems and decreasing crowds they lasted just nine years at the Arena. However, Quakers are currently based at Bishop Auckland’s Heritage Park, but are in talks with Darlington Rugby Club with the hope of returning to the town at Blackwell Meadows.

Feethams is now a housing estate, with streets named after former players including Ron Greener, while the Arena is home to Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club.

FourFourTwo wrote: Of all George Reynolds’ crimes, perhaps the most grievous was the destruction of Feethams. Thanks to his vainglory, in 2003 Darlington left behind a delightful little ground, where the club had comfortably resided since their formation in 1883.

“Indeed, for a club nicknamed The Quakers, Feethams was gentility personified. After entering through the turnstiles, home supporters walked past the cricket pitch which predated the football ground – and for many years, fans could switch ends at half-time.

“Only once in Darlington's history did average crowds at Feethams exceed 10,000, so how they were going to fill an £18m out-of-town 25,000-capacity stadium was never obvious. Sadly, the loss of Feethams eventually led to the closure of Darlington FC itself, though they quickly reformed as Darlington 1883.”