AS one of the older players now in Darlington’s changing room, perhaps it was inevitable that Terry Galbraith would be handed the captaincy at some point, and he is relishing his new status.

He was a 22-year-old midfielder when he signed for Quakers in 2012, and is now an experienced defender and second-longest serving player after Stephen Thompson.

Thompson has also worn the armband this season and so has Simon Ainge, while Reece Styche started the campaign as skipper, but since the turn of the year Galbraith has had the honour.

“We’ve got a relatively quiet team on the pitch with a few young lads, so me being 29 I’m one of the older ones here now. There’s Thommo, Aingey and then me,” said Galbraith.

“I’ve taken a bit more responsibility since being made captain and I like it. I like organising people and, playing centre-back, I can see the full field and pull people around and tell them what to do when we’re on the attack.

“When the gaffer gave me the armband I took it in my stride and now I enjoy having it.

“I was just turned 22 when I came here, so it’s an honour to be captain, I’m grateful that the gaffer has given me the role.

“When you’ve been at a club this long I think it means more, and I think I’ve taken it on quite well.”

Galbraith recently made his 270th appearance so should reach the 300-mark next season, and he fully expects to be with Darlington, saying: “I’ve got one-year left because I signed an extension three months ago.”

He added: “I knew I was approaching 300 because I got to 200 around the time we played Spenny at the start of last season.

“I’ve not missed many games since then so I knew I’d be creeping towards 300.

“I think it’s nice to hit them landmarks – once you’ve got to 200 you’re looking at 250 and then 300.”

However, with four games remaining Galbraith is running out of time to score for the first time this season.

He has netted in each of his seven seasons aside from this one, and said: “I used to take pens, and sometimes things have fallen for me in the box or I’ve managed to score a free-kick, but it hasn’t happened this year. I’ll fight Thommo for the next pen!”