DARLINGTON have signed defender Kallum Griffiths following his departure from fellow National League North side Gateshead.

Griffiths, who started his career in Sunderland’s academy and also had three years in the youth set-up at Bradford City, is best known in North-East circles for his nine-year spell with Spennymoor Town that saw him make more than 380 appearances for the club.

The 31-year-old was a member of the Moors team that won the FA Vase in 2013 and also claimed four Northern League titles and two promotion in the EvoStik league during his time at the Brewery Field.

Quakers fans will remember him for the 40-yard strike that rattled the crossbar in 2015’s play-off semi-final with Spennymoor, and since leaving Moors he has played for York City, where he stayed for two seasons and was part of a side that lost in the National League North play-offs in 2000, and Gateshead.

“Kallum has plenty of experience, which we need at the club,” said Darlington boss Alun Armstrong. “He’s a proper defender first and foremost, and is also good at delivering set-pieces. He’s also a very good character in the dressing room, and when you look at his career, is a winner. I’ve always been interested in him. I spoke to him last year, but at that time he wanted to stay in the full-time game so he joined Gateshead. He’s quite happy now to go part-time with us.”