List of Darlington F.C. players

Darlington Football Club, an English association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, was founded in 1883. They entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1885–86,[1] were founder members of the Northern League in 1889,[2] turned professional in 1908 and joined the North Eastern League,[1] which they won in 1913 and 1921.[2] The latter win preceded election to the Football League as members of its newly formed Third Division North.[1] Runners-up in their first season, Darlington were Northern Section champions three years later, thus winning promotion to the Second Division. Their 15th-place finish in 1926 remains their best League performance, and they were relegated back to the Third Division the following year. After 68 years of continuous membership, they were relegated from the Football League in 1988–89. Having made an immediate return as Conference champions, they remained in the League until 2010, when they again dropped into the Conference.[2] After Darlington failed to exit administration in a manner acceptable to the Football Association, that body treated it as a new club, required it to change its name (to Darlington 1883), and placed its team in the Northern League, the ninth tier of English football, for the 2012–13 season.[3] Five years later, the FA approved the club's request to resume its traditional name.[4]

The club's first team have competed in numerous nationally organised competitions, and all players who have played in 100 or more such matches, either as a member of the starting eleven or as a substitute, are listed below. Each player's details include the duration of his Darlington career, his typical playing position while with the club, and the number of games played and goals scored in domestic league matches and in all senior competitive matches. Where applicable, the list also includes the national team for which the player was selected, and the number of senior international caps he won.

Introduction

Of the more than 150 men who made 100 or more appearances in nationally organised league competition for Darlington, Alan Walsh and Jerry Best are first and second in the club's all-time scorers list. Davie Brown scored a club record 39 league goals in a single season, from 40 matches in 1924–25 as Darlington were promoted to the Second Division for the only time in their history.[5][6] Frank Gray, Ken Hale and Billy Horner went on to manage the club, while Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison had several spells as caretaker manager.[7]

Other players took part in significant matches in the history of the club. On the opening day of the 1921–22 season, Tommy Winship crossed for Bill Hooper to score Darlington's first Football League goal, against Halifax Town; the goal came so quickly that the Northern Echo reported how Hooper could "in all probability, lay claim to the honour of being the first player to score a goal in the Northern Section of the Third Division".[6] Hughie Dickson scored the second with a penalty kick to make the score 2–0,[8] and George Malcolm, the club's first Football League captain, and Tommy Greaves also played in the match.[6][9] Dan Cassidy scored the last-seconds winner to defeat Stockport County in the inaugural Northern Section Cup final in 1934.[10] Dave Carr and Keith Morton scored two of the goals that earned Darlington a draw with Chelsea, League champions only three seasons earlier, in the fourth round of the 1958–59 FA Cup, and Carr scored again as Darlington won the replay 4–1 to progress to the last 16 of the competition for only the second time in their history.[11] Ray Yeoman captained the team to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1965–66,[12] and Ian Miller was captain and Paul Arnison, Liam Hatch and Sam Russell also played as Darlington won the 2011 FA Trophy Final.[13]

Ten men listed here – goalkeeper Mark Prudhoe, defenders Ron Greener, Liddle, Kevan Smith and John Peverell, midfielders Andy Toman, Alan Sproates and David McLean, and forwards Walsh and Colin Sinclair – were voted by supporters into a "Dream Team" as part of the 2003 Farewell to Feethams celebrations, when the club left its long-time home. The eleventh man, Marco Gabbiadini, played only 98 times for Darlington. Ron Ferguson's goal that eliminated Sheffield Wednesday from the 1976–77 FA Cup was chosen best goal ever scored at the ground.[14]

Key
  • The list is ordered first by number of appearances in total, then by number of League appearances, and then if necessary by date of debut.
  • Appearances as a substitute are included.
  • Statistics are correct up to and including the end of the 2019–20 season. Where a player left the club permanently after this date, his statistics are updated to his date of leaving.
Positions key
Pre-1960s 1960s–
GK Goalkeeper
FB Full back DF Defender
HB Half-back MF Midfielder
FW Forward
Player
Players marked * were registered for the club as at the date specified above.
Players with name in italics and marked were on loan from another club for the duration of their Darlington career. The loaning club is noted in the Notes column, and sourced to Neil Brown's Player Database,[15] to the English National Football Archive, or individually.
Position
Playing positions are listed according to the tactical formations that were employed at the time. Thus the change in the names of defensive and midfield positions reflects the tactical evolution that occurred from the 1960s onwards.[16][15]
Club career
Club career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player appeared for the club in any of the competitions listed below.
League appearances and League goals
League appearances and goals comprise those in the Football League (1921–1989 and 1990–2010), the Football Conference (1989–1990 and 2010–2012) and the National League (2016–present). Appearances in the 1939–40 Football League season, abandoned after three matches because of the Second World War, are excluded.[G 1]
Total appearances and Total goals
Total appearances and goals comprise those in the Football League (including play-offs), Football Conference, National League, FA Cup, Football League Third Division North Cup, Football League Cup, Associate Members' Cup/Football League Trophy, FA Trophy and Conference League Cup. Matches in wartime competitions are excluded.[G 1]
International selection
Countries are listed only for players who have been selected for international football. Only the highest level of international competition is given, except where a player competed for more than one country, in which case the highest level reached for each country is shown.

Players with 100 or more appearances
Craig Liddle made more than 300 appearances for Darlington, and was caretaker manager during their last season under the Darlington F.C. name.[3][17]
Mark Prudhoe won the 1989–90 Football Conference and 1990–91 Fourth Division titles with Darlington.[18]
Sean Gregan returned to Darlington as player-coach in 2012, 16 years after leaving for Preston North End.[19]
After Andy Collett's playing career ended through injury, he stayed on with Darlington as goalkeeping coach.[20]
Mark Convery was man of the match in Darlington's last match in the Football League, against Dagenham & Redbridge on 8 May 2010.[21]
After Darlington's 2010 relegation to the Conference, Sam Russell returned for a third spell with the club.[22] He was in goal, as Darlington won the 2011 FA Trophy Final.[13]
Ian Miller captained Darlington's 2011 FA Trophy-winning team.[13]
Table of players, including playing position, club statistics and international selection
Player Pos Club career League Total International selection Refs
Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ron Greener DF1955–196743954906—
John Peverell DF1961–19724191346514—
Brian Henderson FB1952–196442334633—
Kevan Smith DF
  • 1979–1985
  • 1989–1993
3821944022—
Hughie Dickson HB / FB1919–19344023744046—
Billy Dunn GK1945–195634003590—
Ken Furphy HB1953–196231663498—
Alan Sproates MF1965–19743151734619—
Clive Nattress DF
  • 1972–1980
  • 1985
3031534615—
David McLean MF1979–19862944633752 English schools[23]
Craig Liddle DF1998–20052851732221—[L 1]
Neil Wainwright MF
  • 2000
  • 2001–2008
  • 2012
2642829230—[L 2]
Alan Walsh FW1978–198425187279100—
Bill Rutherford HB1952–195925132694—
Tony Moor GK1965–197223902680—
Jimmy Waugh HB1927–19332361025211—
Jimmy Cochrane DF1975–198022352576—
Steven Gaughan MF
  • 1992–1996
  • 1997–1999
2181825219—
Joe Davison FB1947–195424072498—
Glenn Naylor FW
  • 1995
  • 1996–2003
2134724854—[L 3]
Tommy Greaves FB1921–192722712451—
Phil Brumwell MF
  • 1995–2000
  • 2000–2002
19912384—
Billy Horner DF1969–197521852365—
Lance Robson FW
  • 1960–1964
  • 1968–1970
2136623572—[lower-alpha 1]
Ryan Valentine FB
  • 2002–2006
  • 2008–2009
21042274 Wales U21[24]
Brian Atkinson MF1996–20021931222415 England U21[25]
Colin Sinclair FW1971–19762035922365 Scotland youth[26]
Derek Craig DF1975–19801871021416—
Andy Crosby DF1993–199818132114—
Mark Prudhoe GK1989–199318002090—
Les O'Neill MF1965–19701803520143—
Simon Shaw DF1992–19981761219914 England semi-pro[27]
Sam Russell GK
  • 2002
  • 2004–2007
  • 2010–2012
17301960—[L 1]
Dick Strang HB1933–193817121963—
Garry MacDonald FW1984–19891623519647—
Clark Keltie MF
  • 2002–2008
  • 2012
176919411—
Keith Morton FW1955–19611714919455—
George Malcolm HB1919–192516671897—
Ken Hale FW1968–19721732518828—
Joe Rayment MF1959–19651733118735—
Matt Clarke DF
  • 2002–2006
  • 2006
1711318613—[L 4]
John Eves FB1946–195217611841—
Adam Reed DF
  • 1991–1995
  • 1997
  • 1998–2002
16031843—[L 5]
Andy Toman MF1989–19931551718322—
Joe Hodgson HB1934–193916021812—
Michael Oliver MF1996–20001511417915—
Dan Cassidy HB / FW1927–19371651517819—
Brian Keeble DF1965–196915421762—
Martin Joyce FB1921–192716601750—
Gary Morgan DF1985–198914631753—
Norman Parsley HB1945–19521611417414—
Mark Hine MF1986–19901491417417 England semi-pro[28]
Stephen Thompson MF / FW2013–20201493417441—
Tommy Varty FW1945–19501623217333—[lower-alpha 1]
Joe Jacques HB1965–196915451736—
Gary Himsworth MF
  • 1993–1996
  • 1999–2000
142917111—
Tommy Winship FW1919–19261461717021—
Mark Barnard DF1995–199914341705—
Tom Alderson FW
  • 1933–1936
  • 1938–1939
1514616960—
Tom Kelly HB / FB1938–195115731693—
Ian Miller MF
  • 2007
  • 2007–2011
149916810—[L 6]
Fred Hopkinson HB1928–19331581016710—
Jim Milner FW1957–19611492716728—
Roy Brown FB1947–19561582016422—
Fred Barber GK1983–198613501630—
Sean Gregan DF1991–199613641625—
Geoff Barker DF1971–197515161616—
Terry Galbraith DF / MF2013–20201351515917—
Bill Hooper FW1920–19261416015764—
Trevor Atkinson HB1963–196813931563—
Billy Robinson HB1922–192714301550—
Jimmy Lawton FW
  • 1961–1965
  • 1968–1969
1426315571—
Brian Albeson DF1967–197113621542 England youth[29]
Jimmy Willis DF1988–199112871518—
Phil Lloyd DF1984–198712731505—
Barry Conlon FW
  • 2001–2004
  • 2006
1344514848 Republic of Ireland U21[30]
Herbert Brown FB1928–193213971457—
Peter Carr DF1968–197213511471—
Les McJannet FB1988–1992125614711—
David Crosson DF1976–198012821462—
Dave Carr FW1957–19621325014557—
George Stevens FW1920–19251303814542—
Andy Collett GK1999–200312501450—
Alan Kamara DF1980–198313411441—
Harry Clark FW1950–19571412714327—
Paul Ward MF1985–1988124914311—
Matty Appleby DF
  • 1993–1994
  • 1994–1996
  • 2005–2006
125814212—[L 7]
Steve Tupling MF
  • 1984–1987
  • 1992
122814210—
Eric Young MF1974–19781301514115 England youth[31]
Harry Bell HB1955–19591261914123—
Dennis Wann MF1976–19791211314115—
John Stone DF1976–19791201414115—
John Borthwick FW1989–19921173414140—
Alan Harding MF1970–19731293714038—
Allan Gauden MF1968–19721273914043—
Jimmy Seal FW1976–19791221914022—
Billy Coulthard FB1934–193711901370—
Steve Mardenborough MF1990–19931231913621—
Robbie Painter FW / MF1993–19961152813634—
George McGeachie MF1964–1966119913510—
Alan Roberts MF1985–19881191913519—
Paul Heckingbottom DF1999–200211551356—[L 2]
Billy Eden FW
  • 1928–1929
  • 1932–1935
1193113436—
Ian Clark MF2001–20051192613427—
Peter Graham MF1970–19731194413145—
Steve Holbrook MF1972–19771161213113 English schools[32]
Peter Robinson DF1985–198811251307 England semi-pro[33]
Neil Maddison MF2001–200611541294—
John Stalker FW1979–19821163612838—
Tom Halliday FB / HB1929–193311821273 English schools[34]
Ron Ferguson FW1976–19801141812722—
David Cork FW1989–19921052312731—
Tommy Ward FW1948–19531193212534—
Phil Owers GK
  • 1973–1975
  • 1976–1980
11401250—
Norman Lees DF1971–197612051245—
Mark Hooper FW1924–19271164312443—
Jackie Maltby FW1961–19651143212436—
Jerry Best FW1933–19361096712480—
Ernie Devlin FB1954–195711511221—
Eddie Rowles FW1975–19771032112225—
Don Burluraux MF1972–19751121312013—
Pat Cuff GK1980–198311001200 English schools[35]
John Towers FW / HB1935–19461072212027—
Kevin Todd FW1983–19851022312026—[L 7]
Bobby Baxter FW / FB
  • 1959–1961
  • 1969–1970
1063111933—
Ray Yeoman MF1964–196710421182—
Alan White DF
  • 2007–2009
  • 2010
  • 2013–2015
9941188—[L 8]
Richard Hodgson MF2000–200398611710—
George Mulholland DF1960–196310601160—
Lee Ellison FW
  • 1990–1994
  • 1998–1999
1002011523—
Cliff Mason FB1952–195510701140—
Barry Lyons MF1976–1979971011412—
Andy Greig GK1919–19249501140—
Gordon Cattrell MF1973–197610251126 English schools[36]
Martin Burleigh GK
  • 1974–1975
  • 1977–1979
10101120—
Darren Roberts FW1996–1999963311238—
Ian Hamilton MF1979–19821031911019—
Bobby Simpson FW1936–1947961411015—
Maurice Wellock FW1929–19321047110974 English schools[37]
Jimmy McKinnell HB1926–192910111091—
Sandy Cochrane FW1926–19291002410925—
Mark Convery MF
  • 2001–2005
  • 2009–2010
9731094—
Peter Johnson DF1983–19858921082—
Davie Brown FW1923–1926977410777—
Steve Foster DF2007–20109221073—
Ray Spencer HB1958–19619751067 English schools[38]
Andy Mitchell FW1929–1932993210533—
Dickie Davis FW1954–1957933210535 English schools[39]
David Preece GK1997–19999101040—
Liam Hatch FW
  • 2008–2009
  • 2010–2012
  • 2014
852210429 England semi-pro[L 9][40]
Dave Hawker MF
  • 1980–1982
  • 1984
9521033—
Frank Gray DF1989–19928581039 Scotland[41]
Paul Arnison DF2009–20128931014—
Paul Emson MF1988–1991821210012—

Players with fewer appearances
Main articles: List of Darlington F.C. players (25–99 appearances) and List of Darlington F.C. players (1–24 appearances)

Notes
  1. Content sourced to the English National Football Archive because of typo or inconsistency in Tweddle (2000).

Player statistics include games played while on loan from:

  1. Middlesbrough
  2. Sunderland
  3. York City
  4. Bradford City
  5. Blackburn Rovers
  6. Ipswich Town
  7. Newcastle United
  8. Luton Town
  9. Peterborough United

References

General sources

  • Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  • Tweddle, Frank (2000). The Definitive Darlington F.C. Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-899468-15-7.

Sources for appearances and goals

Specific

  1. "History in brief". Darlington F.C. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010.
  2. "Darlington". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  3. Willis, Joe (21 June 2012). "Quakers lose FA appeal over drop into Northern League". Darlington & Stockton Times. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  4. Coney, Steven (4 April 2017). "Football Association approve Darlington's wishes to revert to historic Darlington FC name". The Non-League Paper. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  5. "Club honours and records". Darlington F.C. 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
  6. "Darlington FC 125th Anniversary 1–41". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 25 April 2009. p. 2. Retrieved 31 December 2014 – via NewsBank.
  7. "Darlington: Manager history". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
    "Darlington put squad up for free". BBC Sport. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
    "Darlington part company with manager Steve Staunton". BBC Sport. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  8. "Darlington v. Halifax Town". Yorkshire Post. 29 August 1921. p. 4.
  9. Tweddle (2000), p. 23.
  10. "Northern Section Cup Final. Stockport beaten". Manchester Guardian. 2 May 1934. p. 3. Then, when the referee had his watch in his hand, Cassidy dribbled through the Stockport defence, and he had no sooner shot the ball into the net than the whistle sounded for the finish of the match.
  11. "Chelsea fight back". Manchester Guardian. 27 January 1958. p. 20.
    "Darlington's hour of glory". Manchester Guardian. 30 January 1958. p. 4.
    Amos, Mike (29 January 2008). "The day Greener's Darlington made FA Cup clowns of Chelsea". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  12. "Darlington FC 125th Anniversary 42–83". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 25 April 2009. p. 4. Retrieved 31 December 2014 – via NewsBank.
  13. Stoddart, Craig (9 May 2011). "Senior moment means delight for Darlington". Darlington & Stockton Times. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  14. "Looking back at the past". Farewell to Feethams Online. Darlington Supporters Trust. Archived from the original on 18 January 2005.
    "Stars come out for party". Evening Gazette. Middlesbrough. 1 May 2003. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  15. "Darlington: 1946/47–1988/89 & 1990/91–2009/10". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  16. Joyce (2004), pp. 6–291.
  17. Brown, Steve (24 January 2012). "Future is bright at Darlington, says Craig Liddle". The Journal. Newcastle. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  18. Stoddart, Craig (17 May 2010). "Glory days so clear in Prudhoe's mind". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  19. Wilkinson, Andrew (14 October 2010). "Chris Moore returns to Darlington". The Gazette. Middlesbrough. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
    Stoddart, Craig (4 June 2012). "Darlington make six new signings". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  20. "Collett adapting slowly". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  21. Stoddart, Craig (10 May 2010). "Darlington 0 Dagenham & Redbridge 2". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  22. "Goalkeeper Sam Russell extends Darlington stay". BBC Sport. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  23. "David McLean". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  24. "Ryan Valentine". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  25. "Brian Atkinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  26. "Colin Sinclair". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  27. "Simon Shaw". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  28. Metcalf, Rupert (3 March 1995). "England leave it late". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  29. "Brian Albeson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  30. "Barry Conlon". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  31. "Eric Young". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  32. "Steve Holbrook". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  33. "Peter Robinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  34. Joyce (2004), p. 112.
  35. "Pat Cuff". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  36. "Gordon Cattrell". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  37. Joyce (2004), p. 275.
  38. "Ray Spencer". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  39. "Dickie Davis". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  40. "Liam Hatch". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  41. "Frank Gray". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
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