List of Darlington F.C. seasons

Darlington Football Club, an English association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, was founded in 1883. In their second season, they won the major regional trophy, the Durham Challenge Cup,[1] and the following season they entered the FA Cup for the first time, only to lose 8–0 to Grimsby Town.[2] In 1889, Darlington were one of the founder members of the Northern League; they won the league title in 1896 and 1900, and reached the semi-final of the FA Amateur Cup in the same two seasons.[3] The club turned professional in 1908 and joined the North Eastern League. The 1910–11 season saw Darlington reach the last 16 of the FA Cup, progressing through five qualifying rounds to lose to Swindon Town in the third round proper.[2] They won the North Eastern League in 1913 and 1921,[3] and were invited to join the newly formed Football League Third Division North.[4]

Runners-up in their first season in the Football League, Darlington were Third Division North champions three years later, thus winning promotion to the Second Division. Their 15th-place finish in 1926 remains, as of 2020, their best League performance; they were relegated back to the Third Division in 1927, where they remained until the Second World War put an end to competitive football. They came third in 1929–30, but twice had to apply for re-election to the League, in 1932–33 and 1936–37, after finishing in last place in the section.[3] In 1934, they enjoyed their first success in a nationally organised cup competition, defeating Stockport County 4–3 at Old Trafford to win the Football League Third Division North Cup,[2] and reached the final again two years later.[5] In the 1957–58 season, the club equalled their previous best FA Cup run, reaching the last 16 by defeating Chelsea, Football League champions only three years earlier, in the fourth round.[6] When the regional sections of the Third Division were merged in 1958–59 to form two national divisions, Darlington were placed in the fourth tier.[3]

Darlington won promotion to the Third Division in 1965–66, but for one season only.[3] Their most successful season in the League Cup came in 1967–68: drawn away to Brian Clough's Derby County in the quarter-final, they took the lead, only to lose 5–4. During the 1970s the club had to apply for re-election to the League five times.[7] Darlington spent two seasons in the Third Division in the 1980s; their 13th-place finish in 1986 was a record high since the introduction of the four-division structure.[3] Darlington were relegated from the Football League in 1988–89 after 68 years of continuous membership. They made an immediate return as Conference champions, then won the Fourth Division title in 1990–91, but spent only one season in the third tier before relegation followed.[3]

Darlington lost in both the second and the third rounds of the 1999–2000 FA Cup.[8] Manchester United's decision to play in the FIFA Club World Championship rather than the FA Cup left a space in the third round which the organisers filled by drawing lots from among the 20 teams eliminated in the second. Darlington were the "lucky losers", and were beaten 2–1 by Aston Villa in the third round after losing 3–1 to Gillingham in the second.[3][8] They came close to a return to the Third Division via the play-offs in 1996 and 2000,[3] and a period of administration in 2008–09 resulted in a 10-point deduction,[9] without which they would again have reached the play-offs. The following season they were relegated to the Conference for the second time, and went on to reach the 2011 FA Trophy Final, in which Chris Senior scored the only goal of the game in the last minute of extra time to defeat Mansfield Town.[10]

In 2011–12, another period of administration forced the termination of players' contracts before a last-minute injection of funding enabled Darlington to complete the season.[11] The new owners' failure to secure a Company Voluntary Arrangement before exiting administration meant the Football Association treated the club as a new club, placed it in the Northern League, required a change of playing name  Darlington 1883 was chosen  and barred it from entry to national competitions.[12] The new club won the 2012–13 Northern League title by a 13-point margin to gain promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One North for 2013–14,[13] followed two years later by consecutive promotions: first to the Premier Division via the play-offs,[14] then to the National League North as 2015–16 Northern Premier League champions.[15] They were unable to make it three in a row when, despite finishing in the playoff positions in 2016–17, ground grading issues prevented their participation.[16]

The table details their achievements in senior first-team competitions from their first appearance in the FA Cup in 1885–86 to the end of the most recently completed season.

Key

Details of the abandoned 1939–40 Football League season are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.

Seasons

List of seasons, including league division and statistics, cup results and top scorer
Season League[3] FA Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[3][lower-alpha 2] Other[3][5][19] Top league scorer(s)[20]
Division[lower-alpha 3] P W D L F A Pts Pos Competition Result Name Goals
1885–86 R2
1886–87 R1
1887–88 R3
1888–89 QR1
1889–90 Northern[lower-alpha 4] 187654620205th QR1 Not known
1890–91 Northern147072529145th QR4 Not known
1891–92 Northern162311174979th QR4 Not known
1892–93 Northern10217113756th QR4 Not known
1893–94 Northern147162520154th QR1 FA Amateur CupR1 Not known
1894–95 Northern1811075630224th QR3 FA Amateur CupR2 Not known
1895–96 Northern1610425324241st Prelim FA Amateur CupSF Not known
1896–97 Northern1610245435222nd QR4 FA Amateur CupR2 Not known
1897–98 Northern 1[lower-alpha 5] 168264131183rd QR3 FA Amateur CupQF Not known
1898–99 Northern 11610335029232nd QR3 FA Amateur CupQF Not known
1899–1900 Northern 11612314216271st QR1 FA Amateur CupSF Not known
1900–01 Northern2011275537243rd QR2 FA Amateur CupQF Not known
1901–02 Northern189453722223rd Prelim FA Amateur CupR1 Not known
1902–03 Northern24103113450236th QR1 FA Amateur CupR1 Not known
1903–04 Northern24113104849256th QR3 FA Amateur CupR2 Not known
1904–05 Northern249693838244th QR4 FA Amateur CupQF Not known
1905–06 Northern2612774747314th QR4 FA Amateur CupR1 Not known
1906–07 Northern2292113037207th QR1 FA Amateur CupR1 Not known
1907–08 Northern2292113941209th QR4 FA Amateur CupR1 Not known
1908–09 North East34158117673388th QR3 Tommy Charlton16
1909–10 North East32165115954375th QR3 Alec Fraser17
1910–11 North East34195107940434th R3[lower-alpha 6] Alec Fraser17
1911–12 North East3623858434543rd R2 Ginger Owers19
1912–13 North East38314311623661st QR5 Dick Healey41
1913–14 North East38201087243504th QR5 Aaron Travis21
1914–15 North East38254910938544th R1 Aaron Travis40
1915–19
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the First World War.
1919–20 North East3424199344492nd R2 Dick Healey21
1920–21 North East3828467629601st R1 Bill Hooper17
1921–22 Division 3N38226108137502nd R1 Bill Hooper18
1922–23 Division 3N381510135946409th QR6 Bill Hooper16
1923–24 Division 3N42208147053486th R1 David Brown[21]27 ♦
1924–25 Division 3N 42241087833581st R1 David Brown[21]39 ♦
1925–26 Division 24214101872773815th[lower-alpha 7] R2 Mark Hooper18
1926–27 Division 2 421262479983021st R4 Tom Ruddy25
1927–28 Division 3N42215168974477th R3 Bob Gregg21
1928–29 Division 3N421372264883319th R3 Billy Eden11
1929–30 Division 3N422261410873503rd R1 Maurice Wellock34
1930–31 Division 3N4216101671594211th R1 Maurice Wellock23
1931–32 Division 3N401741966693811th R3 Maurice Wellock14
1932–33 Division 3N4210824661092822nd R4 Bob Johnson15
1933–34 Division 3N4213920701013516th R1 Football League Third Division North Cup[lower-alpha 8]W Tom Alderson16
1934–35 Division 3N42219128059515th R2 Football League Third Division North CupR1 Jerry Best31
1935–36 Division 3N421761974794012th R3 Football League Third Division North Cup[lower-alpha 8]F Jerry Best19
1936–37 Division 3N428142066963022nd R4 Football League Third Division North CupSF Albert Brallisford26
1937–38 Division 3N4211102154793219th R1 Football League Third Division North CupR1 Reg Chester10
1938–39 Division 3N421372262923318th R2 Football League Third Division North CupR1 Wilf Feeney13
1939–40 Division 3N3210525[lower-alpha 9] Wally Odell2
1939–45
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War.
1945–46 R2[lower-alpha 10]
1946–47 Division 3N421562168803617th R2 Harry Clarke17
1947–48 Division 3N4213131654703916th R1 Harry Clarke14
1948–49 Division 3N42206168374464th R3 Albert Quinn23
1949–50 Division 3N4211131856693517th R1 Albert Quinn17
1950–51 Division 3N4613132059773918th R1 Harry Yates14
1951–52 Division 3N4611926641033123rd R1 Harry Yates15
1952–53 Division 3N461462658963421st R1 Ken Murray8
1953–54 Division 3N4612142050713821st R1 Les Robson14
1954–55 Division 3N4614141862734215th R3 Dickie Davis16
1955–56 Division 3N461692160734115th R2 14
1956–57 Division 3N461782182954218th R2 Bill Tulip32
1957–58 Division 3N461772278894120th R5[lower-alpha 6] Ron Harbertson15
1958–59 Division 4[lower-alpha 11] 4613161766684216th R3 Dave Carr15
1959–60 Division 4461792063734315th R2 Bobby Baxter14
1960–61 Division 4461813157870497th R2[lower-alpha 12] R3 Bobby Baxter16
1961–62 Division 4441891761734513th R1R1 Lance Robson17
1962–63 Division 4461962172874412th R1R2 Lance Robson18
1963–64 Division 44614122066934019th R1R1 Ken Allison15
1964–65 Division 4461862284874217th R3R2 Jimmy Lawton25
1965–66 Division 4 46259127253592nd R2R4 Bobby Cummings23
1966–67 Division 3 4613112247813722nd R2R2 Bryan Conlon13
1967–68 Division 44612171747534116th R1QF[lower-alpha 13] Bobby Cummings12
1968–69 Division 4461718116245525th R2R2 Allan Gauden15
1969–70 Division 44613102353733622nd R1R2 Ken Hale8
1970–71 Division 44617111858574512th R2R2 Alan Harding17
1971–72 Division 44614112164823919th R2R1 Peter Graham20
1972–73 Division 4467152442852924th R1R1 Peter Graham11
1973–74 Division 44613132040623920th R1R2 Colin Sinclair9
1974–75 Division 44613102354673621st R2R1 Stan Webb16
1975–76 Division 44614102248573820th R1R3 Colin Sinclair21
1976–77 Division 44618131559644911th R3R2 Eddie Rowles13
1977–78 Division 44614131952594119th R1R1 7
1978–79 Division 44611152049663721st R3R3 9
1979–80 Division 4469172050743522nd R2R1 Alan Walsh15
1980–81 Division 4461911166559498th R1R1 Alan Walsh22
1981–82 Division 446151318616258[lower-alpha 14]13th R1R1 David Speedie17
1982–83 Division 44613132061715217th R1R1 Alan Walsh18
1983–84 Division 4461782149505914th R4R2Associate Members' CupR2(N) Alan Walsh10
1984–85 Division 4 46241396649853rd R4R1Associate Members' CupQF(N) Carl Airey16
1985–86 Division 34615131861785813th R1R2Associate Members' CupQF(N) Garry MacDonald16
1986–87 Division 3 467162345773723rd R2R1Associate Members' CupGroup David Currie12
1987–88 Division 44618111771696513th R1R2Associate Members' CupQF(N) David Currie21
1988–89 Division 4 4681820537642 24th[lower-alpha 15] R1R2Associate Members' CupR1(N) Gary Worthington12
1989–90 Conference 4226977625871st R3 John Borthwick19
1990–91 Division 4 46221776838831st R1R2Associate Members' CupR1(N) John Borthwick10
1991–92 Division 3 461072956903724th R2R1Associate Members' CupGroup Lee Ellison10
1992–93 Division 3[lower-alpha 16] 4212141648535015th R1R1Football League TrophyR2(N) Steve Mardenborough11
1993–94 Division 34210112142644121st R1R1Football League TrophyR2(N) Robbie Painter11
1994–95 Division 3421182343574120th R2R1Football League TrophyR2(N) Robbie Painter9
1995–96 Division 346201886042785th[lower-alpha 17] R2R1Football League TrophyGroup Robbie Blake11
1996–97 Division 34614102264785218th R2R2Football League TrophyR1(N) Darren Roberts16
1997–98 Division 34614122056725419th R3R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Darren Roberts12
1998–99 Division 34618111769586511th R2R1Football League TrophyR2(N) Marco Gabbiadini[21]23 ♦
1999–2000 Division 346211696636794th[lower-alpha 18] R3[lower-alpha 19] R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Marco Gabbiadini[21]24 ♦
2000–01 Division 34612132144564920th R2R2Football League TrophyQF(N) Glenn Naylor11
2001–02 Division 34615112060715615th R3R1Football League TrophyR2(N) Ian Clark13
2002–03 Division 34612181658595414th R3R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Barry Conlon15
2003–04 Division 34614112153615318th R1R2Football League TrophyR1(N) Barry Conlon14
2004–05 League 2462012145749728th R1R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Clyde Wijnhard14
2005–06 League 2461615155852638th R1R1Football League TrophyR1(N) Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu10
2006–07 League 24617141552566511th R2R2Football League TrophySF(N) Julian Joachim7
2007–08 League 2462212126740786th R1R1Football League TrophyR2(NE) Tommy Wright13
2008–09 League 246201214614462[lower-alpha 20]12th R1R2Football League TrophySF(N) Liam Hatch9
2009–10 League 2 46863236873024th R1R1Football League TrophyR2(N) Tadhg Purcell9
2010–11 Conference461817116142717th R2 FA TrophyW[lower-alpha 21] Liam Hatch11
2011–12 Conference 46111322477336[lower-alpha 22]22nd QR4 FA TrophyR1 Ryan Bowman10
2012–13 Northern 1[lower-alpha 23] 464024145341221st Amar Purewal[25]24
2013–14 NPL 1N42286810137902nd[lower-alpha 24] FA TrophyQR1 Stephen Thompson[27]24
2014–15 NPL 1N 4228779937912nd[lower-alpha 25] QR1 Graeme Armstrong[29]22
2015–16 NPL 463358106421041st QR1 Nathan Cartman[31]19
2016–17 National N 422210108967765th[lower-alpha 26] QR2 FA TrophyQR3 Mark Beck[32]18
2017–18 National N 4214131558585512th QR2 FA TrophyQR3 11
2018–19 National N 4212141656625016th QR2 FA TrophyQR3 Jordan Nicholson[34]11
2019–20 National N 331461343504810th[lower-alpha 27] R1 FA TrophyR2 Adam Campbell[34]15

Notes

  1. Beginning with the 1925–26 season, the FA Cup was structured so that the third round proper contained 64 teams. Prior to that date, the structure had varied, so rounds are not directly comparable to the round of the same name after 1925. For example, in 1892–93, there were only three rounds proper before the semi-final, as compared to the current six.[17]
  2. The Football League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[18]
  3. Before the 1921–22 season, when Darlington were first admitted to the Football League, divisions are sorted alphabetically. From that season onwards, divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system, and separately from the pre-Football League divisions. Thus the 2012–13 Northern League is sorted separately from the 19th-century Northern League.
  4. Darlington were founder members of the Northern League in the 1889–90 season.[3]
  5. From 1887–88 to 1889–1900, the Northern League had two divisions, before reverting to the single-division format.[3]
  6. Club's best performance in the FA Cup, reaching the last 16.[2][17]
  7. Club's best League finishing position.
  8. Darlington won the inaugural Football League Third Division North Cup, defeating Stockport County 4–3 at Manchester United's ground, Old Trafford.[2] Two years later they reached the final again, this time losing at Feethams, their home ground, to Chester by a score of 2–1.[5]
  9. The 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned with three matches played when the Second World War began.[3]
  10. Although the Football League did not resume until the 1946–47 season, the FA Cup was contested in 1945–46. From the first round proper to the sixth round (quarter-final), results were determined on aggregate score over two legs.[3][17]
  11. Darlington were placed in the Football League Fourth Division when the regional sections of the Third Division were amalgamated into national Third and Fourth Divisions.[3]
  12. Lost to Hull City only after four replays.[17]
  13. Club's best performance in the League Cup, reaching the quarter-final stage.
  14. The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.[18]
  15. Relegated out of the Football League for the first time since their admission to it in 1922.
  16. When the newly formed FA Premier League split from the Football League, the remaining divisions of the Football League were renumbered upwards, so Darlington were relegated from the old Third Division into the new Third Division.[3][18]
  17. In their first appearance at Wembley, lost 1–0 to Plymouth Argyle in the 1996 Third Division play-off Final.[23]
  18. Lost 1–0 to Peterborough United in the 2000 Football League Third Division play-off Final.[24]
  19. Knocked out in the second round, Darlington progressed to the third round as a "lucky loser" as the FA Cup organising committee drew lots from among the second-round losers to fill the gap in the third-round draw left by Manchester United playing in the FIFA Club World Championship instead.[8]
  20. A period spent in administration resulted in a deduction of 10 League points, without which Darlington would have finished in the playoff positions.[9]
  21. Defeated Mansfield Town to win the 2011 FA Trophy Final in their first appearance at the new Wembley Stadium. Chris Senior scored the only goal of the game in the last minute of extra time.[10]
  22. A further period spent in administration resulted in a deduction of 10 League points and confirmed the club in the relegation positions.[11]
  23. The first season under the name Darlington 1883, after failure to secure a Company Voluntary Arrangement before exiting administration caused the Football Association to regard it as a new club, requiring a change of name and placing it in the ninth tier of English football.[12]
  24. Lost the playoff semi-final to fifth-placed Ramsbottom United.[26]
  25. Promoted via play-offs after beating third-placed Bamber Bridge 2–0 in the final.[14]
  26. Finished in the play-off positions but denied participation because of ground grading issues.[16]
  27. The 2019–20 football season was disrupted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National League was suspended in mid-March 2020 and the clubs voted six weeks later to end the regular season programme.[35] Teams had not all played the same number of matches, so it was agreed to construct final league tables on an unweighted points per game basis.[36] Darlington's 61.091 points per game placed them tenth.[37]

References

  1. "Durham Challenge Cup Winners". Dunston Federation F.C. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007.
  2. "History in brief". Darlington F.C. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010.
  3. "Darlington". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  4. "Division 3 1920/21". Footballsite. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  5. "Football League Division Three North Cup Summary – Contents". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  6. "Darlington's three quick goals". The Times. 30 January 1958. p. 12.
  7. "Darlington FC 125th Anniversary 42–83". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 25 April 2009. p. 4 via NewsBank.
  8. "Lucky Darlington land Villa trip". BBC Sport. 1 December 1999. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  9. "Darlington enter administration". BBC Sport. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  10. "FA Trophy final: Darlington 1–0 Mansfield Town". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  11. "Darlington put in administration for third time". BBC Sport. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
    Fraser, Paul (17 January 2012). "No players – but sacked Liddle carries on". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
    "Fans group given time to raise Darlington rescue funds". BBC Sport. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  12. "Darlington to appeal Northern League demotion with FA". BBC Sport. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
    Willis, Joe (21 June 2012). "Quakers lose FA appeal over drop into Northern League". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  13. "Ebac Northern League Division One 1213". Northern Football League. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  14. Stoddart, Craig (2 May 2015). "Darlington delight after winning promotion play-off final". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  15. Wilson, Scott (22 April 2016). "No horror show as Quakers clinch the league title and promotion in style". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  16. Breen, Julia (26 April 2017). "Darlington's promotion dreams are dashed after FA appeal rejected". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  17. "Past Results". The Football Association. Retrieved 26 June 2020. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  18. "History of the Football League". The Football League. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011.
  19. Samuel, Richard (2003). The Complete F.A. Amateur Cup Results Book. Soccer Books Limited. pp. 5–15. ISBN 1-86223-066-8.
  20. For seasons from 1908–09 to 1999–2000: Tweddle, Frank (2000). The Definitive Darlington F.C. Nottingham: Soccerdata. pp. 18–96. ISBN 978-1-899468-15-7.
    For seasons from 2000–01 to 2011–12 select via dropdown menu: "Darlington: Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  21. Ross, James M. (12 June 2009). "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  22. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1990). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 (21st ed.). Queen Anne Press. p. 919. ISBN 0-356-17911-7.
  23. Metcalf, Rupert (26 May 1996). "Pilgrims progress". The Independent. London. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  24. "Posh pull it off at Wembley". BBC Sport. 26 May 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  25. "Division One (League Only) Top Goalscorers 1213". Northern Football League. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  26. Stoddart, Craig (1 May 2014). "Play-off hoodoo goes on for deflated Darlington". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  27. "2013/14 Season Archive: Goal scorers First Division North". Northern Premier League. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  28. "2014/15 Season Archive: The Doodson Sport Cup 14–15 – First Round: Darlington 1883 3–3 Whitby Town". Northern Premier League. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  29. "2014/15 Season Archive: Goal scorers First Division North". Northern Premier League. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  30. "2015/16 Season Archive: Match centre: The Integro Doodson League Cup 15–16 – Third Round Ossett Town 3–1 Darlington 1883". Northern Premier League. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  31. "2015/16 Season Archive: Goal scorers Premier Division". Northern Premier League. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  32. "Top goal scorers: National North". National League. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  33. "Goals and appearances Season 2017–18". Darlington F.C. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  34. "Darlington 1883 FC". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  35. "National League clubs vote to end regular season immediately". BBC Sport. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  36. Osborn, Oliver (17 June 2020). "National League Statement: Ordinary Resolution supported by clubs". The National League. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  37. "Vanarama National League North table". The National League. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
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