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Trust elects first board
 DARLINGTON SUPPORTERS' TRUST, has elected its first board, which was endorsed at its AGM on June 8th at the town's Railway Athletic Club (11am).
The meeting, almost a year to the day the first informal gathering to discuss setting a Trust up was held, saw Pete Ashmore elected as chairman, Hannah Taylor as secretary and Colin Tinkler as treasurer.
Peter Stockill, Geoff Gale, Ted Blair and Doug Embleton were also elected to the board. Meanwhile, Chris Sowerby (of Darlington's Football in the Community) and Margaret Tinkler have become the first co-opted members.
Ashmore outlined that the Trust was intending to push ahead with the aim of fans' representation, having shown already it has positive contributions to make for the good of the club and wider community.
The "Farewell to Feethams" exhibition, fund-raising for youth development and the initial work of the Trust ideas' group - including a possible stadium transport scheme - were outlined.
Membership has also passed the 160 mark - with renewals now due for £5 (£1 under 16's)
The idea behind the Trust was to launch a united, independent and positive platform for supporters to have a voice.
It brings together fans, including those who're members of the Supporters' Club, the away supporters' group DAFTS and various other groups.
The Trust is one of 63 currently in existence at football clubs at all levels, supported by the Government-backed Supporters Direct organisation.
The Darlington Supporters' Trust is committed to a community role, to establishing links with the town and other organisations within it. If you've had an interest in the club, big or small, now or in the past - we'd be delighted to hear from anyone.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
* The formation of a "single, unified representative group" for all Darlington fans.
* Setting up a line of communication between the club and its loyal supporters, as we move to a new stadium.
* A platform for regular, forward-looking discussions
* Fund-raising
* Community involvement
We're recruiting members - it costs a flat rate of £5 a season - and looking for volunteers within the town who think they can help.
OUR BACKERS
Supporters include MPs Alan Milburn, Tony Blair and William Hague and other MPs, who've all sent very encouraging letters of support.
Darlington Mayor, Councillor Isobel Hartley said she was sure the relationship the Trust hoped to forge with the local community "will be good for the game and good for the town."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Log onto the Trust website on www.darlotrust.co.uk or e-mail us at darlotrust@hotmail.com or at the e-mail in the left hand column.
TO BECOME A MEMBER
Application forms are available online from www.darlotrust.co.uk or send a stamped addressed envelope to: Darlington Supporters Trust, Standalone Farm, Croft-on-Tees, Darlington, Co. Durham.
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"Farewell to Feethams" in the frame
It's all black and white for the Trust - a way of marking the historic move from Feethams football ground later this year
The Farewell to Feethams exhibition opened in July, with more than 6,000h fans flocking to the town's Arts Centre.
As its centre-piece, was a collection of photographs celebrating the last few months of the club's 120-year association with the old stadium.
There are also archive photographs supplied by the Northern Echo and supporters.
A memorabilia case - including old shirts, programmes, fanzines - and the Conference and Div 4 championship trophies was also featured.
There were also sound memories - recordings of old fans and players remembering Feethams and characters from the 1930s-1950s - and "Feethams Greatest Games" - as voted in an online poll.
The exhibition was officially opened by Darlington chairman George Reynolds, who has promised the photo collection will have a permanent home in the new stadium.
Former players, including long servants Ron Greener and John Peverell were at the launch night.
Members of the current squad were at the press preview, with the exhibition attracting coverage on BBC Look North, Tyne Tees, Radio Cleveland and Alpha Radio.
FAREWELL TO FEETHAMS ON TOUR The show is at the Greenfield community college and arts centre, Newton Aycliffe, September 23-27th. See more details on www.darlotrust.co.uk |
Bits and pieces
 SPONSOR-A-GOAL A sponsor-a-goal scheme has been launched, with fans able to sponsor individual players, the team or how goals are scored as a way of raising money. Youth development and a local community initiative - to be decided - will eventually benefit. Forms are available via the www.darlotrust.co.uk website.
PUMP UP THE VOLUME The Trust hosted a Books Night during the Farewell to Feethams exhibition, which helped launched Ray Simposon and Andrew Wilkinson's new book of Darlington players' and fans' memories. It's available for £8 from the Trust table at Strikers on match days or from the club shop. Author Simon Inglis was the special guest at the evening in August.
NEWSLETTER The Trust's third newsletter will be out in October. Meanwhile, anyone with anything to add is asked to e-mail us.
THINKING ALOUD A Trust "think tank" is working on a series of ideas and practical "nuts and bolts" issues which members can become involved in - and hopefully channel towards the club. Members will have their chance to have their say in the near future.
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Taylor-made backing for Trust
Darlington manager Tommy Taylor thanked Quakers' fans for their support over the season - with a special word for the work of the Supporters' Trust.
He told The Northern Echo: "If the Supporters Trust helps the club in any way at all I'm all for it.
"Anything that's going to help the club I'm all for, and if they want to help the youth side of the club, that's excellent."
The Trust has only been in existence since September but it is already involved in fundraising for the club and community, particularly the youth development side
of Darlington.
The Farewell to Feethams project, which involves a photographic exhibition to celebrate the club and fans at the ground, was set-up by the Trust while the project also includes a girls' soccer coaching scheme over the summer as well as writing workshops with local children.
Acting secretary of the Trust, Peter Ashmore, said: "Since its formation last year, we now have over 130 members striving to promote Darlington Football Club and its fans within the community and town of Darlington; trying to put
something back into both."
Taylor also praised the backing supporters generally had given the club.
"I knew the North-East fans were supposed to be committed but I never expected them to be as mad keen as they've been at Darlington."
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