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 1884–85,^[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 an acceptable manner, the Football Association treated it as a new club, required it to change its name (to Darlington 1883), and placed the team in the Northern League, the ninth tier of English football, for the 2012–13 season.^[3]

All players who have played 100 or more matches in the Football League, 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 Football League 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. The names are ordered first by number of appearances and then if necessary by date of debut (earliest first).

Introduction

Of the 128 men who made 100 or more career appearances in the Football League for Darlington, Alan Walsh and Jerry Best are first and second in the club's all-time scorers list.^[4] Ken Hale and Billy Horner went on to manage the club, while Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison had several spells as caretaker manager.^[5]

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,^[7] and George Malcolm, the club's first Football League captain, and Tommy Greaves also played in the match.^[6][8] Dan Cassidy scored the last-second winner to defeat Stockport County in the inaugural Northern Section Cup final in 1934.^[9] 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.^[10] Ray Yeoman captained the team to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1965–66.^[11]

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 Farewell to Feethams celebrations, when the club left its long-time home in 2003. The eleventh man, Marco Gabbiadini, played only 82 times for Darlington in the League. Ron Ferguson's goal that eliminated Sheffield Wednesday from the 1976–77 FA Cup was chosen best goal ever scored at the ground.^[12]

Key

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.

Club career

Club career is defined as the first and last seasons in which the player appeared for the club in the Football League: e.g. the club career of a player making his league debut in the 1965–66 season and his final appearance in 1967–68 will be listed as 1965–1968.

League appearances and League goals

League appearances and goals are those in the Football League only. Appearances in the 1939–40 Football League season, abandoned after three games because of the Second World War, are excluded.

International selection

Countries are listed only for players who have been selected for international football. Only the highest level of international competition is given.

Players with 100 or more appearances

Craig Liddle

Between his two spells with Darlington, Ryan Valentine scored a goal that kept Wrexham in the Football League.^[13]

Mark Prudhoe won the 1989–90 Football Conference and 1990–91 Fourth Division titles with Darlington.^[14]

Sean Gregan returned to Darlington as player-coach in 2012, 16 years after leaving for Preston North End.^[15]

After Andy Collett's playing career ended through injury, he stayed on with Darlington as goalkeeping coach.^[16]

After Darlington's 2010 relegation to the Conference, Sam Russell returned for a third spell with the club. He was in goal for the 2011 FA Trophy Final victory.^[17]

Table of players, including playing position, club statistics and international selection

Name	Position	Club career	League apps	League goals	International selection	Refs
Greener, RonRon Greener	DF	1955–1967	439	5	—
Henderson, BrianBrian Henderson	FB	1952–1964	423	3	—
Peverell, JohnJohn Peverell	DF	1961–1972	419	13	—
Dickson, HughieHughie Dickson	HB / FB	1921–1934	402	37	—
Smith, KevanKevan Smith	DF	1979–1985 1990–1993	343	16	—
Dunn, BillyBilly Dunn	GK	1946–1956	340	0	—
Furphy, KenKen Furphy	HB	1953–1962	316	5	—
Sproates, AlanAlan Sproates	MF	1965–1974	315	17	—
Nattress, CliveClive Nattress	DF	1972–1980 1985–1986	303	15	—
McLean, DavidDavid McLean	MF	1979–1986	294	46	England schoolboys	[18]
Liddle, CraigCraig Liddle	DF	1997–1998 1998–2005	285	17	—	[L 1][19]
Wainwright, NeilNeil Wainwright	MF	1999–2000 2001–2008	252	28	—	[L 2]
Walsh, AlanAlan Walsh	FW	1978–1984	251	87	—
Rutherford, BillBill Rutherford	HB	1952–1959	251	3	—
Davison, JoeJoe Davison	FB	1946–1954	240	8	—
Moor, TonyTony Moor	GK	1965–1972	239	0	—
Waugh, JimmyJimmy Waugh	HB	1926–1933	236	10	—
Greaves, TommyTommy Greaves	FB	1921–1928	227	1	—
Cochrane, JimmyJimmy Cochrane	DF	1974–1980	223	5	—
Horner, BillyBilly Horner	DF	1969–1975	218	5	—
Gaughan, StevenSteven Gaughan	MF	1991–1996 1997–1999	218	18	—
Robson, LanceLance Robson	FW	1960–1964 1968–1970	213	65	—
Naylor, GlennGlenn Naylor	FW	1995–1996 1996–2003	213	47	—	[L 3]
Valentine, RyanRyan Valentine	FB	2002–2006 2007–2009	210	4	Wales U21
Sinclair, ColinColin Sinclair	FW	1971–1977	203	59	Scotland youth
Brumwell, PhilPhil Brumwell	MF	1995–2000 2000–2002	199	1	—
Atkinson, BrianBrian Atkinson	MF	1996–2002	193	12	England U21
Craig, DerekDerek Craig	DF	1975–1980	187	10	—
Crosby, AndyAndy Crosby	DF	1993–1998	181	3	—
Oneill, LesLes O'Neill	MF	1964–1970	179	35	—
Eves, JohnJohn Eves	FB	1946–1952	176	1	—
Shaw, SimonSimon Shaw	DF	1991–1998	176	12	England semi-pro[20]
Rayment, JoeJoe Rayment	MF	1958–1965	173	31	—
Hale, KenKen Hale	FW	1968–1972	173	25	—
Strang, DickDick Strang	HB	1933–1938	171	2	—
Morton, KeithKeith Morton	FW	1955–1961	171	49	—
Clarke, MattMatt Clarke	DF	2002–2006 2006–2007	171	13	—	[L 4]
Malcolm, GeorgeGeorge Malcolm	HB	1921–1926	166	7	—
Joyce, MartinMartin Joyce	FB	1921–1927	166	0	—
Cassidy, DanDan Cassidy	HB / FW	1927–1937	165	15	—
Hodgson, JoeJoe Hodgson	HB	1933–1939	163	2	—	[lower-alpha 1]
Varty, TommyTommy Varty	FW	1946–1950	162	33	—
MacDonald, GarryGarry MacDonald	FW	1984–1989	162	35	—
Parsley, NormanNorman Parsley	HB	1946–1953	161	14	—
Keltie, ClarkClark Keltie	MF	2001–2008	161	9	—
Reed, AdamAdam Reed	DF	1991–1995 1996–1997 1998–2003	160	3	—	[L 5]
Brown, RoyRoy Brown	FB	1946–1956	159	20	—
Hopkinson, FredFred Hopkinson	HB	1928–1934	158	10	—
Kelly, TomTom Kelly	HB / FB	1937–1951	157	3	—
Keeble, BrianBrian Keeble	DF	1965–1969	154	2	—
Jacques, JoeJoe Jacques	HB	1965–1970	153	5	—
Alderson, TomTom Alderson	FW	1933–1936 1937–1939	151	46	—
Barker, GeoffGeoff Barker	DF	1971–1975	151	6	—
Oliver, MichaelMichael Oliver	MF	1996–2000	151	14	—
Milner, JimJim Milner	FW	1957–1961	149	27	—
Winship, TommyTommy Winship	FW	1921–1926	146	17	—
Morgan, GaryGary Morgan	FB	1985–1989	146	3	—
Prudhoe, MarkMark Prudhoe	GK	1988–1993	146	0	—
Barnard, MarkMark Barnard	DF	1995–1999	143	4	—
Clark, HarryHarry Clark	FW	1950–1957	141	27	—
Lawton, JimmyJimmy Lawton	FW	1961–1966 1967–1969	142	63	—
Himsworth, GaryGary Himsworth	MF	1993–1996 1998–2001	142	9	—
Hooper, BillBill Hooper	FW	1921–1926	141	60	—
Atkinson, TrevorTrevor Atkinson	HB	1963–1969	139	3	—
Brown, HerbertHerbert Brown	FB	1928–1932	139	7	—
Albeson, BrianBrian Albeson	DF	1967–1971	136	2	England youth
Gregan, SeanSean Gregan	DF	1991–1997	136	4	—
Carr, PeterPeter Carr	DF	1967–1973	135	1	—
Barber, FredFred Barber	GK	1982–1986	135	0	—
Kamara, AlanAlan Kamara	DF	1980–1983	134	1	—
Conlon, BarryBarry Conlon	FW	2001–2004 2006–2007	134	45	Republic of Ireland U21
Carr, DaveDave Carr	FW	1957–1962	132	50	—
Stevens, GeorgeGeorge Stevens	FW	1921–1926	130	38	—
Young, EricEric Young	MF	1974–1978	130	15	England youth
Harding, AlanAlan Harding	MF	1969–1973	129	37	—
Gauden, AllanAllan Gauden	MF	1968–1972	127	39	—
Crosson, DavidDavid Crosson	DF	1975–1980	128	2	—
Hine, MarkMark Hine	MF	1986–1989	128	8	—
Lloyd, PhilPhil Lloyd	DF	1983–1987	127	3	—
Bell, HarryHarry Bell	HB	1955–1959	126	19	—
Appleby, MattyMatty Appleby	DF	1993–1994 1994–1996 2004–2006	125	8	—	[L 6]
Collett, AndyAndy Collett	GK	1999–2004	125	0	—
Ward, PaulPaul Ward	MF	1985–1988	124	9	—
Seal, JimmyJimmy Seal	FW	1976–1980	122	19	—
Tupling, SteveSteve Tupling	MF	1984–1987 1992–1993	122	8	—
Wann, DennisDennis Wann	MF	1976–1979	121	13	—
Lees, NormanNorman Lees	DF	1971–1977	120	5	—
Stone, JohnJohn Stone	DF	1976–1979	120	14	—
Eden, BillyBilly Eden	FW	1928–1930 1932–1935	119	31	—
Coulthard, BillyBilly Coulthard	FB	1934–1937	119	0	—
Ward, TommyTommy Ward	FW	1948–1954	119	32	—
McGeachie, GeorgeGeorge McGeachie	MF	1963–1967	119	9	—
Graham, PeterPeter Graham	MF	1970–1974	119	44	—
Roberts, AlanAlan Roberts	MF	1985–1988	119	19	—
Clark, IanIan Clark	MF	2001–2005	119	25	—
Halliday, TomTom Halliday	FB / HB	1928–1933	118	2	England schoolboys
Hooper, MarkMark Hooper	FW	1923–1927	116	43	—
Holbrook, SteveSteve Holbrook	MF	1972–1977	116	12	England schoolboys
Stalker, JohnJohn Stalker	FW	1979–1983	116	36	—
Devlin, ErnieErnie Devlin	FB	1953–1957	115	1	—
Toman, AndyAndy Toman	MF	1990–1993	115	10	—
Painter, RobbieRobbie Painter	FW / MF	1993–1997	115	28	—
Heckingbottom, PaulPaul Heckingbottom	DF	1998–1999 1999–2002	115	5	—	[L 2][21]
Maddison, NeilNeil Maddison	MF	2001–2007	115	4	—
Maltby, JackieJackie Maltby	FW	1961–1965	114	32	—
Owers, PhilPhil Owers	GK	1972–1975 1976–1980	114	0	—
Ferguson, RonRon Ferguson	FW	1975–1980	114	18	—
Robinson, BillyBilly Robinson	HB	1921–1927	113	0	—
Burluraux, DonDon Burluraux	MF	1972–1975	112	13	—
Robinson, PeterPeter Robinson	DF	1985–1988	112	5	England semi-pro
Cuff, PatPat Cuff	GK	1980–1983	110	0	England schoolboys
Best, JerryJerry Best	FW	1933–1938	109	67	—
Russell, SamSam Russell	GK	2002–2003 2004–2007	108	0	—	[L 1]
Towers, JohnJohn Towers	FW / HB	1934–1939 1946–1947	107	22	—
Mason, CliffCliff Mason	FB	1952–1955	107	0	—
Mulholland, GeorgeGeorge Mulholland	DF	1960–1963	106	0	—
Baxter, BobbyBobby Baxter	FW / FB	1959–1961 1969–1970	106	30	—
Mardenborough, SteveSteve Mardenborough	MF	1990–1993	106	18	—
Wellock, MauriceMaurice Wellock	FW	1929–1932	104	71	England schoolboys
Yeoman, RayRay Yeoman	MF	1964–1967	104	2	—
Rowles, EddieEddie Rowles	FW	1975–1978	103	21	—
Hamilton, IanIan Hamilton	MF	1979–1982	103	19	—
Cattrell, GordonGordon Cattrell	MF	1973–1976	102	5	England schoolboys
Todd, KevinKevin Todd	FW	1982–1983 1983–1985	102	23	—	[L 6][22]
McKinnell, JimmyJimmy McKinnell	HB	1926–1929	101	1	—
Burleigh, MartinMartin Burleigh	GK	1974–1975 1977–1979	101	0	—
Cochrane, SandySandy Cochrane	FW	1926–1929	100	24	—
Ellison, LeeLee Ellison	FW	1990–1994 1997–1999	100	20	—

Players with fewer appearances

Footnotes

Player statistics include games played while on loan from:

References

General

• Appearances, goals and playing positions for players whose career ended before the Second World War: Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6. 
• Appearances, goals and playing positions for players whose career continued after the Second World War: "Darlington: Club players". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 March 2015. 
• "Clubs: Darlington". The English National Football Archive. Soccerdata. Retrieved 20 March 2015.  This is a subscription website, but only free-to-access pages have been used to verify content in this article.
• Rollin, Glenda & Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6. 
• "Home". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 March 2015. 

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