Historical Football Kits

 

Darlington

Formed 1883

Founder member of Division Three (North) 1921. Relegated to the Conference 1989


Promoted to Division Four 1990.

Kit History

1910-1911 s

1921-1936 a j

1937-circa 1950 a

1950-1951 k

1951-1957 r

1957-1959 b

1959-1966

1966-1969 a c

1971-1972 d

1972-1975 p

Umbro

1975-1976 p

Litesome

1976-1977 early p

Bukta

1976-1977 late p

Bukta

1977-1979 e p

Le Coq Sportif

1979-1980 p

Le Coq Sportif

1980-1981 l p

1981-1982 f

darlington 1982-83 kit

1982-1983 t

Sponsorship not confirmed
Hummel

1984-1985 e m n p

Hobott

1987-1988 l m

Hobott

1988-1989 f m

Jake Hatfiel

1989-1991 c g

Jake Hatfiel

1991-1993 i m

Jake Hatfiel

1993-1995 b m

Cobra

1995-1996 m

Own Brand

1996-1997 b m

Own Brand

1997-1998 b

Biestehre

1998-1999 b m

Xara

1999-2000 b m

Xara

2000-2002 b m

Xara

2002-2003 b m

Xara

2003-2004 b m

Xara

2004-2005 g m

Xara

2005-2006 h m

Xara

2006-2007 h m

Vandanel

2007-2008 q

Vandanel
darlington 2008-09 home kit

2008-2009 u

 

Background

In July 1883 representatives of the various amateur clubs playing in the area met at the local grammar school and decided to form a single senior club to represent the town. Two years later Darlington entered the FA Cup for the first time only to be given an 8-0 hiding by Grimsby Town. In 1889, Darlington became founder members of the Northern league, which they won in 1896 and 1900.

Darlington turned professional in 1908 and joined the North Eastern League, winning the championship in 1913. The Great War almost brought the club to extinction but they were bailed out by a works side, Darlington Forge Albion, whose chairman, JB Haw, paid off their debts and financed the completion of a new grandstand at the club’s Feethams ground.

Having finished as North Eastern League runners-up in 1920 and champions in 1921, Darlington were offered a place in the new northern section of the Football League Third Division. In 1925 they won the championship and promotion to Division Two, only to be relegated two years later. They have yet to return to this level.

The club remained rooted in the lowest division and in 1958 they became founder members of the new Fourth Division. Their first promotion for 40 years finally came in 1966 when they finished as runners-up and were promoted. The following season, however, they finished in 22nd place and went straight back down. Between 1970 and 1980, “Darlo” had to apply for re-election no fewer than five times and they were lucky to retain their place in the League. During the 1980s results on the pitch improved but they were in a financial mess: at one stage supporters and local people raised £50,000 in just six weeks to stave off closure. Their efforts were rewarded with promotion in 1985 and this time they stayed up for two seasons.

In 1989 Darlington finished bottom of the League and were relegated to the Conference. They were back after only one season, having won the Conference title and the following season they won the Fourth Division championship, only to be relegated yet again after a single season. Since then, Darlington have remained in the lowest tier, occasionally challenging for promotion.

Off the field, however, things have been rather more lively since former safe-cracker “Gorgeous George” Reynolds became chairman in 1999. He paid off the club’s debts, rumoured to be around £5m and financed a new all-seated stadium, which the club moved into in 2003. The costs drove Darlington into administration in December 2003 and, after a bitter struggle, Reynolds finally relinquished control to the club’s main creditors, the Sterling Consortium.

Sources