In 1982, the club faced a financial crisis, it needed £100,000 in a matter of weeks or face closure. 

Local newspaper the Evening Despatch started a campaign to save it, and galvanised the supporters into all sorts of fundraising ideas. Everyone, young and old, rallied round. Familiar?

It all culminated in a fund raising game against Southampton, who included then England captain Kevin Keegan, but David Speedie stole the show with a hat trick.

Here's the story of the Evening Despatch appeal -- thanks to Simon Weatherill for the press cuttings.

Here's an extract about the Despatch appeal from Farewell to Feethams.

The club always seemed to have financial problems in the sixties and seventies, but none of them were serious enough to threaten the future of the club.
But the moment Darlington fans dreaded, suddenly reared its ugly head in the spring of 1982.
There had been appeals for cash or financial help before; this one was the most passionate yet. Find £100,000 or the club will cease to exist.
The headline in the Evening Despatch on Monday January 25, 1982, read: "It's the end of league soccer in Darlington -- Centenary disaster faces club."
And Despatch editor, Robin Thompson, explained: "A £60,000 overdraft limit imposed by the club's bank, will be broken tomorrow when the players’ wages are paid.”
He went on to explain that several bills were outstanding, and that ten suppliers had started proceedings to recover money owed.
The plan was to raise £50,000 in six weeks, and another £50,000 by the end of the summer - or the club's £4000 per week wage bill for 33 players would have to be halved.

The supporters club gave £400 on the first day, closely followed by £100 from Wearside League club South Shields.

The Evening Despatch mounted a fundraising campaign to help the club, and they encouraged the townsfolk to take part with a whole range of fund raising ideas. Fans of all ages swam, sold and sung for the Despatch's "Save it" campaign, and steadily the cash mounted up.
But the big fundraising event was the game against First Division leaders Southampton, then managed by Lawrie McMenemy The Saints included several big names in their side, among them Kevin Keegan, Alan Ball, Mick Channon, and Mick Mills, but if was Darlington's David Speedie who grabbed the headlines with a superb hat trick in the 5-2 win in front of a 9,000 crowd, Ouakers’ biggest at the time since the Bradford City game in 1969.
And within days, there was talk of the little Scotsman going to Sunderland, but he eventually signed for Chelsea for £60,000 -- enough to keep the club going.
The Despatch with the help of the fans, had saved the club.
Ironically, the club lasted longer than the Despatch, which folded in 1985. Nobody saved it.