While we're awaiting, don't forget to check out our Christmas Santa competition elsewhere on the website, plus later this evening, there's reaction from Dave Mills to today's news about the Rugby Club EGM rubber-stamping the groundshare talks with Darlo FC.

Also, don't forget to send us your best three Darlo memories of 2015, we'll use them on this website and in the matchday programme.

Also, don't forget that if you want a Christmas present for a Darlo fan, Quaker Retail is open tomorrow, Thursday and Friday

and of course, Darlo's On the Up is still available (and going fast)

Coming up soon -- Dave Mills reaction to the Rugby Club EGM

The first number is: 1614 two family swimming vouchers at the Dolphin Centre (winner Mark Webster)

congratulations!

the second number is 3144 two family swimming vouchers (winner Lewis Gibbons)

third number is 3551 two family swimming vouchers (winner M Bond)

fourth winner is 1484 two family swimming vouchers (winner Dave Miller)

fifth winner is 3118 two family swimming vouchers (winner Graeme Armstrong)

Here's our first Netcafe, a few questions and answers with Lee Nicholson

How many teams does Darlington Youth FC have? Which leagues do they play in?

We currently have 10 teams ranging from under 6 to under 18. There are two youth leagues that operate in our area, the Teesside junior football alliance (TJFA) and the Russell Foster youth leagues and Darlington Fc are represented in both of these leagues.

We want to form more teams. For example at the moment, our under 6 team has five members (they play five a side on a small pitch) but we would like to form another Under 6 team, because as the youngsters move up the age groups, they will be playing eight-a-side or nine-a-side, so in time we will merge the two teams into one.

What are the aims of the club?

The aims of the club are to help young aspiring footballers to develop their talents in a friendly and safe environment also to improve our coaching methods.

We also want to achieve Centre of Excellence status within three years. If we can do this, then we will be eligible for FA grants and support to help us expand the club even more. If we become a Centre of Excellence, then from the ages of 11 upwards we will be playing in higher standard leagues against other centre of excellences from Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Scunthorpe, Huddersfield and Carlisle.

We have recently appointed a head of youth development( Paul Thomas ) to help with a plan to be a centre of excellence within the next three seasons.

What is the structure of the club?

I’m the chairman, Bernie Nicholson is secretary, Darren Noble is welfare officer and Stacey Fletcher is youth co-ordinator.

Paul Thomas is head of youth development, and he has two people working under him.

Matty Pennal is our development phase leader for 5 to 9 year olds – a kind of “go-to” person.

Then there is at least one coach for age group. All the coaches are qualified to at least FA level one, and working towards level two.

All the coaches are CRB checked, and Darren our welfare officer, has just completed a enhanced course on CRB checking.

Are the youngsters supervised?

The youngsters are always supervised by at least one coach in every age group, usually two.

Where are home games played?

Home games are played at Eastbourne School, and our Under 13s team in the Russell Foster League play their home games at Castle View academy.

Sixth winner is 1562 Small toiletry hamper (Neil Raper)

Seventh winner is 3810 Small toiletry hamper (Geoff Thompson)

eighth winner is 4542 Large toiletry hamper (Frank Clark)

9th winner is 4294  Large toiletry hamper (James Carverhill)

10th winner is 1551 Large toiletry hamper (Andrew Simpson) (That's one present problem solved)

While we're on, don't forget about the lottery draw, the top prize at Christmas is £750, details available on this website.

11th prize 4675 Regular Christmas hamper (Harry Dunn)

12th prize 4895 Large Christmas hamper (Steve Bass)

13th prize (out of 20) 4256 Large Christmas hamper (David Dowson)

14th prize 4772 one litre of vodka (John Waddleton)

Here's our second netcafe, with Neil Raper. The rest of the prize winners will be announced after the netcafe.

Q         How many members does the DFCSG have?

A         We currently have 380 full members, 35 ‘travel club’ members and 5 Junior members, making a total of 420.

Q         What are the benefits of being a member of DFCSG?

A         The main benefit is that members are part owners of their football club. It’s a great feeling to know that we are no longer at the mercy of egotistical owner/chairmen that have ulterior motives as to why they want to own a football club.

Every member can have a say on how we want to shape our club.

In practical terms, Full Members are able to vote at the DFCSG AGM to decide who should be on the DFCSG Board. Members also have the opportunity to decide how representatives of DFCSG will vote on matters at the Football Club’s AGM, and as the DFCSG is the Football Club’s major shareholder, this really counts.

There are fringe benefits for Full Members in that they have priority over non-members to purchase tickets for all-ticket matches, which could be a real benefit if we end the season in a play-off place.

Q         What is involved in being a member of the DFCSG Board?

A         The activities are varied. The regular things we are involved with are:

Fundraising activities, such as the Lottery, 50:50, match-day raffles, ‘Come-on-Darlo’ prediction league, special events and even this Christmas raffle;

Promoting the football club by operating the Twitter and Facebook accounts, providing material for the website, providing members with regular news bulletins, providing a point of contact on match days;

Organising travel to home and away games;

Collectively, we respond to requests from the Football Club to provide support in whatever way we can;

There are certain individuals that have specific duties such as Colin Tinkler, who looks after the finances, John Tempest as Chair has been nominated to fulfil our ‘Corporate Director’ role by working closely with David Mills, particularly on the move to Blackwell Meadows and then there is me as Secretary – essentially my job is to make sure we fulfil all our legal obligations.

Outside of the DFCSG Board, we have some valuable volunteers. Stuart Ford is our Membership Secretary, Paul Tate in Tbilisi has done a cracking job developing and maintaining our website. There is also Andi Long who provided the graphics for our posters, banners and membership cards, as well as Andy Short who has provided expert (and patient) tuition on operating our bulk emailing system. And of course everyone will be familiar with Mary Bowes, who for many years has looked after the 50:50 draw and the away coaches.

Q         Do you have regular meetings with the club?

A         Since the DFCSG came into being we had fairly regular meetings with the Football Club Board but since Martin Jesper’s departure our level of support to the Football Club has increased and so has our level of contact. The DFCSG Board has monthly meetings and Dave Mills has been a welcome guest at the last two.

Q         How is the fundraising going?

A         I think we need to draw a distinction between the fund raising by the Football Club and by DFCSG (and its predecessors).

In the early days of the Northern League there was a lot of enthusiasm in arranging regular fundraising events and these were very successful to begin with but over time the enthusiasm waned and very difficult to provide funds that the Football Club could rely on.

More recently we have switched our emphasis into trying to increase the amount funds that the Football Club could rely on and we have done this by heavily promoting the Fans Lottery. We have been quite successful over recent months by increasing the level of participation by somewhere near 40%. I don’t have the exact figures to hand, but whereas previously the Lottery used to contribute around £7,000 a year to Club funds, we are expecting it will be around £10,000 over the next year.

The current challenge is the lack of income as a result of the postponed home matches and we are very thankful for way the fans have responded to the Christmas Raffle. Without having any home matches, we thought we would have a real job on our hands in selling the tickets but the fans have gone out of their way to seek out the tickets – very pleasing indeed.

Of course, we will have further challenges ahead to replenish the funds necessary to complete move to Blackwell Meadows and to sustain the running costs of the team to the end of the season.

(The May part of the calendar is very good for the ladies, apparently! Calendars on sale price £10.)

While I remember to say this, thanks to everyone who has bought tickets for the Christmas Draw , it was a sell out!

6 prizes left

Framed signed shirt (c 2009, we think Simon Johnson's autograph is on there, for example) 3800 (Alan Waite)

5 prizes left

£50 Ramside Hall voucher 3202 (Winner D Hornsby)

Four prizes left

Half season ticket for Darlo 3983 (winner Sue Jefferson)

Three prizes left

Kindle 3320  (winner I Glover)

Two prizes left

40 inch TV 3735 (Winner Charlie)

[caption id="attachment_15627" align="alignnone" width="300"] Phil Turnbull in action against Marine[/caption]

Phil Turnbull has passed himself fit for Saturday, by the way, see the story on the website.

The top prize of £1000 goes to

2249 (C Coldwell)

if you've won a prize, Lee or Neil or Joanne will get in touch with you.

The half season ticket will be ready tomorrow.

Now, here's Dave Mills' reaction to the news that the Rugby Club EGM has voted for the groundshare with Darlington Football Club.

“On behalf of all supporters of the football club I’m delighted with the outcome of the rugby club’s EGM yesterday evening. It’s another significant steps towards the completion of the ground share lease agreement, which when signed, will allow the football club to make a resubmission of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) grant application to the Football Foundation, at the earliest opportunity. I remain hopeful for a positive outcome from this re-application. Both parties have worked tirelessly over the last few weeks to get us to this point and I’m now looking forward to formalizing the legal documentation as soon as possible.”

Thanks again to everybody who bought tickets, and congratulations to the prize winners!