Mention Alun Armstrong and many Darlington fans’ first memory will be the hat-trick he scored for Quakers at the Arena in 2004.

The now Blyth Spartans boss, Armstrong had just been brought to Darlington by David Hodgson, and after two scoreless appearances he delighted the near 4,000 crowd by helping secure a 4-0 win against Southend United.

It was the first hat-trick a Darlington player had scored for four years – since Glenn Naylor’s versus Sudbury in November 2000 – while it was Armstrong’s first treble of his career.

With Clyde Wijnhard making his debut, the Dutchman provided the perfect foil for Armstrong, while ex-Boro team-mate Craig Hignett provided a link between midfield and attack.

Armstrong’s 15th minute goal was pure Roy of the Rovers, diving full stretch to head home, and he was then in the right place at the right time to poke home his second and Quakers' third after Wijnhard had doubled their lead.

Armstrong showed sheer perseverance to claim the match ball when he pounced on a defensive error before looping over keeper Darryl Flahaven.

“I was determined to score so I'm absolutely delighted to score three,” he said at the time. “It's the first hat-trick of my career and once I got the first one I felt a lot of weight off my shoulders. I think everybody could see there was a bit more of a spring in my step.”

CAPTION: Alun Armstrong celebrates his first goal with team-mates Adolfo Gregorio and Clyde Wijnhard

(Thanks to Craig Stoddart)