The long wait is over -- we finally return to action after 203 days without a game when Prescot Cables arrive at Blackwell Meadows today!

Today has been a long time coming, our last game being the home game against Farsley back on 14^th March at Blackwell Meadows.

Since then, manager Alun Armstrong has brought in five players – Johnny Saltmer, Tony McMahon, Nicky Hunt, Dan Maguire and Luke Charman – while Terry Galbraith, Stephen Thompson and Omar Holness amongst others have left the club.

We’ll be trying to emulate our FA cup run last season, when we won three games in the qualifying rounds, then drew at Walsall in the first round proper before losing the replay on BT Sport.

You can listen to an interview with manager Alun Armstrong here:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/alun-the-lads-have-been-chomping-at-the-bit

and one with new skipper Will Hatfield:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/will-were-looking-forward-to-saturdays-game

While this is our first game of the season, Prescot’s has already started. They’ve played two games in the Northern Premier League North and West Division, and two games in the FA Cup in which they’ve beaten Colne and Sunderland RCA.

You can read more details about them here on their website:

https://www.prescotcablesafc.com/

Just a reminder, the game is behind closed doors, and no spectators are allowed under Covid restrictions. Regrettably, we are not allowed to make any exceptions – only the teams, team management, matchday staff and directors from both clubs will be admitted into Blackwell Meadows. There will be stewards in our car park, and a police presence during the afternoon.

Therefore, you can watch the game on Quaker TV by paying for a match pass here:

https://live.darlingtonfc.co.uk/

UK only, because of FA rules.

We'd like to thank our virtual match sponsor:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/thanks-to-our-virtual-match-sponsor

and our virtual matchball sponsor:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/thanks-to-our-virtual-matchball-sponsor

Finally, we'd like to thank everyone who has helped the club in so many ways during the enforced break, and for the fans whose backing and support have been truly amazing.

Let's hope that everyone is rewarded with a victory this afternoon.