[caption id="attachment_14127" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ron in action against Arsenal in 1965[/caption]

Ron Greener – nicknamed the Man Mountain by Darlington fans – has sadly died at the 81.

Ron, who made 515 first team appearances for the club between 1955 and 1967, died on Monday afternoon following a cardiac arrest at the weekend.

Ron was at the heart of Quakers’ defence for so many years, and was part of the team that pulled off one of the club’s greatest ever FA Cup giantkilling acts against Chelsea in the fourth round of the FA Cup in 1958.

Quakers drew 3-3 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and then in front of a packed Feethams, beat them 4-1 in the replay. Ron was skipper when they went out at Wolves in the next round.

Ron was also a member of the team that beat Crystal Palace and West Ham in 1960, and also faced Arsenal in the FA Cup at Feethams in 1965.

He was also a key part of the Darlington squad that won promotion to the old Third Division in 1966, the club’s first at that time for over 41 years.

Ron played one more season after that, in 1966/67 before he was freed by the club, and he went on to play two more seasons in non league. He was one of the fans' all time favourite players.

When the club held its Farewell to Feethams celebrations in 2003, he was delighted to recall his memories for the Farewell to Feethams book, and he was humbled to be given a standing ovation by everyone in the ground when introduced to the crowd at the last home game against Leyton Orient.

When the club moved to the Arena, one of its rooms was named after him - -a fitting tribute to a man who served the club so well for over a decade.

He still attended Darlington games as a guest of honour, and was a regular during the club’s two promotion seasons.

Darlington FC director Dave Mills said; “On behalf of the Board of Directors, supporters, management and players, I offer my most sincere sympathy and condolences to the wife and family of Ron Greener, who so sadly passed away earlier today. Anyone who knew Ronnie knew he was DFC through and through and he was always a regular supporter at home games until the last few months and his presence will be greatly missed. I’m pleased that I recently managed to secure Ron a road named after him, Greener Drive, on the new housing development at Feethams, a fitting tribute to a true Darlo legend. I will be representing the football club at Ron’s funeral in due course.”

The club will hold a one minute’s silence ahead of Tuesday night’s home game with Workington.