Darlington v Alfreton preview

By Ray Simpson

Aug 27, 2021

Our first game of the season......

Please note that we are advising supporters to arrive as early as possible for Saturday's game in order to avoid congestion at the turnstiles

Quakers make another attempt to start the season when Alfreton visit Blackwell Meadows on Saturday -- so please give the players a huge reeption when they come on the field!

The home game against AFC Telford United a fortnight ago was all set to go ahead until it was unfortunately postponed less than five hours before kick off because of COVID, with the away game at Brackley also being postponed.

That means it will be 532 days since the team played a league game in front of a crowd, which was the 4-2 home defeat by Farsley on 14^th March 2020 – so please give the players a huge welcome when they come on to the field!

Manager Alun Armstrong has revitalised his squad during the summer by signing twelve new players -- and most of them will be in the starting line up today.

Alun chats about the game here:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/alun-i-hope-theres-a-carnival-atmosphere

Please note that we are advising supporters to arrive as early as possible for Saturday's game in order to avoid congestion at the turnstiles

Here's an interview with keeper Tommy Taylor

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/tommy-i-feel-a-lot-better-now

Ironically, even though we haven’t played a game yet, we’re 17^th in the early league table!

Saturday's game is sponsored by Saddington Taylor:

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

And the matchball sponsor is David Portas

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

DFC Team news

Keeper Tommy Taylor, winger Jarrett Rivers and striker Luke Charman, have all now recovered from COVID and took part in training this week.

The opposition:

Alfreton have played two games already this season, losing 2-0 at Blyth and 1-0 at home to Brackley.

Their team last Saturday was: Willis; Clackstone, Wilde, Lund [Hobson 71], Smith, Allan,
Tuton [Molyneux 59], Evans, Rhead, Johnson, Southwell. other subs: Stewart, Wiley, Smith-Eccles.

Manager: Billy Heath

Current league position: 20th

Recent history:

2020-21: Alfreton 0 Darlington 2 (Sousa, Campbell)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ggd9IGVBa8

2019-20 Alfreton 1 Darlington 2 (O’Neill, Donawa),

Darlington 3 (Campbell 2, Donawa) Alfreton 0 Highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBEHYQromto

2018-19: Darlington 0 Alfreton 1, Alfreton 0 Darlington 0

2017-18: Darlington 4 (Caton, Ferguson, Gillies 2) Alfreton 0, Alfreton 1 Darlington 1 (Styche)

2016-17; Darlington 3 (Gillies 2, Purewal) Alfreton 4, Alfreton 0 Darlington 3 (Cartman, Gillies, Galbraith)

You can buy your ticket in advance here: