We're serialising the popular Farewell to Feethams book, written by RS and Andrew Wilkinson, throughout the lockdown.

Today, we've got some fans' memories of big Darlington matches! Remember that the book was printed in 2002.

For the previous chapters, click here: https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/farewell-to-feethams-part-6

Ted Blair
I couldn’t face going to the Scunthorpe v Darlington game in 1989. It was our
last away game of the season, and we needed to win to keep our slim survival
hopes alive. I'd rarely seen them win that year and just couldn't face the drama. I'd
rather have missed a famous victory than witness the end of our Football League
membership. That for me came in the home game versus Colchester before the
Scunthorpe trip when we lost 2-1 and then the final home game to Carlisle, our last
in the Football League at that time.

Scunthorpe v Darlington May 4, 1996 -- We went to Scunthorpe on the last day of the season, needing a win to go up in the third automatic promotion spot. The place was packed with Darlo fans - a lot of unfamiliar faces.
The key thing I remember that day is the anguish on Robbie Blake's face just as he missed scoring by a few inches in the dying seconds when the score was 3-3.
Darlington v Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup second round December 15, 1976 -- One of my all time memories of Darlo is the time we beat Sheff Wed in the FA Cup 1-0 in December 1976.
Not a lot of the game lingers in the memory except for the 40 - 50 yarder (depends on who you ask) from Ron Ferguson - which seemed to fly into the top of the net. Ferguson was later quoted as saying he never missed from 50 yards.

It was still possible at that time for everyone to walk from end to end around Feethams. This allowed a bunch of none-too-happy Wednesday fans to sneak into the Tin Shed-where were the police then - and beat up a few Darlo fans.
I took a punch to the nose which left me dazed and bloody but at that age it was more like a badge of honour than anything to worry about. I didn't wash off the blood before going to school the next day, as I was desperate to show it off!
Northampton v Darlington April 27, 1990 One of my best memories is the 3-0 win at Northampton's old County Ground.
It was a glorious spring day and there was a large Darlo contingent as we were still on the crest of a wave after coming back from the Conference.
To take a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes was unbelievable but the third goal remains the best I have ever seen in all my years as a Darlo fan. I bought the video from Northampton so I would have a record of it.
As I remember, Mark Prudhoe threw the ball out to Andy Toman outside the penalty box - he moved forward and passed to Les McJannet on the right wing. Les ran down the wing and put across a great ball which Mitch Cook volleyed in from the edge of the box. Sensational.

Everything was right that day great beers beforehand, the lovely weather, the mood of the Darlo fans and the game itself (well, the first 20 minutes) Oh for more like that.

Dave Burdon
I was at Stamford Bridge, for the unforgettable cup game of 1958, going by train to Kings Cross. Being 3-0 up at one stage was unbelievable, but the second half was very different, Chelsea pounding the Ouakers and drawing level. My father was at St James Park, Newcastle, and said the biggest cheer there was when the score went op on the board at half time.
I was an apprentice at North Road works, and the replay was held on a Wednesday afternoon. I plucked up the courage to ask the foreman, Ossie Parks for a passout as I had to go to the dentist. He signed the slip without question, except to comment "There's a lot with toothache today, son.

Les Abbott
I went to Stamford Bridge (in 1958) with my father for the FA Cup tie. We were seated
in the back row of the stand, and my father finished with three large bumps on
his head, one for each Darlington goal, because right above him was a girder.
Unfortunately, I couldn't go to the replay as my headmaster at Eastbourne
School threatened reprisals on whoever was missing on the Wednesday afternoon!

Ken Anderson
One of my favourite recollections was when the League Cup was in its infancy
and Darlington had games against first division giants West Ham and Bolton
Wanderers in 1960.
After a high ball was thumped into the West Ham penalty area, the Darlington
warhorse and local dentist Lance Robson rose to the occasion alongside the West
Ham goalkeeper and defender resulting in the three of them landing in a heap on
the floor, the ball bouncing near them for what seemed an age. What Lance lacked
in skill was always made up for by his strength and tenacity and when he got up first
to crack in a goal, I have never heard a roar like it at Feethams before or since.

Darlington FC --at the heart of the community