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Welcome to the
Darlington Disabled Supporters Group
Click Here for our brochure - Darlington FC Disabled &
Assistant Information (PDF)
CLICK HERE to view the latest Darlington Supporters Trust
Prediction League Tables
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How does a weekend on the beer in Newcastle
with loads of football banter sound to you?
Is that a yes? Well, read on…
Summer’s fast approaching and along with two
weeks of sea, sand, and sangria it also
means the Football Supporters’ Federation’s
(Fans’ Parliament which, this year, takes
place in Newcastle on Saturday, June 20th.
The Darlington Supporters Trust has been a
long time supporter and member of the FSF
and Trust Chair Tony Taylor sits on the
National Council of the FSF.
Fans' Parliament is the FSF's annual get
together where we debate the big issues of
the day – it’s entirely free of charge
and open to everyone. The FSF represents
more than 142,000 football fans throughout
England and Wales – we lead the campaign
against Gam£ 39 and also campaign on fans’
rights, ticket prices, safe standing, and
much, much more. Every year we come together
to talk about the big issues affecting OUR
game, and this year we’ve got plenty of
tasty ideas to make a real weekend of it
too.
As well as a top speaker addressing the key
issues in today’s game we’ll have breakout
groups looking into
club governance and ownership, policing and
stewarding, safe standing, ticket prices and
diversity – all will have expert speakers
too and every fan will also get the chance
to have their say. Registration is required
to attend Fans Parliament. Register today:
http://www.fsf.org.uk/fans-parliament/2009/Register-for-Fans-Parliament-2009.php
Fans’ Parliament itself runs through
Saturday daytime and then on the night we’ll
have a Have I Got News You-style Hacks v
Crocks showdown at the Live Theatre. A crack
team of journalists and ex-footballers will
battle it out with plenty of jokes, japes,
and audience participation. And more beer
and curry, quite possibly.
Sunday and we’ve got even more to keep you
entertained. Those feeling the strain can
have a wander along Newcastle’s Quayside
taking in the historic sights and sounds.
Check out the market or maybe take a walk
across the river and poke around the Baltic
Art Museum or Sage courtesy of a tour from
the FSF.
The less cultured among you can join us at
the FSF’s fanzine/supporter five-a-side
tournament we’re planning for Sunday
(entries welcome). So if anyone’s got on
your nerves over the weekend it’s two-footed
tackle time. Only joking, of course…
We’re looking forwarding to seeing loads of
new faces this year, and remember, you don’t
have to be a member to come along. So if you
haven’t received a blow to the head lately
and taken leave of your senses, we’ll see
you in Newcastle on Saturday, June 20th.
Register today and help us reclaim the game:
http://www.fsf.org.uk/fans-parliament/2009/index.php
or email
info@fsf.org.uk |
Trust welcomes
Singh
Darlington
Supporters Trust has welcome the news that Raj
Singh is to take over Darlington Football Club.
The Trust is
delighted to lean that a deal has, at long last,
been reached which will enable their preferred
choice to take over Darlington Football Club.
Mr Singh has, we
understand, come to terms with George Houghton,
in a deal which will give some optimism to fans.
Trust chair Tony
Taylor said he was pleased with the news. “It
really has been a bit of a roller coaster ride
for Darlington fans over the last few seasons
and let’s hope that this now brings a bit of
stability to our football club.
"What has always
impressed us with Mr Singh has been his
commitment to the football side of the club and
we look forward to working with him to ensure
that the club becomes the hub of the community.
"Fans will
appreciate, I am sure, that the Trust has been
working hard behind the scenes over the last few
weeks, and whilst we have been unable to
publicise our discussions, we do hope that we
have made people realise the importance of
Darlington Football Club’s survival."
Taylor did warn
fans not to go back to over realistic demands in
terms of transfer deals and new faces coming in
to the club. “We have had a very serious reality
check in the last few weeks with our club coming
perilously close to going out of business for
good. Whilst the Trust had contingency plans in
place had the club folded, our wish has always
been to see the club survive in its present
format in the Football League.
"We are pragmatic
and realistic in our expectations, but so
pleased that Raj Singh has finally been able to
produce a deal that will move the club forward.
We have already received numerous phone calls
from Trust members around the country so we have
no doubts that Darlington fans share our
enthusiasm” said Taylor.
The Trust a few
weeks ago publically supported Mr Singh's
initial efforts to buy the club from the
administrator. We felt he has the interests of
the club and its supporters at heart and is
looking to give Darlington FC a viable future.
We spoke with Mr Singh back then and are sure
his positive but realistic approach will find
favour with many supporters.
He does not
promise the earth but we feel he offers our best
chance of a stable future for the club.
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| Supporting a
level playing field
Darlington's
match with Morecambe hosted a disability
awareness campaign, on and off the pitch,
organised by the club and the Trust-supported
Darlington Disabled Supporters Group.
 National
Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS)'
Level Playing Field week is now in its fourth
year and this year involved 80 clubs.
It provides a platform for clubs to showcase
their disability works in the community and to
promote their disabled supporters facilities and
services.
Ten disabled mascots led the team out and
players wore special T-shirts.
We were delighted to hear that so many clubs
took part in the 2008/09 campaign. Many people
will imagine someone in a wheelchair when
thinking of disability and indeed around 1% of
the population uses a wheelchair. However there
are many types of disability, some more hidden,
and each with specific access needs. This year's
campaign focus is on disabled supporter
facilities and in particular those for
supporters with learning disabilities and
difficulties.
Darlington FC played their part by:
* Having a blind commentary system
demonstration
* 10 disabled mascots led the team out before
the Morecambe match.
* The players warmed up in special 'Level
Playing Field' T Shirts - these were signed by
the player that wore his particular shirt - and
auctioned at a later date.
To support this year's focus and in
partnership with Mencap, NADS has launched a
joint booklet A Level Playing Field - making
sports venues and stadiums accessible for people
with a learning disability. NADS have posted
a complimentary copy of the booklet to all our
football clubs and community and FA contacts.
Electronic copies can also be downloaded via the
NADS website
and if you require alternative formats, please
contact NADS at info@nads.org.uk) or call 0845
230 6237. |
The club is
now listening to disabled fans
 By
Paul Hodgson, Disability Liaison Officer and Darlington
Supporters' Trust
A Disability Awareness Forum was held
at the Darlington Arena on 19th January, aimed at
promoting the facilities at Darlington FC for disabled
supporters but also listening to fans and local and
national organisations.
Guest speakers included Tony Taylor
(Darlington Supporters Trust chairman), Ann Marie
Mockridge (Football Supporters Federation), Gary
Deeds (National Association of Disabled Supporters),
Christine Balford (Commercial Director - Darlington
F.C.), and yours truly. The event was compared by
Jeff Winter who did an excellent job.
Many members from disability groups
were also in attendance including DAD (Darlington
Association on Disability), Mencap, The Gateway Club and
Evolution.
I was pleased to see the positive
manner in which the forum was conducted, many ideas were
brought to the fore, including setting up a buddy system
for disabled supporters who through no fault of their
own have no-one to take them to matches, the setting up
of Disability Equality Training for Football Club staff,
the possibility of having scooters that disabled
supporters could hire to enable them to get around the
stadium (match-mobility) and a blind commentary system
plus many others that may be used in the future.
For me personally, it was absolutely
fantastic to see proof that we now have a listening
club. This is further demonstrated by two issues which
were raised by supporters over the past few matches.
Having spoken to the club regarding both matters, they
were resolved within the week; one being that the
barriers in the South Stand were too close to the
wheelchairs causing an obstruction and the other that
stewards were standing up and blocking the view of
disabled supporters. Both issues have been rectified
with the barriers moved and stools being provided for
the stewards to sit on, allowing them to do their jobs
without causing a hindrance.
Getting the small things right is the
basis to any successful business and while the club will
get things wrong on occasions this proves that if they
are made aware of issues they will listen and will where
possible rectify the problem.
I have to say in previous times this
has not always been the case, which illustrates how far
the club has come where communication is concerned.
The two guest speakers Gary and Ann
Marie were most impressed with the positive attitude of
the club, Darlington being the first club in the country
to host a forum of this kind, we are also the first club
to produce (courtesy of the Trust) disability
information guides All positives and if the club is to
move forward we as fans must take the positives and
build on them.
As fans we have a crucial role to
play at the club, for too long there has been a negative
thought pattern among supporters, just waiting for
things to go wrong. Let's change this thought pattern
and go into positive mode. When you discuss the club to
friends and family emphasise the positives, I know for a
fact that Gary and Ann Marie will be talking positively
of their first experience of Darlington Football Club.
Overall, the forum was a huge success
and was round off perfectly, whem manager Dave Penney
made an appearance and answered some football-related
questions (mostly from me I hasten to add!) which
just rounded the afternoon off in perfect style.
I'd like to take this opportunity to
thank several people, firstly Ian Carter whose work
behind the scenes is invaluable, Jeff Winter, all the
guest speakers, and finally the football club staff for
helping make the day a massive success.
| Trust board
member's disabled liaison post
Darlington
Supporters' Trust board member Paul Hodgson has
been appointed as Darlington FC's first disabled
liaison officer.
 |
Paul Hodgson (centre)
with Ian Carter (also of the Trust and
DSG) and Christine Balford of
Darlington FC. |
Paul, who is a
leading member of the Disabled Supporters’ Group
(DSG) - an independent part of the trust - will
take on the role in a voluntary capacity
following talks between the club and the group.
The DSG is also
producing a pamphlet for fans, both home and
away, to outline the facilities available at the
Darlington Arena and encourage more disabled
visiting fans to attend games. This will also be
available here online shortly.
Paul will also
communicate with various organisations working
with disabled people across the region to raise
awareness of the amenities at the stadium for
less able-bodied football supporters.
Life-long Quakers
fan Paul, known as Flipper to his friend, is a
wheelchair user, has written two books about his
experiences following the club.
Paul said: “We
are pleased that Darlington Football Club has
recognised the importance of its disabled
supporters. Working in partnership with the club
we hope that we can raise its profile amongst
both home and away disabled fans as a
fan-friendly place to visit. We have excellent
facilities at the Darlington Arena and I hope we
can encourage many more people to come along and
sample the excitement of live football.
"The club has
expressed a great willingness to listen to the
opinions of its fans and I will represent the
disabled supporters’ group during these
discussions."
Christine Balford,
commercial director at Darlington Football Club
said: “Our commitment to enhancing the match day
experience encompasses everyone who attends
matches. “Paul’s appointment will allow us to
gather experiences from disabled supporters in
order to better understand the issues that
affect those attending football matches. We want
to lead the way to promote an inclusive agenda
and ensure equal access for all fans.”
Tony Taylor,
Chair of the Darlington Supporters Trust, said
that this was a positive development for the
relationship between the Club and the Trust.
"I attended a conference organised by the
National Association of Disabled Supporters at
Birmingham City at the end of November 2008, and
it was clear that there is much work to be done
in terms of disability awareness within the
football industry. This move by Darlington
FC and the Trust's Disabled Supporters Group,
puts us well ahead of many other clubs,
particularly in the lower leagues and is
something that we should all be proud of.
We wish Paul well in his new role". |
Take the hassle out of shopping and
browse over 5 million available products at
www.buy.at/darlotrust.
Money raised is used to help Football in The
Community, Youth Development and the Darlington
Disabled Supporters Group.
Please help by buying from these great high
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deals for the Darlington Supporters Trust)
Tell everyone you know
about
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Click Here for the Latest Trust Newsletter - May 2007
Background to the DSG:
-
Membership of the Disabled Supporters Group is available
free to all members of the Darlington Supporters Trust -
you can join by
clicking here. Membership of the Trust costs just
£5.00 for adults and £1.00 for junior members
-
The DSG
recognises that there are many forms of disability apart
from wheelchair users and acknowledges the involvement
of carers, parents and other people in developing a
principle of integration not separation for disabled
people of all ages.
-
If you
would like to help the DSG - whether it be by
fundraising or help with events or matchdays, please do
get in touch with us. You can email us on
or
telephone 0709 287 0189 (24 hours)
-
If you
have any issues that you would like the DSG to look at
or discuss with the appropriate bodies, please do get in
touch with us. You can find our contact detail here or
email us directly on
Learning centre plans welcomed
Darlington Supporters' Trust has
welcomed plans by the football club for educational and
community facilities at the arena site. The learning centre
is part of £12m proposals, which include a hotel, football
pitches and indoor sports centre.
A spokesman for the Trust said: "The most exciting bit
from our point of view is the learning centre although we
plan to discuss with the Club the range of facilities that
will be made available for those with disabilities. The
Trust and our Disabled Supporters Group is keen to ensure
that the Club plays an important role in the local community
and clearly help and assistance for those with disabilities
is a key issue"
"We fully support the concept that football clubs are
close to their communities and this is long overdue."
The trust said it would look, as part of the
consultation, at the detail of the plans but was encouraging
of efforts to create off-the-field revenue for the club. The
plans include a classroom next to pitches for sports based
courses, allowing DFC to increase the size of its Centre of
Excellence to take up to 60 scholars. There will also be a
hotel and catering training centre, linked to the 100-bed
hotel, in a link-up with Darlington College.
Click here for
an
image of plans
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