Last month, councillors called on Darlington Borough Council to throw its support behind the National League North club as it continues its search for a new stadium.
It has now been three years since the Quakers announced ambitious plans to leave Blackwell Meadows and relocate to a purpose-built site elsewhere in the town.
But the plans, which would include additional sports, retail and hospitality facilities and have a capacity between 5,000 and 8,000, are still yet to come to fruition.
The project has faced severe delays due to financial and location issues – and the club is yet to publicly reveal any updated information about a future site.
Now, fans out in Darlington, have spoken out on the latest update on the plans, branding the lack of information as “really frustrating”.
Dean Burns, 33, voiced his concerns: “I have high hopes for the stadium to be sorted, but the lack of information is really frustrating.”
The self-employed resident argued the lack of information was making the situation worse: “It puts us in a limbo state.
“It doesn’t do the fans any justice keeping them in the dark like that.”
70-year-old David Nichols agreed, having been a fan of the club for nearly 60 years.
The retired pensioner, who even contributed to the club programme between 1963 and 1970, added: “Personally, I think they should have kept the old ground, but I don’t like how they’ve been quiet about the whole situation.”
Meanwhile, former stretch tent installer Andrew Hines, 40, said fans feel like they are “in a blackout” over plans for the future.
The Darlington resident said: “I think there were talks of them relocating ages ago and getting a new stadium, but there hasn’t been anything in the pipeline and nothing has been said recently.
“As a fan you want to know where it’s at, the logistics side of things. At the moment, we’re in a bit of a blackout. I don’t know where it’s going.
“Where the stadium is based at the moment I think is enough. For that league, I think it is alright.
“But they kind of tantalise you by telling you there’s going to be a new stadium, and then you ask where it’s going to be and get no answer.
“That’s how it’s been for years now.”
Darlington resident Phil, the director of a transportation company, argued that the stadium “needs better facilities”.
He explained: “It also causes lots of other issues, as sometimes I can’t seem to get into the town because of how crowded it is sometimes.”
The Quakers’ search for a new home
Darlington Football Club was based at Feethams from 1883 until 2003, when it moved to its 25,000-seater stadium at Neasham Road then named after owner George Reynolds.
Sadly, the years that followed were dogged by controversy, with match attendance falling below 3,000 within months, causing disastrous consequences for the club’s finances.
The years that followed saw the club fall into administration three times, and after overcoming several hurdles, a supporters group took control in 2012.
This time also saw the FA controversially rule that, despite an appeal, the Quakers should be demoted from the Conference back to the Northern League, a drop of four divisions.
Since then, the arena has been used by Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club, and also hosting occasional music events.
After leaving the Darlington Arena, the club ground shared with Bishop Auckland until financial commitment from the fans and a grant allowed them to move to the Blackwell Meadows Ground in 2016.
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The club has been located at Blackwell Meadows ever since.
In May 2022, the Quakers announced plans to leave Blackwell Meadows and relocate – although this has since faced several delays.
The Northern Echo has contacted the club, however, a spokesperson said they could not comment at this time.
