List of Darlington F.C. players

Darlington Football Club, an English association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, was founded in 1883. They entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1885–86,^[1] were founder members of the Northern League in 1889,^[2] turned professional in 1908 and joined the North Eastern League,^[1] which they won in 1913 and 1921.^[2] The latter win preceded election to the Football League as members of its newly formed Third Division North.^[1] Runners-up in their first season, Darlington were Northern Section champions three years later, thus winning promotion to the Second Division. Their 15th-place finish in 1926 remains their best League performance, and they were relegated back to the Third Division the following year. After 68 years of continuous membership, they were relegated from the Football League in 1988–89. Having made an immediate return as Conference champions, they remained in the League until 2010, when they again dropped into the Conference.^[2] After Darlington failed to exit administration in a manner acceptable to the Football Association, that body treated it as a new club, required it to change its name (to Darlington 1883), and placed its team in the Northern League, the ninth tier of English football, for the 2012–13 season.^[3]

The club's first team have competed in numerous nationally organised competitions, and all players who have played in 100 or more such matches, either as a member of the starting eleven or as a substitute, are listed below. Each player's details include the duration of his Darlington career, his typical playing position while with the club, and the number of games played and goals scored in domestic league matches and in all senior competitive matches. Where applicable, the list also includes the national team for which the player was selected, and the number of senior international caps he won. The names are ordered first by number of appearances in total, then by number of league matches played, and then if necessary by date of debut (earliest first).

Introduction

Of the 151 men who made 100 or more appearances in nationally organised league competition for Darlington, Alan Walsh and Jerry Best are first and second in the club's all-time scorers list. Davie Brown scored a club record 39 league goals in a single season, from 40 matches in 1924–25 as Darlington were promoted to the Second Division for the only time in their history.^[4][5] Frank Gray, Ken Hale and Billy Horner went on to manage the club, while Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison had several spells as caretaker manager.^[6]

Other players took part in significant matches in the history of the club. On the opening day of the 1921–22 season, Tommy Winship crossed for Bill Hooper to score Darlington's first Football League goal, against Halifax Town; the goal came so quickly that the Northern Echo reported how Hooper could "in all probability, lay claim to the honour of being the first player to score a goal in the Northern Section of the Third Division".^[5] Hughie Dickson scored the second with a penalty kick to make the score 2–0,^[7] and George Malcolm, the club's first Football League captain, and Tommy Greaves also played in the match.^[5][8] Dan Cassidy scored the last-second winner to defeat Stockport County in the inaugural Northern Section Cup final in 1934.^[9] Dave Carr and Keith Morton scored two of the goals that earned Darlington a draw with Chelsea, League champions only three seasons earlier, in the fourth round of the 1958–59 FA Cup, and Carr scored again as Darlington won the replay 4–1 to progress to the last 16 of the competition for only the second time in their history.^[10] Ray Yeoman captained the team to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1965–66,^[11] and Ian Miller was captain and Sam Russell and Paul Arnison also played as Darlington won the 2011 FA Trophy Final.^[12]

Ten men listed here – goalkeeper Mark Prudhoe, defenders Ron Greener, Liddle, Kevan Smith and John Peverell, midfielders Andy Toman, Alan Sproates and David McLean, and forwards Walsh and Colin Sinclair – were voted by supporters into a "Dream Team" as part of the Farewell to Feethams celebrations, when the club left its long-time home in 2003. The eleventh man, Marco Gabbiadini, played only 98 times for Darlington. Ron Ferguson's goal that eliminated Sheffield Wednesday from the 1976–77 FA Cup was chosen best goal ever scored at the ground.^[13]

Key

Position

Playing positions are listed according to the tactical formations that were employed at the time. Thus the change in the names of defensive and midfield positions reflects the tactical evolution that occurred from the 1960s onwards.^{[G 1][G 2]}

Club career

Club career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player appeared for the club in any of the competitions listed below.^{[G 3]}

League appearances and League goals

League appearances and goals comprise those in the Football League (1921–89 and 1990–2010) and Football Conference (1989–90 and 2010–12). Appearances in the 1939–40 Football League season, abandoned after three games because of the Second World War, are excluded.^{[G 4][G 2][G 5]}

Total appearances and Total goals

Total appearances and goals comprise those in the Football League (including play-offs), Football Conference, FA Cup, Football League Third Division North Cup, Football League Cup, Associate Members' Cup/Football League Trophy, FA Trophy and Conference League Cup. Matches in wartime competitions are excluded.^{[G 4][G 5][G 6]}

International selection

Countries are listed only for players who have been selected for international football. Only the highest level of international competition is given, except where a player competed for more than one country, in which case the highest level reached for each country is shown.^{[G 1][G 7]}

Players with 100 or more appearances

Craig Liddle made more than 300 appearances for Darlington, and was caretaker manager during their last season under the Darlington F.C. name.^[3][14]

Mark Prudhoe won the 1989–90 Football Conference and 1990–91 Fourth Division titles with Darlington.^[15]

Sean Gregan returned to Darlington as player-coach in 2012, 16 years after leaving for Preston North End.^[16]

After Andy Collett's playing career ended through injury, he stayed on with Darlington as goalkeeping coach.^[17]

Mark Convery was man of the match in Darlington's last match in the Football League, against Dagenham & Redbridge on 8 May 2010.^[18]

After Darlington's 2010 relegation to the Conference, Sam Russell returned for a third spell with the club.^[19] He was in goal, ...

... and Ian Miller captained the team, as Darlington won the 2011 FA Trophy Final.^[12]

Table of players, including playing position, club statistics and international selection

Player	Pos	Club career	League		Total		International selection	Refs
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Greener, RonRon Greener	DF	1955–1967	439	5	490	6	—
Peverell, JohnJohn Peverell	DF	1961–1972	419	13	465	14	—
Henderson, BrianBrian Henderson	FB	1952–1964	423	3	463	3	—
Smith, KevanKevan Smith	DF	1979–1985 1989–1993	382	19	440	22	—
Dickson, HughieHughie Dickson	HB / FB	1921–1934	402	37	440	46	—
Dunn, BillyBilly Dunn	GK	1945–1956	340	0	359	0	—	[20]
Furphy, KenKen Furphy	HB	1953–1962	316	6	349	8	—
Sproates, AlanAlan Sproates	MF	1965–1974	315	17	346	19	—
Nattress, CliveClive Nattress	DF	1972–1980 1985	303	15	346	5	—
McLean, DavidDavid McLean	MF	1979–1986	294	46	337	52	English schools
Liddle, CraigCraig Liddle	DF	1998–2005	285	17	322	21	—	[L 1][21]
Wainwright, NeilNeil Wainwright	MF	2000 2001–2008 2012	264	28	290	30	—	[L 2][22]
Walsh, AlanAlan Walsh	FW	1978–1984	251	87	279	100	—
Rutherford, BillBill Rutherford	HB	1952–1959	251	3	269	4	—
Moor, TonyTony Moor	GK	1965–1972	239	0	268	0	—
Waugh, JimmyJimmy Waugh	HB	1927–1933	236	10	262	11	—
Cochrane, JimmyJimmy Cochrane	DF	1975–1980	223	5	257	6	—
Gaughan, StevenSteven Gaughan	MF	1992–1996 1997–1999	218	18	252	19	—
Davison, JoeJoe Davison	FB	1947–1954	240	8	249	9	—
Naylor, GlennGlenn Naylor	FW	1995 1996–2003	213	47	248	54	—	[L 3][23]
Greaves, TommyTommy Greaves	FB	1921–1927	227	1	245	1	—
Brumwell, PhilPhil Brumwell	MF	1995–2000 2000–2002	199	1	238	4	—
Horner, BillyBilly Horner	DF	1969–1975	218	5	236	5	—
Robson, LanceLance Robson	FW	1960–1964 1968–1970	213	65	235	71	—	[lower-alpha 1]
Valentine, RyanRyan Valentine	FB	2002–2006 2008–2009	210	4	227	4	Wales U21	[24]
Atkinson, BrianBrian Atkinson	MF	1996–2002	193	12	224	15	England U21	[25]
Sinclair, ColinColin Sinclair	FW	1971–1976	203	59	223	65	Scotland youth
Craig, DerekDerek Craig	DF	1975–1980	187	10	214	16	—
Crosby, AndyAndy Crosby	DF	1993–1998	181	3	211	4	—
Prudhoe, MarkMark Prudhoe	GK	1989–1993	180	0	209	0	—
Oneill, LesLes O'Neill	MF	1965–1970	180	35	201	43	—
Shaw, SimonSimon Shaw	DF	1992–1998	176	12	199	14	England semi-pro[26]
Russell, SamSam Russell	GK	2002 2004–2007 2010–2012	173	0	196	0	—	[L 1][27]
Strang, DickDick Strang	HB	1933–1938	171	2	196	3	—
MacDonald, GarryGarry MacDonald	FW	1984–1989	162	35	196	47	—
Morton, KeithKeith Morton	FW	1955–1961	171	49	194	55	—
Keltie, ClarkClark Keltie	MF	2002–2008 2012	176	9	193	10	—	[lower-alpha 2][29]
Malcolm, GeorgeGeorge Malcolm	HB	1919–1925	166	7	189	7	—
Hale, KenKen Hale	FW	1968–1972	173	25	188	28	—
Rayment, JoeJoe Rayment	MF	1959–1965	173	31	187	35	—
Clarke, MattMatt Clarke	DF	2002–2006 2006	171	13	186	13	—	[L 4][30]
Eves, JohnJohn Eves	FB	1946–1952	176	1	184	1	—
Reed, AdamAdam Reed	DF	1991–1995 1997 1998–2002	160	3	184	3	—	[L 5][31]
Toman, AndyAndy Toman	MF	1989–1993	155	17	183	22	—
Hodgson, JoeJoe Hodgson	HB	1934–1939	160	2	181	2	—
Oliver, MichaelMichael Oliver	MF	1996–2000	151	14	179	15	—
Cassidy, DanDan Cassidy	HB / FW	1927–1937	165	15	178	19	—
Keeble, BrianBrian Keeble	DF	1965–1969	154	2	176	2	—
Joyce, MartinMartin Joyce	FB	1921–1927	166	0	175	0	—
Morgan, GaryGary Morgan	DF	1985–1989	146	3	175	3	—
Parsley, NormanNorman Parsley	HB	1945–1952	161	14	174	14	—	[20]
Hine, MarkMark Hine	MF	1986–1990	149	14	174	17	—
Varty, TommyTommy Varty	FW	1945–1950	162	33	173	34	—	[lower-alpha 1][20]
Jacques, JoeJoe Jacques	HB	1965–1969	154	5	173	6	—
Himsworth, GaryGary Himsworth	MF	1993–1996 1999–2000	142	9	171	11	—	[32]
Winship, TommyTommy Winship	FW	1919–1926	146	17	170	21	—
Barnard, MarkMark Barnard	DF	1995–1999	143	4	170	5	—
Alderson, TomTom Alderson	FW	1933–1936 1938–1939	151	46	169	60	—
Kelly, TomTom Kelly	HB / FB	1938–1951	157	3	169	3	—	[20]
Miller, IanIan Miller	MF	2007 2007–2011	149	9	168	10	—	[L 6][lower-alpha 2][33]
Hopkinson, FredFred Hopkinson	HB	1928–1933	158	10	167	10	—
Milner, JimJim Milner	FW	1957–1961	149	27	167	28	—
Brown, RoyRoy Brown	FB	1947–1956	158	20	164	22	—
Barber, FredFred Barber	GK	1983–1986	135	0	163	0	—
Gregan, SeanSean Gregan	DF	1991–1996	136	4	162	5	—
Barker, GeoffGeoff Barker	DF	1971–1975	151	6	161	6	—
Hooper, BillBill Hooper	FW	1920–1926	141	60	157	64	—
Atkinson, TrevorTrevor Atkinson	HB	1963–1968	139	3	156	3	—
Robinson, BillyBilly Robinson	HB	1922–1927	143	0	155	0	—
Lawton, JimmyJimmy Lawton	FW	1961–1965 1968–1969	142	63	155	65	—
Albeson, BrianBrian Albeson	DF	1967–1971	136	2	154	2	England youth
Willis, JimmyJimmy Willis	DF	1988–1991	128	7	151	8	—
Lloyd, PhilPhil Lloyd	DF	1984–1987	127	3	150	5	—
Conlon, BarryBarry Conlon	FW	2001–2004 2006	134	45	148	48	Republic of Ireland U21	[34]
Brown, HerbertHerbert Brown	FB	1928–1932	139	7	147	7	—
Carr, PeterPeter Carr	DF	1968–1972	135	1	147	1	—
McJannet, LesLes McJannet	FB	1988–1992	125	6	147	11	—
Crosson, DavidDavid Crosson	DF	1976–1980	128	2	146	2	—
Carr, DaveDave Carr	FW	1957–1962	132	50	145	57	—
Stevens, GeorgeGeorge Stevens	FW	1920–1925	130	38	145	42	—
Collett, AndyAndy Collett	GK	1999–2003	125	0	145	0	—	[35]
Kamara, AlanAlan Kamara	DF	1980–1983	134	1	144	1	—
Clark, HarryHarry Clark	FW	1950–1957	141	27	143	27	—
Ward, PaulPaul Ward	MF	1985–1988	124	9	143	11	—
Appleby, MattyMatty Appleby	DF	1993–1994 1994–1996 2005–2006	125	8	142	12	—	[L 7][36]
Tupling, SteveSteve Tupling	MF	1984–1987 1992	122	8	142	10	—	[lower-alpha 1]
Young, EricEric Young	MF	1974–1978	130	15	141	15	England youth
Bell, HarryHarry Bell	HB	1955–1959	126	19	141	23	—
Wann, DennisDennis Wann	MF	1976–1979	121	13	141	15	—
Stone, JohnJohn Stone	DF	1976–1979	120	14	141	15	—
Borthwick, JohnJohn Borthwick	FW	1989–1992	117	34	141	40	—
Harding, AlanAlan Harding	MF	1970–1973	129	37	140	38	—
Gauden, AllanAllan Gauden	MF	1968–1972	127	39	140	43	—
Seal, JimmyJimmy Seal	FW	1976–1979	122	19	140	22	—
Coulthard, BillyBilly Coulthard	FB	1934–1937	119	0	137	0	—
Mardenborough, SteveSteve Mardenborough	MF	1990–1993	123	19	136	21	—
Painter, RobbieRobbie Painter	FW / MF	1993–1996	115	28	136	34	—
McGeachie, GeorgeGeorge McGeachie	MF	1964–1966	119	9	135	10	—
Roberts, AlanAlan Roberts	MF	1985–1988	119	19	135	19	—
Heckingbottom, PaulPaul Heckingbottom	DF	1999–2002	115	5	135	6	—	[L 2][37]
Eden, BillyBilly Eden	FW	1928–1929 1932–1935	119	31	134	36	—
Clark, IanIan Clark	MF	2001–2005	119	26	133	27	—	[38]
Graham, PeterPeter Graham	MF	1970–1973	119	44	131	45	—
Holbrook, SteveSteve Holbrook	MF	1972–1977	116	12	131	13	English schools
Robinson, PeterPeter Robinson	DF	1985–1988	112	5	130	7	England semi-pro
Stalker, JohnJohn Stalker	FW	1979–1982	116	36	128	38	—
Halliday, TomTom Halliday	FB / HB	1929–1933	118	2	127	3	English schools
Maddison, NeilNeil Maddison	MF	2001–2006	115	4	127	4	—	[39]
Ferguson, RonRon Ferguson	FW	1976–1980	114	18	127	22	—
Cork, DavidDavid Cork	FW	1989–1992	105	23	127	20	—
Ward, TommyTommy Ward	FW	1948–1953	119	32	125	34	—
Owers, PhilPhil Owers	GK	1973–1975 1976–1980	114	0	125	0	—
Lees, NormanNorman Lees	DF	1971–1976	120	5	124	4	—
Hooper, MarkMark Hooper	FW	1924–1927	116	43	124	43	—
Maltby, JackieJackie Maltby	FW	1961–1965	114	32	124	36	—
Best, JerryJerry Best	FW	1933–1936	109	67	124	80	—
Devlin, ErnieErnie Devlin	FB	1954–1957	115	1	122	1	—
Rowles, EddieEddie Rowles	FW	1975–1977	103	21	122	25	—
Burluraux, DonDon Burluraux	MF	1972–1975	112	13	120	13	—
Cuff, PatPat Cuff	GK	1980–1983	110	0	120	0	English schools
Towers, JohnJohn Towers	FW / HB	1935–1946	107	22	120	27	—	[20]
Todd, KevinKevin Todd	FW	1983–1985	102	23	120	26	—	[L 7][lower-alpha 1]
Baxter, BobbyBobby Baxter	FW / FB	1959–1961 1969–1970	106	31	119	33	—
Yeoman, RayRay Yeoman	MF	1964–1967	104	2	118	2	—
Hodgson, RichardRichard Hodgson	MF	2000–2003	98	6	117	10	—	[40]
Mulholland, GeorgeGeorge Mulholland	DF	1960–1963	106	0	116	0	—
Ellison, LeeLee Ellison	FW	1990–1994 1998–1999	100	20	115	3	—
Mason, CliffCliff Mason	FB	1952–1955	107	0	114	0	—
Lyons, BarryBarry Lyons	MF	1976–1979	97	10	114	12	—
Greig, AndyAndy Greig	GK	1919–1924	95	0	114	0	—
Cattrell, GordonGordon Cattrell	MF	1973–1976	102	5	112	6	English schools
Burleigh, MartinMartin Burleigh	GK	1974–1975 1977–1979	101	0	112	0	—
Roberts, DarrenDarren Roberts	FW	1996–1999	96	33	112	38	—
Hamilton, IanIan Hamilton	MF	1979–1982	103	19	110	19	—
Simpson, BobbyBobby Simpson	FW	1936–1947	96	14	110	15	—	[20]
Wellock, MauriceMaurice Wellock	FW	1929–1932	104	71	109	74	English schools
McKinnell, JimmyJimmy McKinnell	HB	1926–1929	101	1	109	1	—
Cochrane, SandySandy Cochrane	FW	1926–1929	100	24	109	25	—
White, AlanAlan White	DF	2007–2009 2010	99	4	109	6	—	[L 8][lower-alpha 2][41]
Convery, MarkMark Convery	MF	2001–2005 2009–2010	97	3	109	4	—	[42]
Johnson, PeterPeter Johnson	DF	1983–1985	89	2	108	2	—
Brown, DavieDavie Brown	FW	1923–1926	97	74	107	77	—
Foster, SteveSteve Foster	DF	2007–2010	92	2	107	3	—	[lower-alpha 2][43]
Spencer, RayRay Spencer	HB	1958–1961	97	5	106	7	English schools
Mitchell, AndyAndy Mitchell	FW	1929–1932	99	32	105	33	—
Davis, DickieDickie Davis	FW	1954–1957	93	32	105	35	English schools
Preece, DavidDavid Preece	GK	1997–1999	91	0	104	0	—
Hawker, DaveDave Hawker	MF	1980–1982 1984	95	2	103	3	—	[lower-alpha 1]
Gray, FrankFrank Gray	DF	1989–1992	85	8	103	9	Scotland
Arnison, PaulPaul Arnison	DF	2009–2012	89	3	101	4	—	[44]
Emson, PaulPaul Emson	MF	1988–1991	82	12	100	12	—

Players with fewer appearances

Footnotes

Player statistics include games played while on loan from:

References

General

Specific