Darlington will be playing their first local derby against Hartlepool for over eleven years when the two clubs face each other in the quarter final of the Durham Challenge Cup later this month.
Quakers haven’t played Pools since the 2006-07 season when Pools won 3-0 at the Arena, and there is huge anticipation ahead of the clash, which will be at Blackwell Meadows on Tuesday January 22nd. The game is all ticket on police advice, and those tickets can be bought at Quaker Retail in the town.
That game is three days after another local derby for Quakers, this time against Spennymoor at Blackwell Meadows when tickets for the Hartlepool game will also be on sale.
Quakers have suddenly struck form at home. Last Saturday’s 3-0 win over Kidderminster was their third successive home win, following on the heels of an excellent 5-1 scoreline over York City, and a 2-1 victory over Ashton United.
Both Kidderminster and York sacked their managers soon after playing Quakers, so the manager of Alfreton, whom Quakers play this Saturday, should be worried!
Quakers will go to Alfreton without Newton Aycliffe lad Andrew Nelson, whose month-long loan from Sunderland has ended. He had a very successful spell, scoring six goals in five matches, and helped Quakers climb into midtable.