The last 50 years of Darlington Football Club has been recorded by a devoted fan with a unique perspective.

Paul Hodgson has written his fourth book, One Hundred of the Best, and his opinion piece talks about his experience of attending Darlington matches at home and away, as a disabled supporter.

The book launch took place today (Thursday, November 3) at 10am at The Dolphin Centre in Darlington with guests including former Darlington manager David Hodgson, former footballer for Darlington and Sunderland Neil Wainwright, and Darlington player David Wheater.

Paul Hodgson has made a name for himself in the region in recent months after the film based on his life, Give Them Wings, premiered.

The Northern Echo: Paul Hodgson signs copies of his latest book, One Hundred of the Best, at the Dolphin Centre, DarlingtonPaul Hodgson signs copies of his latest book, One Hundred of the Best, at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington (Image: Aja Dodd, Newsquest)

Read more: Why Darlington FC fan is releasing book about football team's biggest moments

The film depicts Paul’s life as a young man living with the lifelong effects of Meningitis, which he contracted at 10 months old. The story follows Paul’s journey to self-acceptance along with his big passion for Darlington FC. The film starred Toyah Willcox and Coronation Street star Bill Fellows.

His book, One Hundred of the Best, begins in the 1972/73 season when his mother took him to his first game: Southport at home. The Quakers were soundly thrashed 7-0, yet the seven-year-old Paul was hooked from then on.

The Northern Echo: Plenty of Quakers fans turned out to get their hands on a copy of the bookPlenty of Quakers fans turned out to get their hands on a copy of the book (Image: Aja Dodd, Newsquest)

Paul said: “I’ve been to so many Darlington matches so I thought it would be good to write about my experience as a fan. It’s the 50th anniversary since I first started going to matches so I thought it was a good to write about it.

“It’s my fourth book that’s been published and it took me 10 months to write. It was a great feeling once it was finished though and I saw the first few copies.

“Accessibility has improved a lot since I first started going to games, it’s improved massively without a doubt, it’s so much easier for people like me now.”

David Hodgson, former Darlington manager, said: “It’s definitely an opinion piece but that’s the great thing about fans because they see things that players and managers don’t, so it’s pretty insightful.

“I think this will be an iconic book for Darlington.”

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