A BOOK commemorating the history of football at Feethams goes on sale today.

"Farewell to Feethams - a collection of Darlington FC Memories" charts some of the defining moments in the history of the club as recalled by fans and former players.

During the past year, authors Ray Simpson and Andrew Wilkinson have gathered a variety of stories and pictures to tell the history of Darlington FC at its ground, which is due to close soon.

The club is preparing to move to its new home, off Neasham Road.

Mr Simpson said: "We wanted to mark the fact that the new stadium is being built and decided to produce a book which would commemorate the club moving.

"We approached loads of former players and fans for their memories and we got about 100 stories back about Darlington FC's time at Feethams."

The book has been printed by The Northern Echo and the newspaper also supplied many of the photographs used to illustrate the book.

One of The Northern Echo's artists, Steve Whetton, has designed the book cover.

Among the stories retold are one of the fastest own goals which took place in a match between Darlington and Southport, and the club's involvement in a game which saw the quickest sending off of a goalkeeper.

The club was also one of the first to take part in floodlit football.

Stars who have given their stories include Alan Walsh, Colin Sinclair and the late Brian Henderson.

The authors will be signing copies of the book tonight, at 7.30pm, in Darlington Arts Centre.

The paperback, which costs £8, is available from the Myles Meehan gallery in the Arts Centre, and offices of The Northern Echo.

The launch of the book coincides with the last weekend of a photography exhibition at the Arts Centre, which focuses on Feethams and it fans.

Thousands of supporters have visited the exhibition, organised by the Darlington Supporters' Trust. It is hoped it will be seen at other venues around the town before moving permanently to the new stadium.

* Pictures from the book will appear in next Wednesday's Northern Echo.