Darlington's reserves got their season off to a poor start yesterday afternoon when they lost 2-0 at York City.

Fielding several players with first-team experience, Quakers slumped to defeat in disappointing fashion with both goals coming in the first half.

Manager Tommy Taylor admitted the performance was not good enough, saying: "Too many of the team were Mr Average today, and being average isn't good enough.

"Their Brazilian player did well, but only because we let him."

Despite his comments, Taylor acknowledged that Chris Porter, David McGurk, Michael Coughlan, and Clark Keltie acquitted themselves well, while Quakers were without Paul Campbell who was suspended after being sent off in the final reserve game of last season.

Meanwhile, fans eager to get their hands on the club's new home strip will have to wait a little while longer as there has been yet another hiccup in getting the shirts delivered to the Feethams club shop.

Darlington had hoped to have the home shirts on sale by the end of this week, but, as has been a recurring problem with the shirts this summer, the delivery date has been delayed yet again.

They are now not expected to be available until Wednesday, August 28 with the second choice kit for sale five to six weeks later.

* 'Farewell to Feethams - A Collection of Darlington FC Memories', a book dedicated to the Quakers will be available for the first time tomorrow night.

Joint authors, Ray Simpson and Andrew Wilkinson, will be on hand to sign copies of the book at the town's Arts Centre from 7.30pm.

The book took the pair more than a year to complete, with recollections dating from the heartbreak of relegation in the 1920s to the Wembley play-off defeat two years ago, with those interviewed including former stars Alan Walsh, Colin Sinclair and the late Brian Henderson.

Copies of the 120-page book, priced at £8 and published in paperback in conjunction with The Northern Echo, will be available in the Myles Meehan gallery, which hosts the Farewell to Feethams photographic exhibition for its final weekend over this Bank Holiday weekend.

Thousands of fans have visited the show over the last two months, which was organised by Darlington Supporters' Trust.

It is hoped the exhibition will now be shown at other venues before it is given a permanent home in Darlington's new stadium. Visit www.darlotrust.co.uk for more details.

Read more about the Quakers here.