Darlington have began lining up their pre-season schedule - and for the first time in six years they will have a home friendly.

Second Division play-off semi-finalists Huddersfield Town will provide the Feethams opposition in early August - but Quakers are hoping for a Premiership test before then.

With July 29 having been penciled in as possible date, a number of Premiership clubs have been approached to visit Feethams this summer.

The last Feethams friendly was in 1996 against then First Division Barnsley, who included former Quaker Matty Appleby who had signed for the Tykes that summer.

Aside from the Huddersfield game and possible date with a Premiership outfit, the remainder of Darlington's warm-up matches will be away from home, with one of these being at North Shields.

The game has been set-up to repay the Wearside League outfit, whose pitch was badly cut-up when they allowed Quakers to play a friendly on it midway through the season.

Darlington have also arranged a game at Durham City's New Ferens Park for July 19, while on July 19 Quakers will re-visit Barrow where they were humbled 3-1 last season.

Quakers will spend a week in the Isle of Man where they will play at least three matches with the first being on July 21 against the host club, followed by a game with Third Division play-off semi-finalists Rochdale two days later.

On July 25, Quakers will have a play-off and if they have done enough in the first two games will qualify for a final on the Saturday which could be against Luton, Wrexham or Burnley.

The two-day tournament at Hampton and Richmond, planned for the weekend of July 13, has been cancelled.

Darlington are also planning to line up a number of away fixtures against Northern League opponents.

* Cardiff have been fined £20,000 by a Football Association of Wales disciplinary hearing following the crowd trouble which followed the FA Cup clash with Leeds in January.

But the Second Division club are now considering an appeal, having been cleared of a further charge relating to missile throwing.

The charges related to Cardiff fans invaded the pitch at the end of the side's 2-1 third round win at Ninian Park on January 6.

At the hearing, FAW's David Collins said: ''We recognise the efforts Cardiff have made over the last few years in an attempt to rid themselves of the small hooligan element amongst their support."

* Stoke City have terminated the contract of manager Gudjon Thordarson, just five days after the Icelander led the Potters to Division Two play-off final glory.

Club chairman Gunnar Gislason has claimed that the relationship between Thordarson and the board is now ''untenable''.

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