DEDICATED football fans follow their club until their dying day - but George Davison could go one step further.

George, known to his pals as Smokey, had one last request before he died - to have his remains buried beneath the hallowed turf of his beloved team.

And when the final whistle blew for the passionate Darlington supporter, his ashes were duly laid to rest under the Feethams pitch.

Year in, year out George watched the Quakers from the same place in the Feethams tin shed stand, and when he died the club agreed to his ashes being buried near his life-long vantage spot.

But now the club is about to move home to a new £20m stadium across town at Neasham Road - and officials are considering whether to bring Smokey with them.

Head groundsman Andrew Thompson revealed that the urn containing George's ashes had been uncovered once before.

His chosen resting place remained undisturbed for several years until work began on a new drainage system at the old ground.

"We found the container filled with Smokey's ashes under the pitch, not far from where he stood and watched the matches," said Andrew.

Once the repair work was completed, George's remains were once again laid to rest. Now club chairman George Reynolds is anxious to speak with his relations so that the question of what to do with his ashes can be resolved as sensitively as possible.

"Maybe his family would like his remains leaving at Feethams as he requested, or perhaps they would like him moved to the new stadium," said Mr Reynolds.

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