A FAN-owned football club has taken further steps to forge links with the community by launching a junior football club.

The club has been formed after Northern League winners Darlington FC were approached by Cumby Rovers YFC, an existing junior club based at Heighington, about a partnership.

Cumby Rovers will now be known as Darlington Youth Football Club (DYFC).

Teams for girls and boys aged seven up to 16 will be entered in local leagues, with trials due to take place in June.

Bernard Nicholson, former Cumby Rovers secretary and now secretary of DYFC, said he was delighted at the development.

“This is a great opportunity to take our club forward in a professional set up like Darlington FC.

“Our existing coaches and managers will benefit enormously from the input of Darlington FC manager Martin Gray and his coaching staff who will run workshops and coaching courses for them and the children. We will also look towards becoming an FA development charter standard youth football club.”

Dave Mills, a director of Darlington FC Community Interest Company, added: “Darlington FC is committed to engaging with the wider community and the fantastic opportunity this development provides will mean that young aspiring footballers will be able to play within the club’s youth development programme and proudly wear the Quakers badge on their shirts.

“The children will look to our first team players as role models, and we will involve our junior teams in all aspects of the club.

“All DYFC players will be able to attend our home matches at Heritage Park next season.”

Quaker’s manager Martin Gray said he planned to watch as many junior games as possible.

“It is good to know that the newly formed Darlington Youth Football Club will be run on the same professional basis as the current under-18s and first team are.

“These teams will hopefully provide me with good quality first team players in the future.”

For more information on joining the club, email Mr Nicholson at darlyouthfc@gmail.com