DARLINGTON'S year ends as it started, with the team hovering above the relegation zone, but they generated hope with a big win on Boxing Day.
Beating York City 5-1 was an enormous fillip for fans, who have had precious few wins to celebrate in 2018, a year that began badly before briefly offering promise but finishes with the fan-owned club in the bottom half of the table.
They are 16th in the National League North, three points above the relegation zone having endured a nine-match winless run before trouncing York.
Last season ended with optimism restored, a good run of form steering the team away from relegation to a 12th-place finish followed by a summer of transfer activity, several of the Martin Gray era players moving on and replaced by Tommy Wright recruits.
This was underpinned by the supporters’ fundraising efforts. In the absence of a benevolent benefactor, Darlington’s fans are the investors and they raised an additional £85,000 to boost Wright’s budget.
But, as the league table demonstrates, not all of the money has been invested wisely, and injuries have taken their toll on a small squad.
Too many defeats sickened supporters leading to lower than anticipated attendances: the home game with Nuneaton three weeks ago seeing the club’s lowest league crowd at Blackwell Meadows to date.
The consequence, coupled with early exits from both the FA Cup and FA Trophy – which meant missing out on prizemoney – has seen the club move on senior players to cut costs, reducing the size of a squad that has relied on the academy for back-up.
Wright has been allowed to bolster numbers of late with five loan signings who have shown promise, particularly striker Andrew Nelson from Sunderland, and it is hoped these youngsters can instigate a revival in 2019.
HIT OF THE YEAR
REECE STYCHE
Was not flavour of the month by end of his time as he endured a dry spell, but scored 18 goals in his first 26 games
FLOP OF THE YEAR
GREG MILLS
Has scored regularly since signing for Stourbridge in the summer, but there were no complaints when Darlington moved him on
GOAL OF THE YEAR
JORDAN NICHOLSON
Away to Bradford (PA), dribbled through the middle of the pitch from the centre circle before curling the ball into the top corner, an exquisite finish from a classy player
MOMENT OF THE YEAR
Reece Styche’s goal celebration, diving into a mound of snow after scoring against Chorley in January, which won the club £20,000 and a friendly against a select XI of ex-Premier League players
2018 RECORD
P44 W13 D15 L16 F64 A66
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here