FORMER Darlington and Hartlepool United player Joe Rayment has died at the age of 84.

He made 173 appearances and scored 28 goals for Quakers, playing from 1958-65.

One of his games was the Football League Cup third round tie in 196-61, when 21,023 squeezed into Feethams, the ground’s highest ever attendance.

Speaking to The Northern Echo in 2011, Joe said: “Feethams was a perfect little ground, I loved it and it’s a great shame what happened to it. I remember before the Bolton match crowds right around the cricket ground next door.”

A diminutive outside right, he said. “I was five foot four-and-a-half and about eight-and-a-half stones. I wouldn’t care, all I ever wanted to be was a centre forward.”

Joe also played for hometown club Hartlepools United and began his playing days with Middlesbrough before heading to Gateshead after leaving Quakers.

Pools tweeted: “We are extremely saddened to hear of the death of former #Pools player Joe Rayment at the age of 84.

Joe played 65 games in the 1950s but was also an amazing character whom we enjoyed visiting a couple of times in recent years.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”