Darlington Football Club, an English association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, was founded in 1883. They entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1885–86, were founder members of the Northern League in 1889, turned professional in 1908 and joined the North Eastern League, which they won in 1913 and 1921. The latter win preceded election to the Football League as members of its newly formed Third Division North. Runners-up in their first season, Darlington were Northern Section champions three years later, thus winning promotion to the Second Division. Their 15th-place finish in 1926 remains their best League performance, and they were relegated back to the Third Division the following year. After 68 years of continuous membership, they were relegated from the Football League in 1988–89. Having made an immediate return as Conference champions, they remained in the League until 2010, when they again dropped into the Conference. After Darlington failed to exit administration in a manner acceptable to the Football Association, that body treated it as a new club, required it to change its name (to Darlington 1883), and placed its team in the Northern League, the ninth tier of English football, for the 2012–13 season. Five years later, the FA approved the club's request to resume its traditional name.

The club's first team have competed in numerous nationally organised competitions, and all players who have played in 100 or more such matches, either as a member of the starting eleven or as a substitute, are listed below. Each player's details include the duration of his Darlington career, his typical playing position while with the club, and the number of games played and goals scored in domestic league matches and in all senior competitive matches. Where applicable, the list also includes the national team for which the player was selected, and the number of senior international caps he won.

Introduction

Of the more than 150 men who made 100 or more appearances in nationally organised league competition for Darlington, Alan Walsh and Jerry Best are first and second in the club's all-time scorers list. Davie Brown scored a club record 39 league goals in a single season, from 40 matches in 1924–25 as Darlington were promoted to the Second Division for the only time in their history. Frank Gray, Ken Hale and Billy Horner went on to manage the club, while Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison had several spells as caretaker manager.

Other players took part in significant matches in the history of the club. On the opening day of the 1921–22 season, Tommy Winship crossed for Bill Hooper to score Darlington's first Football League goal, against Halifax Town; the goal came so quickly that the Northern Echo reported how Hooper could "in all probability, lay claim to the honour of being the first player to score a goal in the Northern Section of the Third Division". Hughie Dickson scored the second with a penalty kick to make the score 2–0, and George Malcolm and Tommy Greaves also played in the match. Dan Cassidy scored the last-seconds winner to defeat Stockport County in the inaugural Northern Section Cup final in 1934. Dave Carr and Keith Morton scored two of the goals that earned Darlington a draw with Chelsea, League champions only three seasons earlier, in the fourth round of the 1958–59 FA Cup, and Carr scored again as Darlington won the replay 4–1 to progress to the last 16 of the competition for only the second time in their history. Ray Yeoman captained the team to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1965–66, and Ian Miller was captain and Paul Arnison, Liam Hatch and Sam Russell also played as Darlington won the 2011 FA Trophy Final.

Ten men listed heregoalkeeper Mark Prudhoe, defenders Ron Greener, Liddle, Kevan Smith and John Peverell, midfielders Andy Toman, Alan Sproates and David McLean, and forwards Walsh and Colin Sinclairwere voted by supporters into a "Dream Team" as part of the 2003 Farewell to Feethams celebrations, when the club left its long-time home. The eleventh man, Marco Gabbiadini, played only 98 times for Darlington. Ron Ferguson's goal that eliminated Sheffield Wednesday from the 1976–77 FA Cup was chosen best goal ever scored at the ground.

Key

The list is ordered first by number of appearances in total, then by number of League appearances, and then if necessary by date of debut. Appearances as a substitute are included. Statistics are correct up to 1 July 2024, the first day of the 2023–24 season. Where a player left the club permanently after this date, his statistics are updated to his date of leaving.

+ Positions keyPre-1960s1960s–GKGoalkeeperFBFull backDFDefenderHBHalf-backMFMidfielderFWForward

Players with 100 or more appearances

+ Table of players, including playing position, club statistics and international selectionPlayerClub careerLeagueTotalInternational selectionGoalsGoalsRon GreenerDF1955–196743954906—John PeverellDF1961–19724191346514—Brian HendersonFB1952–196442334633—Kevan SmithDF3821944022—Hughie DicksonHB / FB1919–19344023744046—Billy DunnGK1945–195634003590—Ken FurphyHB1953–196231663498—Clive NattressDF3031534615—Alan SproatesMF1965–19743151734319—David McLeanMF1979–19862944633752 English schoolsCraig LiddleDF1998–20052851732221—MiddlesbroughNeil WainwrightMF2642829230—SunderlandAlan WalshFW1978–198425187279100—Bill RutherfordHB1952–195925132694—Tony MoorGK1965–197223902680—Jimmy CochraneDF1975–198022352576—Jimmy WaughHB1927–19332361025211—Steven GaughanMF2181825219—Joe DavisonFB1947–195424072498—Glenn NaylorFW2134724854—York CityTommy GreavesFB1921–192722712451—Phil BrumwellMF19912384—Billy HornerDF1969–197521852365—Lance RobsonFW2136623572—Ryan ValentineFB21042274Brian AtkinsonMF1996–20021931222415Colin SinclairFW1971–19762035922365 youthDerek CraigDF1975–19801871021416—Andy CrosbyDF1993–199818132114—Mark PrudhoeGK1989–199318002090—Les O'NeillMF1965–19701803520143—Simon ShawDF1992–19981761219914 England semi-proSam RussellGK17301960—Dick StrangHB1933–193817121963—Garry MacDonaldFW1984–19891623519647—Clark KeltieMF176919411—Keith MortonFW1955–19611714919455—George MalcolmHB1919–192516671897—Ken HaleFW1968–19721732518828—Joe RaymentMF1959–19651733118735—Matt ClarkeDF1711318613—Bradford CityJohn EvesFB1946–195217611841—Adam ReedDF16031843—Blackburn RoversAndy TomanMF1989–19931551718322—Joe HodgsonHB1934–193916021812—Michael OliverMF1996–20001511417915—Dan CassidyHB / FW1927–19371651517819—Brian KeebleDF1965–196915421762—Martin JoyceFB1921–192716601750—Gary MorganDF1985–198914631753—Norman ParsleyHB1945–19521611417414—Mark HineMF1986–19901491417417 England semi-proStephen ThompsonMF / FW2013–20201493417441—Tommy VartyFW1945–19501623217333—Joe JacquesHB1965–196915451736—Gary HimsworthMF142917111—Tommy WinshipFW1919–19261461717021—Mark BarnardDF1995–199914341705—Tom AldersonFW1514616960—Tom KellyHB / FB1938–195115731693—Ian MillerMF149916810—Ipswich TownFred HopkinsonHB1928–19331581016710—Jim MilnerFW1957–19611492716728—Roy BrownFB1947–19561582016422—Fred BarberGK1983–198613501630—Sean GreganDF1991–199613641625—Geoff BarkerDF1971–197515161616—Terry GalbraithDF / MF2013–20201351515917—Ben Hedley *MF2019–present13501591—Bill HooperFW1920–19261416015764—Trevor AtkinsonHB1963–196813931563—Billy RobinsonHB1922–192714301550—Jimmy LawtonFW1426315571—Brian AlbesonDF1967–197113621542Jarrett Rivers *FW2019–present131915315—Jimmy WillisDF1988–199112871518—Phil LloydDF1984–198712731505—Barry ConlonFW1344514848Peter CarrDF1968–197213511471—Les McJannetFB1988–1992125614711—David CrossonDF1976–198012821462—Herbert BrownFB1928–193213971457—Dave CarrFW1957–19621325014557—George StevensFW1920–19251303814542—Andy CollettGK1999–200312501450—Alan KamaraDF1980–198313411441—Harry ClarkFW1950–19571412714327—Paul WardMF1985–1988124914311—Matty ApplebyDF125814212—Newcastle UnitedSteve TuplingMF122814210—Eric YoungMF1974–19781301514115Harry BellHB1955–19591261914123—Dennis WannMF1976–19791211314115—John StoneDF1976–19791201414115—John BorthwickFW1989–19921173414140—Alan HardingMF1970–19731293714038—Allan GaudenMF1968–19721273914043—Jimmy SealFW1976–19791221914022—Billy CoulthardFB1934–193711901370—Steve MardenboroughMF1990–19931231913621—Robbie PainterFW / MF1993–19961152813634—George McGeachieMF1964–1966119913510—Alan RobertsMF1985–19881191913519—Paul HeckingbottomDF1999–200211551356—Will Hatfield *MF1131413518—Billy EdenFW1193113436—Ian ClarkMF2001–20051192613427—Peter GrahamMF1970–19731194413145—Steve HolbrookMF1972–19771161213113 English schoolsJoe WheatleyMF2017–202211221313 England CPeter RobinsonDF1985–198811251307 England semi-proNeil MaddisonMF2001–200611541294—John StalkerFW1979–19821163612838—Tom HallidayFB / HB1929–193311821273 English schoolsRon FergusonFW1976–19801141812722—David CorkFW1989–19921052312731—Tommy TaylorGK2021–202411601260—Tommy WardFW1948–19531193212534—Phil OwersGK11401250—Norman LeesDF1971–197612051245—Mark HooperFW1924–19271164312443—Jackie MaltbyFW1961–19651143212436—Jerry BestFW1933–19361096712480—Ernie DevlinFB1954–195711511221—Eddie RowlesFW1975–19771032112225—Don BurlurauxMF1972–19751121312013—Pat CuffGK1980–198311001200 English schoolsJohn TowersFW / HB1935–19461072212027—Kevin ToddFW1983–19851022312026—Bobby BaxterFW / FB1063111933—Ray YeomanMF1964–196710421182—Alan WhiteDF9941188—Luton TownRichard HodgsonMF2000–200398611710—George MulhollandDF1960–196310601160—Lee EllisonFW1002011523—Cliff MasonFB1952–195510701140—Barry LyonsMF1976–1979971011412—Andy GreigGK1919–19249501140—Gordon CattrellMF1973–197610251126 English schoolsMartin BurleighGK10101120—Darren RobertsFW1996–1999963311238—Ian HamiltonMF1979–19821031911019—Bobby SimpsonFW1936–1947961411015—Maurice WellockFW1929–19321047110974 English schoolsJimmy McKinnellHB1926–192910111091—Sandy CochraneFW1926–19291002410925—Mark ConveryMF9731094—Peter JohnsonDF1983–19858921082—Davie BrownFW1923–1926977410777—Steve FosterDF2007–20109221073—Ray SpencerHB1958–19619751067 English schoolsAndy MitchellFW1929–1932993210533—Dickie DavisFW1954–1957933210535 English schoolsDavid PreeceGK1997–19999101040—Liam HatchFW852210429 England semi-proPeterborough UnitedDave HawkerMF9521033—Frank GrayDF1989–19928581039Jake LawlorDF2021–20249761026—Hartlepool UnitedPaul ArnisonDF2009–20128931014—Paul EmsonMF1988–1991821210012—

Players with fewer appearances

Notes

Player statistics include games played while on loan from:

References Appearances and goals

Specific

Sources