Charity drive cleared for take-off next season

Darlington’s fans, players and officials are hoping to soar to new heights in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League next season after making the region’s air ambulance their new official charity of the year.

The Quakers have signed an agreement with the Great North Air Ambulance Service which will see the charity’s logo on the team’s new away shirts for the duration of the 2014-15 First Division North campaign.

As part of the agreement, GNAAS will receive a third of the profits from all sales of the green and white away shirt and the Quakers say they will also hold bucket collections at selected home games and support GNAAS’ events in and around Darlington where the service is based.

Darlington’s manager Martin Gray is pictured at the launch of the partnership with pilot Chris Wood modelling the new shirt, Dr Amy Gospel, aircrew paramedic Andy Mawson and mascot Miles the Bear.

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said the partnership represented a “significant boost” for the charity, which needs to raise £4m every year to continue to operate.

She said: "This is great news for the charity. Not only do we hope to raise some much-needed money, but having our logo on the shirt will also raise the profile of our organisation. We are proud to be associated with Darlington Football Club and look forward to a successful year together, both on and off the pitch.

"The shirt is a great way of showing support not just for the Quakers, but also for the Great North Air Ambulance Service. All of the money made will go towards saving lives in our region."

Darlington Community and Fans’ Manager, Dave Mills, added: "DFC is delighted to welcome another high profile local community partner to work closely with the football club next season.

"The current season’s excellent relationship with St Teresa’s [Hospice] has been extremely successful for all concerned, and will certainly be a long lasting one. We believe that the same level of community togetherness will be created with the air ambulance – in what promises to be another exciting and progressive year for the club and the community as a whole."

The partnership comes in a potentially landmark year for the club, which hopes to return to Darlington in time for the new season.

In a poll of the club’s fans, a black and white hooped design was chosen for the home shirt. Both shirts will be available for pre-order shortly from Quaker Retail, with the first delivery of shirts scheduled for June.

Image courtesy of www.thenorthernecho.co.uk