Fans smash six figure target!

15 Apr 2016 By David Watters

Quakers fans have smashed through a six figure target to fund EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Darlington’s return home next season with six weeks to spare.

With the Quakers set to ground-share at a revamped Blackwell Meadows with Darlington RFC, generous fans have pumped £100,000 into the club’s Community Share Scheme in just three weeks since its launch.

Backed by Supporters Direct, the Darlington FC Supporters Group launched the initiative in March with the target of raising £100,000 by the end of May to help the club return to the town.

The initiative gives anyone a chance to own a share of the Premier Division title-chasers for a minimum of £100 and should they wish, get their money back after an agreed period with a dividend on top.

Blackwell Meadows

Delighted officials say a late surge on Wednesday saw the total rise from £75,000 to £100,000 after 50 pledges, one of which was for £10,000 and another for £5,000.

DFCSG chairman Wayne Raper said: “We’re delighted to reach £100,000, and grateful to everyone who has invested. The generosity of our fans has been fantastic – we didn’t expect to get there on Wednesday night.

“We are now going to talk to Supporters Direct about what to do next – there are several options available to us, but we need to talk to them first.”

The Quakers - playing in exile at Bishop Auckland's Heritage Park since being reformed by supporters in 2012 – confirmed their return home last month after successfully concluding more than two years of negotiations. With an estimated £78,000 needed to just upgrade Blackwell Meadows to play up to and including at National League North level, the Premier Division's fundraising is far from over.

Club director John Tempest said: “It has been an amazing performance by the fans. It shows how much they love the club, and what we are trying to do. The fund raising doesn’t stop there. We still have other fund raising initiatives, such as the 500 club and lottery draw that people can participate in. There are further details on our website.”

For more information on the club’s initiatives visit: http://fundraising.darlingtonfcsupportersgroup.org.

Image courtesy of darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk

Where next?

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