Pretty in pink for charity

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Darlington will be pretty in pink this season after launching an innovative partnership with a North East hospice.

The First Division North newcomers have teamed up with St Teresa’s Hospice in a deal that will see them displaying their logo on their new away strip and also donate a third of all profits made on sales of the replica pink kit to the charity.

Pre-orders for home and away shirts are currently being taken by Quaker Retail in Darlington's covered market with the first deliveries expected to arrive before the start of the season next weekend.

St Teresa’s director Jane Bradshaw is delighted that the Quakers had agreed to support them and further strengthen their growing community links.

Bradshaw said: "The players, staff and supporters of Darlington FC have performed amazingly this season, and I am so pleased that St Teresa’s Hospice has been adopted by the Northern League champions."

Darlington manager Martin Gray, pictured alongside the club's chief executive Martin Jesper, right, and the hospice's Dr Harry Byrne, said everyone at the club is 'extremely proud' to work with a hospice which touches the lives of so many people in their community.

Gray said: "This is a massive step forward for the club in becoming an integral part of the community and I am sure every fan will join the players and management in being extremely proud to wear the new away shirt and to be associated with the fantastic people at the hospice and the fantastic work they perform."

Verony Chalmers, Darlington's commercial manager, hopes the partnership will also open up more commercial and community based-initiatives and opportunities as the resurrected Quakers continue to grow.

Chalmers added: "We are really looking forward to working with everyone connected with the hospice. To feel that the football club, despite its traumatic recent history, can be making a difference directly into the community in this way is absolutely huge and is yet another big step forward in restoring the brand of Darlington FC."

She added: "Martin Gray is doing that on the pitch - now it is the opportunity for the fans to help make that difference too."

Image courtesy of the Northern Echo