Target in sight for share sale

With the Quakers set to be ground-sharing at a revamped Blackwell Meadows with Darlington RFC, investments in the club’s Community Share Scheme have passed the £70,000 mark within a fortnight of its launch.

Backed by Supporters Direct, 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.

Delighted officials say supporters from New Zealand to Texas are among those who have already invested in the fan-owned club they love.

Director John Tempest said: “We are very grateful to everyone who has invested. They have greatly helped our proposed return to Darlington but there is still a lot more fund raising to be done.”

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.

After the support they’d received from Darlington Borough Council and the rugby club, club officials set themselves a target last month of raising £100,000, with an estimated £78,000 alone needed to upgrade the ground to play up to and including at National League North level.

Club representatives set out the proposals for raising the money at a fans forum at the end of March following discussions with Supporters Direct, their supporters group, private shareholders, companies and individuals. Other fundraising initiatives under consideration include extending membership of the DFC 500 Club and sales of five year season tickets.

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

Image courtesy of darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk

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