See shaun and doug were on local news tonight walking round feethams, their campaign is full steam ahead.

I would make a few observations. To be honest I'm a bit 50/50 about Feethams as a realistic goal but I certainly feel there is no harm in trying to get at the truth aand if Shaun, Doug et al are minded that way they certainly have my support. I am convinced that there has been some dodgy dealing in this whole thing (as in so much local politics) and as far as obstacles are concerner I am sure they consist mainly of DBC and DCC.

Observations;
1. I suspect that the reason no houses are being built is partly that it is being kept as a land bank for when demand improves. However, I am also sure that the level and proximity of the Skerne make it unappealing from an insurance point of view. Further any concreting over of that aarea would almost certainly have a massive effect on the likelihood of the Skerne bursting its banks. This is something councils are now, I believe, legally required to factor in to any housing project that they allow. It may seem far fetched but I know from knowldge that Worksop flooded a couple of years ago because the council there allowed house building on a flood plane on the edge of town and because the land no longer soaked up water and worse still rapidly drained it into the stream that runs through the town which then flooded the town centre. Prior to the house building the stream had never (ever) flooded previously - in the whole of history. Furthermore I use the term "stream" advisedly as it makes the Skerne look like the Amazon by comparison. Do you think the council may be a bit worried that they may get the blame if hundreds of houses in the town are flooded? Not good election canvassing material.
2. Many years ago I lived in SE London with Charlton as the nearest football club. They were homeless and playing many miles (and a pig of a journey) away at Crystal Palace and being taken to the cleaners on rent (Ron Noades if memory serves). In the intervening years the houses around the ground had changed hands and the prices had risen as people were no longer living next to a football ground and all the inconvenience this brought every other Saturday. The council didn't want to upset potential voters and so spoke with forked tongue about how it wasn't possible for the club to go back to the Valley and there was nowhere else in the Borough (they didn't want other ersidents being upset either). Pretty much looked as though Charlton's days were numbered with no future in sight of a ground anywhere near their fanbase. Then they hit on a clever tactic - they started to put up a Charlton Supporter's candidate in the local elections. He didn't have to win - he just had to take enough votes off the sitting councillor to lead to a change in the seat. The next one they fielded quite a few candidates and caused a change of Councillor in quite a few seats (not sure if they didn't actually win one!). Suddenly the ruling Labour Party did a massive volte face as they could see that they were heading for a loss of council control in a very strong Labour area. fatser than you could say "Jack Robinson" they suddenly started moving heaven and earth to get the club back to the Valley and in less than two years it happened. Now Charlton at the time did not have anything like the support they have come to enjoy recently but there are always plenty of old ladies who think of it as their club (even if they had never been anywhere near it), lapsed supporters who still have the club in their heart, general loonies who will vote for the most unlikeliest candidate on the ballot sheet, malcontents who will vote for anyone who breaks with the usual political orthodoxy and others who saw the injustice of what was happening. Remember local council seats are usually won with only a few hundred votes and you don't have to win you just need to garner enough votes for the ruling party to lose seats.

Brilliant brilliant post.

Shaun should put in as a candidate.

He would be ideal.

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Mr Singh said this " I'm not expecting to get back any of the money I've already put in, I'm prepared to write it off for the future of the club. I'm not hanging in to make any kind of financial gain in the short or long term - if someone was prepared to come in and take the club off my hands, I'd be more than willing to discuss it"

Tamworth matchday programme 26 Nov 2011

The thought had crossed my mind as well.

Just been down to feethams today for the first time since we left and walked round the place. Tried to re trace certain parts of the ground even picked up a couple of old signs from the old ground to go in my garden. When i was there all the memories were going through my head from what it used to be like. Shaun - Doug is there any update from what you publicised last week after the news report because i thinks this is what everyone needs to get behind.

There is a very similar story to the one that dfcdfcdfc describes in " The Glory Hunter" book.

The Glory Hunter, remember him? He followed Darlo for a while a few years back until we lost, to Droylesdon I think.

The story is, fans get fed with the Council, put themselves up for election, organise themselves well and at least one gets elected. The Council (surprise surprise) then has a change of heart and helps the club out.

Not Charlton though, this time it's Brentford.

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Mr Singh said this " I'm not expecting to get back any of the money I've already put in, I'm prepared to write it off for the future of the club. I'm not hanging in to make any kind of financial gain in the short or long term - if someone was prepared to come in and take the club off my hands, I'd be more than willing to discuss it"

Tamworth matchday programme 26 Nov 2011

Well Shaun would you stand? And how many on here would vote for him?
I would.

Interesting to read what happened at Charlton - never knew the story there, just used to think they moved out while the ground was being renovated.

I suppose if you're looking to get the council's backing, then that's the way to do it.

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You Are My Darlo!

we're all in it together!

If you have any nagging questions or concerns contact the CIC direct at contact@darlingtonfc.org and give the directors an opportunity to respond to you.

You can also keep in touch with the CIC on their Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/DFCCIC

and you can also use the suggestion box at the retail outlet in the Covered Market.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UboT-e4g ... ure=g-vrec

Just came across this, I guess most people would have seen it.

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Interesting story dfcdfcdfc. I'd vote for Shaun.

Count me in ...... and I support Dagenham & Redbridge.

Redbridge council did the same to my club -Ilford FC, and we had to move away to Leytonstone..... I know its all good, and the upset has gone, but it still catches me in the craw, when I pass Lynn Road (former home of Ilford)....

So....... If you need my support, I have no probs coming up for weekends to do volenteering or whatever

I said a few weeks ago on this forum that we need to actively get the ball rolling and get back to our spritual home ,i believe this is always possible whilst no development is being carried out ,it has been said time and again about the flooding problems ,this site is no good for housing.only a return of our beloved football club will do. so lets get it on ,
100%behind you shaun go for it .

So if flooding is a problem, would that not flood the ground, the stands, and cause much damage if a flood happened?

And of course we'd not be able to get flood insurance.

Or does flood water avoid football grounds?

Seems like people clutching at straws to me, I can imagine if potentially harmful radiation was found at the site, meaning housing shouldn't be built, that people would clutch that straw...

"Hey radiation is a big hazard at Feethams, they can't build houses there because of it"

"Great! This means that Esh will forget about their money, the cricket club will skulk off, the council will donate the ground to us, a few million quid will also magically appear, and we can crack on building the ground! Hooray!"

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http://twitter.com/Quakerz72

Shaun/Doug i am a massive supporter of what your trying to achieve here. What are the costs for the CC upgrade in facilities? Could grants not be applied for to help with this. I know Lincoln City got a 250k grant from the biglotteryfund or national lottery to build there 3G pitch and facilities on site at the stadium.
the ultimate dream would be to have the CC upgraded and us working hand in hand supporting each other, with a new Quaker centre for Indoor facility and outdoor training facility on the land behind the old south terrace which i believe the club owned at some point.