Darlo Uncovered

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/early-b ... 21-on-sale

think a month is a bit tight to try and scrape £250 together though.

A month. I new it was coming at the start of this season so have been expecting it.

It's been announced on the 1st March for the last 3 years minimum so not really a surprise.

Hopefully we can hit similar figures as other season and convert our 500 club leavers into ST holders.

Sadly as a 500 club member, my finances don't allow me to get a ST, plus I have had to miss a few games recently, so a ST at the moment wouldn't make sense for me.

what actually is a 500 club member? ive heard it mentioned but never taken notice of what it is or gets you?

The 500 club were instrumental in the rescue of the club. The offer was for a discounted season ticket for 5 seasons, gamble being that there may not even be a club. This group bankrolled the initial setting up of "Darlington 1883 FC" as a legal entity and funded Martin Gray's building a team, renting a ground and giving the impetus to rise from the bottom of the football pyramid. They stood up to the FA & stuck 2 fingers to everyone who said Darlo FC were dead. When the initial 5 seasons were over, to assist with our finances, they were offered an extension under a similar scheme at a discount. Finally after 8 seasons the club is financially stable enough to end the scheme & trust that the 500 club members will buy an 'ordinary' season ticket at the same price as other fans. They deserve some recognition for 'loaning' money against a very uncertain future over the first few years of the phoenix club as we would not be where we are now without them.
PS I am not a 500 member but have bought a season ticket every year & will be doing so for next season (even if we don't get promotion)

Actually the 500 club was created to get us back into town. It raised a large portion of the money we needed to get BM up to NLN standard.

I am a 500 club member, and will be getting a new season ticket this week, I expect most will be renewing.
Some 500 club extended not sure on how many.

Darlopartisan wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 02, 2020 8:37 am

I am a 500 club member, and will be getting a new season ticket this week, I expect most will be renewing.
Some 500 club extended not sure on how many.

About a third expire with two thirds having extended for various lengths. Hopefully we don’t have to offer them again in future as it’ll mean finances are good.

Demoted to the bottom of the pyramid? Not sure about that statement.


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500 holders had options to extend for various additional seasons so this should smooth out the income stream over time. Eventually it will run out so everyone can only get the usual season tickets. The early bird scheme helps the Board setting a budget & funds for AA to recruit a squad for next season. Small discount from full price ST come April. If you like a bargain, this next season will have two extra home games.
As for going to the bottom of the pyramid, it just depends where you measure it from, the coats for posts parks league / Mike Amos Div1 etc.

Understand AA given a budget to work with & hopes to get several resigned up for next season in the coming weeks and understands fully our budget constraints with some older players requested to take a drop in salary.
AA is planning to get more involved in the academy team and improve the quality of youngsters able to move up into first team(not good enough quality upto now) and even if we do play 20/21 season on a plastic pitch instead of BM, Darlo is moving forward on the playing side which we did not observe with TW and we need over 1000season tickets asap.

Quaker85 wrote:Demoted to the bottom of the pyramid? Not sure about that statement.


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Also not sure what this phoenix club is that he's referring to.

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Sales going well apparently , applied for mine this morning, lapsed 500 club member

poppyfield wrote:Sales going well apparently , applied for mine this morning, lapsed 500 club member

3 of us will also be renewing.

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eddie-rowles wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:35 pm

Understand AA given a budget to work with & hopes to get several resigned up for next season in the coming weeks and understands fully our budget constraints with some older players requested to take a drop in salary.
AA is planning to get more involved in the academy team and improve the quality of youngsters able to move up into first team(not good enough quality upto now) and even if we do play 20/21 season on a plastic pitch instead of BM, Darlo is moving forward on the playing side which we did not observe with TW and we need over 1000season tickets asap.

where exactly will we be playing next season?

At Blackwell Meadows I would say. I presume they mean the Arena in terms of plastic pitch but I do believe that may be off the cards for the arena currently.

We won’t get 1k season ticket holders either.

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:08 pm

eddie-rowles wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:35 pm

Understand AA given a budget to work with & hopes to get several resigned up for next season in the coming weeks and understands fully our budget constraints with some older players requested to take a drop in salary.
AA is planning to get more involved in the academy team and improve the quality of youngsters able to move up into first team(not good enough quality upto now) and even if we do play 20/21 season on a plastic pitch instead of BM, Darlo is moving forward on the playing side which we did not observe with TW and we need over 1000season tickets asap.

where exactly will we be playing next season?

Sporting village decision by council expected end of this month, if it does go ahead AA and CEO want to move to arena and play on the plastic pitch to be installed this summer whilst we build our own ground in next five years. If sporting village scrapped or BM rugby club become more cooperative next season I assume still on grass

eddie-rowles wrote:

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:08 pm

eddie-rowles wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:35 pm

Understand AA given a budget to work with & hopes to get several resigned up for next season in the coming weeks and understands fully our budget constraints with some older players requested to take a drop in salary.
AA is planning to get more involved in the academy team and improve the quality of youngsters able to move up into first team(not good enough quality upto now) and even if we do play 20/21 season on a plastic pitch instead of BM, Darlo is moving forward on the playing side which we did not observe with TW and we need over 1000season tickets asap.

where exactly will we be playing next season?

Sporting village decision by council expected end of this month, if it does go ahead AA and CEO want to move to arena and play on the plastic pitch to be installed this summer whilst we build our own ground in next five years. If sporting village scrapped or BM rugby club become more cooperative next season I assume still on grass

Have we got a magic money tree to build our new ground??? There is loads of land available in and around Darlo to do it too

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HarrytheQuaker wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:25 am

eddie-rowles wrote:

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:08 pm

eddie-rowles wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:35 pm

Understand AA given a budget to work with & hopes to get several resigned up for next season in the coming weeks and understands fully our budget constraints with some older players requested to take a drop in salary.
AA is planning to get more involved in the academy team and improve the quality of youngsters able to move up into first team(not good enough quality upto now) and even if we do play 20/21 season on a plastic pitch instead of BM, Darlo is moving forward on the playing side which we did not observe with TW and we need over 1000season tickets asap.

where exactly will we be playing next season?

Sporting village decision by council expected end of this month, if it does go ahead AA and CEO want to move to arena and play on the plastic pitch to be installed this summer whilst we build our own ground in next five years. If sporting village scrapped or BM rugby club become more cooperative next season I assume still on grass

Have we got a magic money tree to build our new ground??? There is loads of land available in and around Darlo to do it too

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Exactly, and how do we pay for the remaining contract on BM whilst financing a new stadium AND paying rent on the arena AND funding a competitive playing budget?

MB86DFC wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:36 am

HarrytheQuaker wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:25 am

eddie-rowles wrote:

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:08 pm

eddie-rowles wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:35 pm

Understand AA given a budget to work with & hopes to get several resigned up for next season in the coming weeks and understands fully our budget constraints with some older players requested to take a drop in salary.
AA is planning to get more involved in the academy team and improve the quality of youngsters able to move up into first team(not good enough quality upto now) and even if we do play 20/21 season on a plastic pitch instead of BM, Darlo is moving forward on the playing side which we did not observe with TW and we need over 1000season tickets asap.

where exactly will we be playing next season?

Sporting village decision by council expected end of this month, if it does go ahead AA and CEO want to move to arena and play on the plastic pitch to be installed this summer whilst we build our own ground in next five years. If sporting village scrapped or BM rugby club become more cooperative next season I assume still on grass

Have we got a magic money tree to build our new ground??? There is loads of land available in and around Darlo to do it too

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Exactly, and how do we pay for the remaining contract on BM whilst financing a new stadium AND paying rent on the arena AND funding a competitive playing budget?

how long is the contract to play at BM for?

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:41 am

MB86DFC wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:36 am

HarrytheQuaker wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:25 am

eddie-rowles wrote:

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:08 pm

where exactly will we be playing next season?

Sporting village decision by council expected end of this month, if it does go ahead AA and CEO want to move to arena and play on the plastic pitch to be installed this summer whilst we build our own ground in next five years. If sporting village scrapped or BM rugby club become more cooperative next season I assume still on grass

Have we got a magic money tree to build our new ground??? There is loads of land available in and around Darlo to do it too

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Exactly, and how do we pay for the remaining contract on BM whilst financing a new stadium AND paying rent on the arena AND funding a competitive playing budget?

how long is the contract to play at BM for?

Not sure exactly but it's certainly not year to year. I read somewhere at least another 10 years but happy to be corrected on that if wrong.

The license at BM has another 16 years to run.

divas wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 12:42 pm

The license at BM has another 16 years to run.

I would be amazed if there are not break clauses to enable DFC to terminate the licence (and possibly DRFC to terminate as well) at pre defined points.

MB86DFC wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:36 am

HarrytheQuaker wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:25 am

eddie-rowles wrote:

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:08 pm

eddie-rowles wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:35 pm

Understand AA given a budget to work with & hopes to get several resigned up for next season in the coming weeks and understands fully our budget constraints with some older players requested to take a drop in salary.
AA is planning to get more involved in the academy team and improve the quality of youngsters able to move up into first team(not good enough quality upto now) and even if we do play 20/21 season on a plastic pitch instead of BM, Darlo is moving forward on the playing side which we did not observe with TW and we need over 1000season tickets asap.

where exactly will we be playing next season?

Sporting village decision by council expected end of this month, if it does go ahead AA and CEO want to move to arena and play on the plastic pitch to be installed this summer whilst we build our own ground in next five years. If sporting village scrapped or BM rugby club become more cooperative next season I assume still on grass

Have we got a magic money tree to build our new ground??? There is loads of land available in and around Darlo to do it too

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Exactly, and how do we pay for the remaining contract on BM whilst financing a new stadium AND paying rent on the arena AND funding a competitive playing budget?

Rishi Sunak says this budget will get it done.

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:41 am

MB86DFC wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:36 am

HarrytheQuaker wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:25 am

eddie-rowles wrote:

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:08 pm

where exactly will we be playing next season?

Sporting village decision by council expected end of this month, if it does go ahead AA and CEO want to move to arena and play on the plastic pitch to be installed this summer whilst we build our own ground in next five years. If sporting village scrapped or BM rugby club become more cooperative next season I assume still on grass

Have we got a magic money tree to build our new ground??? There is loads of land available in and around Darlo to do it too

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Exactly, and how do we pay for the remaining contract on BM whilst financing a new stadium AND paying rent on the arena AND funding a competitive playing budget?

how long is the contract to play at BM for?

Any investor in property putting £5million into a new ground would be looking for an annual return 6-7% return(£300-350K) how we would afford this and pay off debt would be discussed and explained. As for our lease with BM rugby club a council that promotes all sport in one area would involve other teams and sports and remaining contracts etc, along with FA redevelopment loans. We then vote on it. Unless the council give the sporting village the green light it is all hypothetical but AA believes he can adapt the team to play good football like Harrogate town on the plastic pitch

If this coronavirus takes hold & games are postponed & not played, could the club be liable to pay back season ticket holders, for games they have not been able to watch? I realise that most season ticket holders wouldn't seek to get a partial refund, but fans would be within their rights to ask for some of there money back.

MB86DFC wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:36 am

HarrytheQuaker wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:25 am

eddie-rowles wrote:

bigdavethemaddog wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:08 pm

eddie-rowles wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:35 pm

Understand AA given a budget to work with & hopes to get several resigned up for next season in the coming weeks and understands fully our budget constraints with some older players requested to take a drop in salary.
AA is planning to get more involved in the academy team and improve the quality of youngsters able to move up into first team(not good enough quality upto now) and even if we do play 20/21 season on a plastic pitch instead of BM, Darlo is moving forward on the playing side which we did not observe with TW and we need over 1000season tickets asap.

where exactly will we be playing next season?

Sporting village decision by council expected end of this month, if it does go ahead AA and CEO want to move to arena and play on the plastic pitch to be installed this summer whilst we build our own ground in next five years. If sporting village scrapped or BM rugby club become more cooperative next season I assume still on grass

Have we got a magic money tree to build our new ground??? There is loads of land available in and around Darlo to do it too

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Exactly, and how do we pay for the remaining contract on BM whilst financing a new stadium AND paying rent on the arena AND funding a competitive playing budget?

We don't. It's a bait and switch to try and get people to back a 'temporary' move to the arena. The funds then magically wouldn't be there to get the new fantasy ground built, and lo-and-behold, then we end up stuck at the rotting white elephant. But hey, there's lots of hospitality suites

It's not in DJ's character to be underhand like this though, and he wouldn't put the idea out there if there wasn't an idea of how to fund it. You're usually a bit more positive than this H. I think the coronavirus is getting to you.

Not sure if I am correct here but did the rugby not take out a mortgage to pay for the changing rooms and building improvements which will be paid back through our rent.

No doubt if we pulled out they would be in deep s*** as I don't think they would have the income to maintain the payments.