I have met with the Esh Group on a number of occasions to discuss this and they seem like good guys to me - football people you understand! The Cricket Field Trust want to update their facilities, that is why they are selling the land. HOWEVER, if the creation of a new build at Feethams incorporated the updating of the Cricket club, problem solved - no need for them to sell the land.

It was the council who made the Cricket Club pay for the demolition of Feethams (approx £120,000+), which plunged them into difficulty in the first place, hence, a rock and a hard place for the Cricket Club.

So we need to update the cricket club and pay them yearly rent.

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http://twitter.com/Quakerz72

Any move back should be on a 50/50 basis. Yes we could help the CC update their facilities but the only rent we should pay is half of the ground rent and rates for the whole site. The CC should pay an equal share. We also want none of this stand off rubbish where the CC stop us using our own facilities.

... that £120,000 to demolish the stands was ordered becauase of Health and Safety issues which the CC would have been liable for. The CC got a loan for this and they are now struggling in all sorts of ways. Returning football to Feethams ironically would be their salvation.

Couldn't agree more.
If the council agree to use any money they get from sorting out the arena mess to sort us out a place to play then we could easily return to Feethams, if the Cricket Club and Esh agree, but how married to the Blackwell Meadows sports hub idea are the council?

A football club in the town centre would be good for the shops too. Before moving to the arena we used to shop first then wander down to Feethams just before kick off. Also the travelling supporters were in the town shopping/drinking before the match. Increased revenue, increased parking charges....win win! Surely if the council is so worried about the town centre shops they would welcome a return to Feethams.

Only if we paid them rent.

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http://twitter.com/Quakerz72

The Arena could well be the SECOND football ground in Darlington to be demolished.I wouldn't place any bets on this not being the case in the fullness of time. Guinness Book of Records, anyone?

I feel very passionately that the relocation of DFC for the THIRD time most certainly raises the issue of : " look before you leap". For sure, not enough people " looked" before the "leap" to The Arena.

It's easy to accuse folk who dare to utter the "F" word ( Feethams) of being nostalgic dreamers. On the other hand, nobody who was at the Barrow away game on 7 January 2012 could possibly have dreamed of what has since happened.

Darlington became the town that DARED not only to dream about rescuing its club against seemingly impossible odds but also to make this happen. And I do mean "MAKE this happen".

So, why can't the town dare to dream about now returning its football club to its natural home? To dream about (Blue) Squaring the Circle? If The Arena was the nightmare, Blackwell is the consolation prize and Feethams IS the dream.

The PRACTICALITIES around Feethams have in one sense been documented ad nauseam. But, in another sense, they have never really been documented: a) definitively; b) with solid reasons which everyone and his dog can understand.

It's surely time for the key parties involved.....The Feethams Trustees ( which, incidentally, is NOT the same as The Cricket Club and which includes the town's MP, Mayor, ex-Mayor and Town Clerk....more recently called Chief Executive) and DBC to be challenged to offer:

- a full Meeting of ALL Feethams Trustees ( NB this surely IS called EGM, not AGM ?!);
-definitive responses to the Feethams issue;
-if it's a " No Go" to any return to Feethams, the precise REASONS WHY. Ones which everyone and his dog wil understand.

I've watched and followed DFC since 1954; my Dad and Grandfather before me. I was 100% against the move to The Arena and said so in public.

I am now an equal 100% FOR a definitive statement on the Feethams issue. No more leaks. No more rumours. The unvarnished truth.

And, in the process, isn't it about time that this town-which rediscovered its spirit ..and cojones...when it pulled together to rescue the club ..once more " dared to dream"? Once more, one final time, unto the breach?

Doug Embleton

The CC club-house is on it's last legs as we speak. Footy at Feethams, would also put money in their coffers and not neccessarilly just every home game. The CC and BJ need to get into the 21st Century. One way or another they need a miracle, and we could be it.

Doug

How can we take this forward

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M I C R A 3

I would love to go back to Feethams, and your right lets get it sorted one way or another once and for all. I have been to Blackwell today and whilst there is some good elements like open fields for training and some infrastructure like electric and water, but access is shocking no parking the car park was full with just a Rugby game on.
Hope we can look into this before rushing headlong to Blackwell, but I think the council are all for Blackwell and we also don't have much time.

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Foes List. none, I love everyone me.

take me home where i belong back to feethams to see the darlo take me home

Here here .... I have tried to write similar words and failed. If something is wanted badly enough, and enough momentum can be generated then it really could happen. The relegations are a small price to pay for what we have gained with regard our self respect and community ownership. Feethams will be the icing on the cake and would fuel a positive momentum that would ignite the town's interest for sure and would propel us forward and upward. The Feethams issue must be fully investigated and thrashed out with a positive outcome. Heaven and earth must be moved if needs be because it is our rightful home and it has stood their seemingly waiting for this moment in time to come. I think we all know that really.

you've got my support.

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Boycott greedy clubs!!

Although I think the ultimate outcome will not be what everybody wants to hear, I do agree with Doug's sentiments that it would be nice to hear a definitive statement as to what the lie of the land is in regards to Feethams.

There have been rumours and whispers but no definitive answer. It would be nice to get that answer before fully deciding that Blackwell Meadows is our goal. However, given how long this has dragged on, and how quickly we need to put plans into place I cannot help but feel that you and Shaun would be wasting your breath, Doug - but by all means go for it.

Trying not to get too carried away about this - but failing miserably, can you IMAGINE the atmosphere at the first game back at Feethams? Would recapture all those stayaways surely?

It would be unbelievable. I'm trying not to think about it, because I know there's probably <1% chance of it happening, but I just can't help myself. Walking around the cricket pitch, into the tinshed, supporting the cub that we own.....heaven....

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Boycott greedy clubs!!

We should sponsor Hilly to eat his hat if this came off .... if it doesn't come off ..... then maybe you can sponsor me to eat mine ......

My hat eating days are over I'm afraid chaps!

How about picking the Cricket Club up and moving them to Blackwell Meadows and we takeover the whole site ? That cricket pitch would be ideal for training.

..... Maybe it's cos you've eaten them all ....

I for one would not mind playing out of town for say 2 seasons if a plan was in place to return us to our home.
Would it not be great to watch progress on our ground been brought back to life while going up the leagues.
Yea its a dream, but it could become real.

How much would it cost to build the minimum requirement with a view to improving as we move up the leagues?

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Boycott greedy clubs!!

Of course I /We - want this to happen,can you 'feel' the force ?

Yep I am in for a move back to Feethams, its got to be worth a go as long as it doesn't take years to decide before we can start building our future home back in Darlo.

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Foes List. none, I love everyone me.

Count me in definitely. Bump up this for Shaun to lead on.

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Quakerian

All for this one, come on Shaun lets get this dream underway, like i say a dream but you never know, and it would please the council and businesses in town as would generate more income to the shops, pubs and car parking charges the council would make

I'd be behind it, but this has to managed carefully and in conjunction with 1883, not as a break-away faction that is working on one thing while 1883 has other ideas.

Feethams would be the best case scenario, there is no doubt about it. If Shaun can lead it on behalf of 1883 that would be the way forward.

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100% up for it. @SaveDarlo isn't redundant yet.

This thread needs stickying!

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If I were a stick of rock, no prizes for what would be written all the way through .....