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Squad Number: 2
Position: Defender
Age: 20 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 7lbs
Born: Wrexham
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Everton (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 21/1
Details: Valentine is a young Welsh right-back, signed from Premiership surprise package Everton during the close season. Whilst at Goodison Park he represented his country five times at Under-21 level, and has continued to play for Wales since his move. During his time on international duty he has been employed as a defensive midfielder, showing a capability for being versatile at a young age. Last season he took part in the final of the F.A. Youth Cup, where he lined up alongside Wayne Rooney for the losing Scousers against Aston Villa. Never made a Premiership appearance for his first club, but scored his first League goal in Darlo’s 2-2 draw at Bury.
Simon Betts
Squad Number: 3
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: 29 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 11st
Born: Middlesbrough
Career (220 League Appearances/ 11 Goals): Ipswich Town (0/0), Scarborough (0/0), Colchester United (191/11), Yeovil Town (16/1), Darlington (29/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 21/0
Details: Betts spent nine years at our rivals Colchester between 1992 and 2000, scoring all eleven of his League goals during his time at Layer Road. Having begun his career as a left-sided midfielder, he has emerged as a competent left-back in recent seasons. The diminutive player started out at Ipswich as a trainee, but never made an appearance there, or indeed at Wrexham where he spent a short time and then Scarborough. In 1992 former Blues striker Roy McDonough signed Betts for the U’s in their first season back in the Football Legue, and he stayed with the North Essex side until current boss Steve Whitton froze him out of first-team action. A short spell at Yeovil followed, but he has played in all the Quakers games so far this season.
Gary Pearson
Squad Number: 7
Position: Defender
Age: 25 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 4lbs
Born: Easington
Career (9 League Appearances/ 1 Goals): Sheffield United (0/0), Durham City (no figures available), Darlington (9/1)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 1[1]/0
Details: Defender who began his career at Sheffield United. He had progressed through the youth ranks at Bramall Lane, receiving a lot of praise in the process, but wasn’t given an opportunity in the first team and moved to non-League Durham City via Gateshead. After two years away from the Nationwide, he linked up with Darlo in August 2001, and after a few appearances last year, has still to become a regular at Feethams. Has played in the last two matches, and has been employed as a striker in emergency situations during his time with the club.
Ian Clark
Squad Number: 8
Position: Midfielder
Age: 28 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 7lbs
Born: Stockton
Career (211 League Appearances/ 33 Goals): Doncaster Rovers (45/3), Hartlepool United (138/17), Darlington (28/13)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 19[1]/6
Details: A left-winger who has the ability to score vital goals, Clark’s career has been spent entirely in the north-east. He started off at non-League Stockton, before moving to Doncaster in 1995. After three seasons at Belle Vue with mixed fortunes, he moved to Blues last conquest, Hartlepool, where he established himself as a dangerous Division Three winger. He racked up almost 150 appearances in total, even contributing a goal against Darlington. Last season saw him move to Pools local rivals, and the success was instant – 13 strikes in just 28 starts made his position with the Quakers’ fans safe, and six already this time around has compounded this. Attacking-minded, Clark also has the tendancy to get involved in fiery situations, and has plenty of cards to his name, including two reds.
Mark Ford
Squad Number: 9
Position: Midfielder
Age: 27 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 10st 1lb
Born: Pontefract
Career (166 League Appearances/ 14 Goals): Leeds United (29/1), Burnley (48/1), Lommel (15/0), Torquay United (28/3), Darlington (46/9)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 10[1]/0
Details: Ford began his career at Leeds, where he earned 29 League appearances at the end of Howard Wilkinson’s reign, and the start of George Graham’s. His future was not guaranteed at Elland Road, and he crossed the Pennines to Turf Moor. His first season at Burnley was successful, but he struggled in his second year, and moved on a free to Belgian side Lommel. One season abroad was enough for the youngster, and he came back to England with Torquay. At the end of his first season at Plainmoor, Darlo snatched him for £15,000 and the attack-minded player was an instant success. He has been in and out of the side this year, but the former England Youth and Under-21 player returns from a one-match suspension on Saturday.
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Squad Number: 13
Position: Forward
Age: 24 Height:6ft 3ins Weight: 13st 7lbs
Born: Drogheda
Career (163 League Appearances/38 Goals): Manchester City (7/0), Plymouth Argyle [loan] (13/2), Southend United (34/7), York City (48/11), Colchester United [loan] (26/8), Darlington (35/10)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 21/7
Details: Conlon spent just one season by the seaside, brought in by Alvin Martin in his second season at Roots Hall. During that campaign he scored seven goals at a rate of less than one every five matches, and was not retained for the next season under Alan Little, moving in the opposite position to the manager for £100,000 to York. He had come to Southend with a high pedigree – an Eire Under-21 player, he was a trainee at Queens Park Rangers before moving to Manchester City. A loan spell at Plymouth preceded his time with the Shrimpers, and afterwards he played for York and then Colchester on loan, where he scored eight times in 26 League matches. He didn’t stay there, and moved on again, hitting ten goals last time around at Feethams to be the top-scorer from open play. Claims of being overweight have dogged the tall strikers career, but he faces United as the top marksman once again.
Paul Campbell
Squad Number: 14
Position: Midfielder
Age: 22 Height: 6ft Weight: 11st 5lbs
Born: Middlesbrough
Career (56 League Appearances/ 6 Goals): Darlington (56/6)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 3/0
Details: Young attacking midfielder who has made only fleeting appearances in the first team at Feethams. At the club for all of his footballing life, Campbell made his debut against Shrewsbury in March 1998, and has scored at least once in every season since. The last two campaigns have seen him made 16 League appearances each, but he finds himself warming up the substitutes bench again this time around.
Richard Hodgson
Squad Number: 15
Position: Midfielder
Age: 23 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 8lbs
Born: Sunderland
Career (72 League Appearances/ 4 Goals): Nottingham Forest (0/0), Scunthorpe United (1/0), Darlington (71/4)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 9[3]/0
Details: Hodgson was born in Sunderland but became part of Paul Hart’s famed academy at Nottingham Forest in 1996. Four seasons later he tried his luck at Scunthorpe, but after just one League appearance he moved on to Darlington. He has played on a regular basis, usually in his favoured left-wing position, but is struggling to nail down that place this time around, dropping to the bench at times but returning for the last two matches, both of which have been positive results for the Quakers.
Neil Wainwright
Squad Number: 16
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st
Born: Warrington
Career (78 League Appearances/ 11 Goals): Wrexham (11/3), Sunderland (2/0), Darlington [loan] (17/4), Halifax Town [loan] (13/0), Darlington (35/4)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 12[3]/0
Details: Right-wing playmaker who is capable of providing the killer ball for Barry Conlon and his partner. Began his career at Wrexham, but after just two seasons at the Racecourse Ground, Sunderland realized Wainwright’s prodigious talents and snapped him up for £100,000. He only made two League appearances at the Stadium of Light, but gained valuable experience, which he used to good extent in a loan spell at Feethams beginning in February and culminating in their 2000 Play Off Final appearance at Wembley in May. He returned to the Black Cats, and was farmed out to Hailfax the next season. In August last year, Gary Bennett forked out £50,000 to allow him to join the Quakers, and he has threatened Division Three defences ever since.
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Squad Number: 18
Position: Midfielder
Age: 19 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 5lbs
Born: Gateshead
Career (1 League Appearance/ 0 Goals): Darlington (1/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 7[2]/1
Details: Huge young prospect slowly forcing his way into the Feethams first team, Keltie is a local lad who was being chased by a number of big clubs in the north-east as well as the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, but instead he chose to join Third Division Darlo. Made just one appearance in the League last season as a substitute for Paul Campbell on the last day of the season against Oxford. Opened his scoring account last weekend as the Quakers came back to draw 2-2 with Shrewsbury. Plenty of potential make him real player to watch at Darlington.
Mark Sheeran
Squad Number: 19
Position: Forward
Age: 20 Height: 6ft Weight: 11st 10lbs
Born: Newcastle
Career (22 League Appearances/ 6 Goals): Darlington (22/6)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 0[3]/0
Details: Scored six goals in the second half of the 2001/2 season, from just one start and twenty-one substitute appearances. Good local talent brought up through the youth ranks, he scored freely for the Under-19’s and then the Reserves before ex-boss Tommy Taylor gave him his chance. Only three substitute appearances so far this time around, and yet to find the back of the net.
David McGurk
Squad Number: 21
Position: Defender
Age: 20 Height: 6ft Weight: 11st 8lbs
Born: Middlesbrough
Career (12 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Darlington (12/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 4[1]/0
Details: A regular performer for the Reserve side, 20-year-old McGurk was another given his chance at full-back at the end of last years disappointing campaign for the Quakers by Tommy Taylor. With the former Orient boss departing two months ago, many of his youngsters have found chances less readily available since, but McGurk is still knocking on the door.
Chris Porter
Squad Number: 22
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 23 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 12st 3lbs
Born: Middlesbrough
Career (7 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Sunderland (0/0), Darlington (0/0), Hartlepool United (0/0), Southend United (0/0), Darlington (7/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 1[1]/0
Details: Highly promising ‘keeper in his second spell with Darlo. Spent five months with the Shrimpers between November 2000 and April 2001 before re-joining Darlington, where he had been on cover for Andy Collett the previous spring as the Quakers pushed for promotion. Started the season as first-choice, but Collett came back into the side until his injury, but Porter still finds himself on the bench as the northerners brought in another Sunderland shot-stopper, Michael Ingram.
Matthew Clarke
Squad Number: 24
Position: Defender/Forward
Age: 19 Height: 6ft 3ins Weight: 13st
Born: Leeds
Career (69 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Halifax Town (69/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 17[1]/2
Details: Youngster equally at home up front or in the center of defence returning from a one-match suspension, Clarke was part of Halifax’s doomed team in Division Three last season, and his signature was sought after by a number of clubs, despite the fact that he has only scored two League goals. Along with his brother Chris, he was one of the Yorkshire clubs biggest assets, but moved to Darlington on a free as they reduced their wage bill. Began his career as a trainee at First Division Wolves.
Graham Fenton
Squad Number: 29
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Age: 28 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 12st 10lbs
Born: Wallsend
Career (155 League Appearances/ 25 Goals): Aston Villa (32/3), West Bromwich Albion [loan] (7/3), Blackburn Rovers (27/7), Leicester City (34/3), Walsall (9/1), Stoke City (5/1), St. Mirren (26/2), Blackpool (15/5)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 4[2]/1
Details: Ex-Premiership winger who can slot in as a striker when required. Fenton, a Geordie, started out at Villa, but even in his subsequent times at Blackburn and Leicester, who signed him for a combined fee of £260,000 he never held down a consistent spot. Went briefly to Walsall, then even more briefly on a monthly contract at Stoke for fifty days before linking up with Scottish club St. Mirren. Just two goals meant he moved on again in August 2001, and he joined Second Division Blackpool. However, the partnership of Brett Ormerod and Jimmy Murphy kept him out for most of the season, and he was signed for Darlo by Tommy Taylor. Has failed once again to hold down a regular spot, and is struggling to remain in League football.
Stuart Whitehead
Squad Number: 30
Position: Defender
Age: 25 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 2ins
Born: Bromsgrove
Career (143 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Bolton Wanderers (0/0), Carlisle United (143/2)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 16/0 (6/0 for Darlington)
Details: Decent Third Division defender signed from Carlisle in September. Whitehead hasn’t played since the start of November, but could return with the experienced Craig Liddle suspended. Started out at Bromsgrove Rovers, but moved to Bolton quickly, where he got valuable footballing lessons without ever playing first team football. Made over 150 career appearances at Brunton Park, but moved shortly into this season.
Michael Ingham
Squad Number: n/a
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 22 Height: 6ft 4ins Weight: 13st 10ins
Born: Preston
Career (25 League Appearances 0 /Goals): Cliftonville (18/0), Sunderland (0/0), Carlisle United [loan] (7/0), Stoke City [loan] (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances[as substitute]/Goals): 1/0
Details: Highly promising ‘keeper snapped up for Sunderalnd from Cliftonville for £30,000 in 1999. Loaned to Carlisle, then Stoke as cover for Neil Cutler last season. When Andy Collett got injured this season, new boss Mick Tait turned to Sunderland to bring in Ingham, and he conceded two against Shrewsbury on his Darlo debut last Saturday.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com