Craig Liddle needs no introduction in the latest of our “Where are they now?” series. He spoke to Ray Simpson.

“Lidds” is one of Darlington’s greatest ever personalities. He joined Quakers in 1998, and went on to make over 300 appearances in defence for the club, before he retired because of injury.

Who can ever forget some terrific displays at the back – including one amazing tackle in the Wembley 2000 play off final – and his emotional announcement on the PA system once that he was staying at the club instead of leaving?

And then, he endeared himself even more to the Darlo faithful as a manager by guiding the team through a traumatic last four months of the 2011-12 season, including those very emotional games against Barrow and Kettering. Craig was one of many who played a major part in the survival of the club.

Once the final whistle had sounded in that last game at the Arena, he announced that he was going to Sunderland – and not one Darlington fan blamed him after all he’d done for the club.

After a brief spell which ended with the arrival of Paolo Di Canio, he joined Middlesbrough’s Academy, and is now enjoying great success as manager of their Under 18 team or “Professional Development Coach” according to his job title.

“The lads have gained a huge amount of experience that will stand them in good stead. It was great to see so many people in the Riverside for our home games.

“When I was a youngster at Boro, I never got these opportunities. We’re all thoroughly enjoying ourselves, and it’s a great learning curve for us to go to these European countries.”

Talking about Real Madrid, Dynamo Kiev, Manchester City and cup runs is all a far cry from Craig’s sometimes-sleepless period in charge of Quakers from November 2011 through to the end of the 2011-12 season.

[caption id="attachment_22420" align="alignnone" width="298"] Craig Liddle at Darlo's last game[/caption]

He thought he would only be the caretaker manager for a brief spell after Mark Cooper left the club, but all that changed following the notorious FA Cup tie at Hinckley. Instead, he was plunged into a situation in which he had to cobble a team together using favours, youngsters and free transfers. The league wouldn’t allow him to sign players such as Adam Boyd from Hartlepool “in case he scored a hat trick” as he was told.

“When I look back at that season, although they were hard times, they were quite enjoyable.

“I know that sounds strange, but I would do the same tomorrow. It might have been a hard time -- certainly the day we thought that we were closing down was – but it was a very rewarding time in the way that everyone pulled together. Everyone – players, management, administrator, fans – all bonded together. Certainly I’ll never forget the game at Barrow, and then the fundraising game against Fleetwood.

“The shame was, that at the end of the season we didn’t get what we wanted. But you have to give credit to the lads, like Paul Arnison and Kris Taylor, who didn’t get paid but still had their families to look after. I was also loathe to throw some of the youngsters into the deep end, because I was worried about harming their development.”

Quakers of course, weren’t relegated to Conference North, but three steps lower, to the Northern League, something that Craig termed “a ludicrous nail in the coffin.”

Craig was in the town a few weeks ago at the Echo’s Local Heroes presentation night.

“Feethams still holds a special place in my heart. On my way to the presentation in the Dolphin Centre, I popped into Feethams just to see what it was like, and when I drove around the cricket pitch there was a real lump in my throat. I can remember my son Ben kicking a ball around the Feethams pitch, and the fans in the Tin Shed. The place had some real character, now there’s a housing estate. I bet there are a few more people feeling the way I do.

“I loved to play at Feethams, especially in a night match. There was a special atmosphere around night matches that was different to Saturday games.”

Craig had a magnificent playing career for Quakers, which started with his debut at Mansfield in 1998, and ended at Leyton Orient in 2005 – no wonder he was voted one of Darlington’s greatest players when we left Feethams in 2003 and had a beer named after him in the process.

“One of the highlights of my playing career was the play off semi final win over Hartlepool. I scored the first goal that day, and even now, I still have goosebumps when I remember it. The goal meant so much to every Darlo fan, who was either at Victoria Park or back at Feethams watching on the big screen. The support was fantastic.

“And then I had the chance to play at Wembley, which is obviously every player’s dream. We were the better team that night against Peterborough, but as we all know, it wasn’t to be.”

Craig still keeps an eye on Darlo’s results, but because of his commitments with Middlesbrough and all the postponements we’ve suffered, can’t get to games. Not yet anyway.

“At least now, the club is moving in the right direction under Martin and everybody else. It’s great to see Darlo going up the leagues, and hopefully they’ll be back in the town soon.”