Darlington v Chorley Match Preview

By Max O'Hara & Harvey Richards

Aug 8, 2025

The Quakers meet the Magpies to start the season

⚽ Matchday 1

DARLINGTON 🆚 CHORLEY

📅 Saturday, August 9^th , 3 pm

🏟️ Blackwell Meadows

Matchball Sponsor: Bartlett Family

🎟 https://yourclub.darlingtonfc.co.uk/match-tickets

🔥 Match Preview

The Quakers look to start the season as they mean to go on, when they welcome an always challenging Chorley team to Blackwell Meadows for matchday one.

Darlo come into the first game of the season after an impressive pre-season with six wins in seven, with good results including a 3-1 win against National League opposition in Altrincham. The last pre-season game was a close and inspired 3-2 loss to Gateshead, when both teams impressed in spells.

Last season, Darlington finished the season 11^th in the table, which was an improvement from the season prior and not that far from the playoff spots. Over the summer, The Quakers have added new faces such as Tom Allan, Josh Scott, Alfie Myers-Smith, as well as familiar faces with the returns of Aidan Rutledge and Will McGowan, which adds real quality to an already strong attack.

Chorley have had quite the pre-season so far, with 13 games played. The Magpies have enjoyed tough battles with Football League teams such as Preston, Bradford City and Wigan, as well as most recently playing the U21s of Manchester City to end their preparations for the season ahead.

Last season, Chorley finished within the play-offs in 5th place and made it all the way to the semi-finals, losing to eventual winners of the play-offs, Scunthorpe United. During the summer, The Magpies have been able to keep a majority of their squad as well as add new players in Tom Walker, previously of Radcliffe and former Chorley loanee Jack Moore on a permanent deal. This week, they’ve announced the signing of Bradford City youngster Harry Ibbitson on a one-month loan.

The last time the two clubs met, both teams walked away with a point after a 1-1 draw at Blackwell Meadows, where a wonderful Caden Kelly free-kick wasn’t enough on the night.

📰 Team News

Matty Cornish and Alfie Myers-Smith are both missing

👤 Player Spotlight

The Magpies have Kole Hall upfront again this season as they look to challenge again for the play-offs. He scored 12 goals last season, including the equaliser at Blackwell Meadows in March. The 6ft 3 striker will have a big aerial presence as he looks to kick on from last season.

They also have Mark Ellis in the backline; he made it into the National League North Team of the Season last year. The 36-year-old scored 14 goals last season as The Magpies lost out on promotion in the play-offs.

📈 Pre-season Results

🏁 Darlington

12^th July 2025: Blyth Spartans 1-2 Darlington (Kirokiro, Giraud)
15^th July 2025: Darlington 2(OG, Maskell) Sunderland U21s 1
19^th July 2025: Stockton Town 1-4 Darlington (Main, Rutledge x2, Hatfield)
22^nd July 2025: Newton Aycliffe 1-3 Darlington (Main x2, Allan)
26^thJuly 2025: Darlington 3(Hatfield, Main, Forbes) Altrincham 1
29^th July 2025: Dunston UTS 1-4 Darlington (Lees, Maskell, Mortimer, OG)
2^nd August: Darlington 2(Allan, Main) Gateshead 3

⚫️ Chorley

24^th June 2025: Longridge Town 1-1 Chorley (Brindle)
28^th June 2025: Squires Gate 0-1 Chorley (Birchall)
1^st July 2025: Euxton Villa 1-0 Chorley
5^th July 2025: Chorley 1(Carr) Wigan Athletic 2
9^th July 2025: Chorley 0-1 Preston North End
11^th July 2025: Chorley 0-0 Bradford City
15^th July 2025: Leek Town 0-2 Chorley (Ellis, Lalkovic)
19^th July 2025: FC90 XI 1-2 Chorley (OG, Carr)
23^rd July 2025: Chorley 1(Sampson) Rochdale 2
25^th July 2025: Warrington 1-0 Chorley
29^th July 2025: Stalybridge Celtic 1-6 Chorley (Henley, Wilson, Carr x2, Preece, Lalkovic)
2^nd August 2025: Atherton Collieries 0-2 Chorley (Trialist, Reeves)
5^th August 2025: Chorley 1(Smith) Manchester City XI 2