Darlington face Boro Under 21's in fifth pre-season friendly

⚽ Pre-season Match Day 5

Darlington 🆚 Middlesbrough Under 21's

📅 Friday, July 24th, 7.30 pm 

🏟️Blackwell Meadows

🎟 Tickets are priced at £12 for adults, £10 for concessions and £5 for under-18s, with under-12s admitted free. Tickets can be purchased here.

🔥 Match Preview 

 The Quakers look to make it three victories from five pre-season games as they welcome Middlesbrough Under 21's as the National League North season edges ever closer.

The Quakers have played four pre-season friendlies so far, with wins over Redcar Athletic and Stockton Town, last weekend gained valuable experience in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Premier League side Newcastle United, who fielded many first-team players as well as a good mix of academy talent. Then on Tuesday they were defeated 4-2 by National League side Carlisle United.

Darlington’s opponents, Middlesbrough Under 21's finished 16th in the Premier League 2 last season, where they qualified for the playoffs but were beaten by table toppers Chelsea in the Round of 16.

👤 Player Spotlight 

Jayden Carbon is a young player who has featured against The Quakers in the National League North for Oxford City whom he joined Middlesbrough from. The attacker is a threat in behind and can find the back of the net which earned him his move to Teesside.

Archie Baptiste is a strong defender who came through the Tottenham Hotspur academy before joining Middlesbrough, last year he went on loan to then National League side Rochdale who earned promotion the League 2 in the playoffs.

The squad also features Shea Connor who stepped in as an emergency goalkeeper replacement for Pete Jameson against Scarborough in the 2024/25 season.

 

📈 Recent results 

🏁 Darlington 

  • 21st July 2026 Pre-season: Darlington 2-4 Carlisle (Hedley, Beck)
  • 18th July 2026 Pre-Season: Newcastle United 3-0 Darlington
  • 14th July 2026 Pre-Season: Stockton Town 1-3 Darlington (Beck x2, Stephenson)
  • 11th July 2026 Pre-Season: Redcar Athletic 0-4 Darlington (O.G., Stephenson, Stanton, Trailist) 

 

📊 League Records  

🏁 Darlington (Last Season NLN)

  • Position: 9th  
  • Played: 46
  • Wins: 20 
  • Draws: 9 
  • Losses: 17
  • Goals For: 78 
  • Goals Against: 68
  • Goal Difference: 10
  • Top Scorer: Main (20) 
  • Points: 69 

 

 🔴Middlesbrough Under 21s ( Last Season Premier League 2)

  • Position: 16th
  • Played: 20
  • Wins: 7
  • Draws: 6
  • Losses: 7
  • Goals For: 37
  • Goals Against:28
  • Goal Difference: 9
  • Top Scorer: Campbell/ Daley/ Finch (5)
  • Points: 27

 

 

🤝 Recent Games between the clubs  

 

📻 Follow the Game 

You can follow the game on X and the official website.