We would like to announce that we bid farewell to club captain Lou Brown, who has decided to call time on her footballing career and hang up her boots from competitive football.

Lou suffered ankle ligament damage in the warm up of our first away game of the season, in the FA Cup away at Hebburn. She is still recovering from the injury, which may now require surgery and we wish Lou all the best in her recovery and future endeavours. 

Lou joined us in July 2022 from Boro Rangers Ladies. She played most of her football at youth level for Kader Girls FC. and also played for Middlesbrough F.C Women at the start of her career, as well as representing East Durham and Houghall National Women’s Academy team during her college years.

Lou was made captain the following season after the departure of Toni Upton and has been our captain for the past 3 seasons. She went on to make 36 competitive appearances for the club, scoring 1 goal and claiming 5 assists, not a bad record for a centre back. Although suffering quite a few injuries and ill health in the last few years, Lou has always battled through adversity and came back stronger with a desire to keep playing. 

Her only goal for the club came in a 6-0 win against Horden CW Women in the December of 2024. However, perhaps her most memorable contribution was scoring the winning penalty in a 5-3 penalty shootout win against Blyth Town, sending the Quaker Women into the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup! 

Here’s what manager Shaun Mackenzie had to say about Lou’s departure: “Lou has been magnificent from day one, both on and off the field. She has been an excellent role model to our younger players in the squad and youth system coming through and really set the example, like a captain should. Despite her setbacks with injuries and ill health in the last few years, she has always remained upbeat and kept spirits high in the camp.

“Lou’s leadership will be a massive miss to the group, but just as equally important, we will miss Lou’s character and laughter in the dressing room. It has been a pleasure to work with her and on behalf of everyone at Darlington F.C, I would like to wish Lou the very best and thank her for her service to the club.”