Darlington FC have received Premier League funding towards new floodlights at Blackwell Meadows.

The Premier League Stadium Fund is the largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower-league football grounds in the country. It awards capital grants to eligible English Football League, English National League System, and Women's Football Pyramid clubs to improve stadium safety and enable clubs to satisfy The FA’s ground-grading requirements. 

The £18,000 grant has enabled Darlington, who compete in the National League at Step 6, to improve their floodlight facilities, installing a more efficient LED system. Their previous floodlights were more than 20 years old, and on three occasions in the last two seasons had gone out unexpectedly during matches, almost causing embarrassing abandonments.

The new LED floodlights will ensure consistent and reliable lighting, meeting the required ground grading lux levels and improving visibility for fans and players alike. They will be used in a league game on Tuesday night for the first time – they’ve already been used for the York City friendly in pre-season.

Darlington Chief Operating Officer David Johnston said; "It was obvious from the interruptions to our matches in 2022 and 2023 when the floodlights unexpectedly went out almost causing abandonments, that we needed to upgrade our floodlights system. Furthermore, it was becoming quite clear that they were falling below the League's ground standard, which would have meant enforced relegation if they weren't replaced.

"Our early research suggested a replacement set would be a heavy cost burden on our fan-owned club, so therefore the funding from the Premier League Stadium Fund was crucial and much-appreciated.

"This system easily meets the criteria for our league, and therefore will help us progress as a club."

Darlington FC would also like to thank the DFCSG for contributing £3,737.25 towards the cost of the floodlights, their financial support is much appreciated, and also Darlington Rugby Club, who funded half the cash cost of the works.

About the Premier League Stadium Fund

The Premier League Stadium is solely funded by the Premier League. It is the country’s largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower-league football grounds in both the professional and amateur game. Grants enable clubs to invest in projects to develop many aspects of their grounds, including the ongoing improvements required for stadiums to meet the requirements of the league that clubs play in. These improvements range from new football stands and turnstiles to floodlighting and improved provision for disabled supporters. The Football Foundation manages the administration of the grants to clubs.

About the Football Foundation

The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most.

The Foundation’s goal is to unlock the power of pitches ensuring every community has a great place to play regardless of gender, race, disability or place.

Since its creation in 2000, the Foundation has invested more than £1.1 billion to improve grassroots facilities across the country – including 1,200 3G pitches, 13,000 grass pitches and 1,500 changing rooms. This has attracted an additional £1.4 billion of partnership funding – totalling over £2.5 billion investment in grassroots football so far.

In partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders, the Foundation has created Local Football Facility Plans for every local authority in England. These Plans act as a blueprint for providing the grassroots football facility improvements that each community needs and deserves across the country.

​