Quakers launch third shirt to commemorate S&DR 200 and Gary Coatsworth's goal
By Ray Simpson
Shirt inspired by Locomotion Number 1 and the goal at Welling
Darlington FC are proud to announce a new third choice shirt to commemorate the Stockton and Darlington Railway 200th anniversary celebrations and a famous goal in our history!
The yellow shirt, which has been developed with our partners Macron, has the original route of Locomotion Number 1 on its groundbreaking journey from Shildon to Darlington and then Stockton on 27th September 1825, with an SDR 200 logo on the sleeve. The colour also commemorates the club shirt from the 1989/90 season when the club won promotion back to the Football League.
Niccy Hallifax, SDR200 Festival Director said; “We are pleased Darlington Football Club is helping us celebrate this famous part of our heritage. Locomotion Number 1 made the first momentous railway journey through Darlington to Stockton 200 years ago and is on a specially designed souvenir shirt to mark the occasion. Everyone at S&D200 are looking forward to see the club playing in the new shirt, and proud to be associated with it."
Mike Crawshaw, the Head of Culture and Heritage at Hopetown, said; “We are delighted at this memorable time of the celebration of 200 years of Locomotion Number 1's historical journey, to be associated with Darlington Football Club's new shirt. We are very excited to see it, and hope that the team is very successful wearing it."
Darlington Chief Executive Officer David Johnston said; “At this notable landmark in the history of the railways, we are honoured to be partnering the S&D200 celebrations.
“The image of Locomotion Number 1 has been on our badge for many years, and since the club was founded in 1883, many of our fans have worked in some way on the local and national railways.
“We are proud to wear our new shirt during the season, in commemoration of a railway that literally started in our area and went on to change the world. We are also delighted to commemorate the Gary Coatsworth goal that also changed our history in 1990."
In terms of initial appearance, the shirt is a vibrant yellow with black trim, featuring a smart, overlapping V-shaped collar.
Firstly, we’ve designed a special club badge which puts a focus on Locomotion No.1, which already sits proudly within our traditional badge. Then, on the rear neck of the shirt, we’ve added an image of the Locomotion. Finally, at the bottom of the front of the shirt, we’ve featured an adaptation of the original route that Locomotion No.1 took on 27th September 1825. On the retail versions of the shirt, we have also included the ‘SDR | 200’ logo on the sleeve, which connects the club to the celebrations of this landmark anniversary year.
The Stockton & Darlington Railway is hugely important in the history of Darlington, and we felt it right that we recognise its 200th anniversary in a meaningful way.
The choice of yellow has two reasons. Firstly, this yellow is the lead colour used by SDR | 200 in their branding of the bi-centennial celebrations, and the yellow is also associated with a very special day in our club’s history.
The inspiration for this shirt’s design is the legendary 1989-91 away kit, made famous for being worn on the day we returned to the Football League under Brian Little, by winning the GM Vauxhall Conference title at Welling in May 1990, thanks largely to Gary Coatsworth’s looping header! We celebrate the 35th anniversary of that momentous day through this kit!
The shirt is modelled here by men’s team players, Tye Barton (first left) Josh Scott (middle) and Ellis Stanton (first right) . They were joined at the photoshoot by DFC women’s team players Leanne Clennett (second left) and Ava Pearson (second right).
We’d like to thank Hopetown Darlington for hosting the photoshoot in wonderful rail heritage surroundings, SDR | 200 for their support with this special shirt, and John Futers for photography.
Each Adult Shirt costs £47.99, while Junior Shirts are priced at £34.99 each.
The shirt is available to buy online now from the Darlington FC online shop - https://darlingtonfc.mysportswear.co.uk
It will be available to buy in person* soon from Quaker Retail, Dolphin Centre and Macron Sports Hub Tees Valley, Morton Park. We’ll let supporters know when it’s available to buy ‘in-person’.
This shirt will undoubtedly be a collector’s item and will be a great Christmas gift!
* Quaker Retail – Dolphin Centre: opening hours Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm
* Macron Sports Hub Tees Valley – Morton Park, Darlington (behind B&Q/Morrisons): Opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm / Saturday 9am to 2pm.
