Bill Tulip holds the post war scoring record for Darlington, with 32 goals in 38 league games in season 1956-57.

In one particular spell from New Year’s Day 1957 to the middle of March in that year, he scored hat tricks in four out of five home league games. His overall scoring sequence in games played was like this; 3,2,0,4,3,1,2,0,3,1.

One of those hat tricks was against Hartlepool, so no wonder he was given a standing ovation at the end of that derby game on March 2. "Hartlepool were top of the league when we played them, and it was the  biggest gate at Darlington for a long time.

“Hartlepool must have brought around 5000 supporters with them, and they had a lot of good players. They said that they were going to turn us over, but we made sure they didn't."

The Northern Echo reported : “When (Bill) Tulip completed his hat trick, his colleagues overwhelmed him with congratulations, and the crowd gave him the sort of ovation that is reserved only for big occasions. The Hartlepool fans sportingly joined in the applause.”

Bill scored four against Quakers’ other local rivals, Gateshead on January 19th , the first time two Darlington players scored hat tricks in the same game – Charlie Wayman also on target.

"Gateshead had wanted to sign me when I left Newcastle, and I had a letter from the Gateshead chairman which started "dear namesake" -- he was a cousin of my grandfather. I signed for Darlington because of Ron Greener -- he fixed it up for me."

Bill's most memorable Darlington game wasn't in the league or FA Cup, but the Durham Senior Cup.

"We played Sunderland at Feethams, and won 8-1. I scored three, and Ronnie Harbertson scored four. It was a tremendous night. Sunderland had eight first teamers in their side, including players like Don Revie.”

Sadly, his Darlington career ended prematurely. "I had a back injury, but we couldn't find out exactly what it was.

"I went to see lots of specialists in London and Brighton, and one day Stanley Matthews put me in touch with a specialist in Manchester, who discovered what the problem was. I was put in plaster for six months, and had to learn to walk again, basically. I got fit again, but only for the reserves, not the first team." Bill was full time up to then, and when he stopped playing, he worked for a Ford dealer in Newcastle until he retired.