Pitchero Non League

....season, will not play its games at STL Northern League Shildon’s Dean Street ground next season.

The Quakers recently announced a one-year deal to share Shildon’s 2,500 capacity ground.

The club’s temporary exile from Darlington came after talks between Darlington FC 1883 (DFC 1883) and the Northern League team.

However, some fans have voiced fears that Darlington may decide to play elsewhere.

But both teams confirmed that the groundshare arrangements will stand.

Craig McKenna, DFC 1883 project manager, said: “This is the first I have heard of this rumour.

“There is nothing in this at all. It is absolute rubbish.

“As far as we are concerned nothing has changed and Darlington will be playing at Shildon next season.”

The groundshare agreement came a year to the day after Quakers won the FA Trophy.

Darlington could be playing in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League in August and both clubs are confident Dean Street will meet the required standard.

Shildon, who finished tenth in Northern League First Division this season, will receive £25,000 in rent from DFC 1883.

It will get a share of the bar takings from Darlington’s games but the Quakers will keep gate receipts from their home games.

The Quakers will also pay £6,000 for some work at the ground to ensure it is ready for the new season.

Before signing the agreement with Shildon, there was speculation that Darlington were also thinking about playing at West Auckland Town or Bishop Auckland.

Shildon secretary Gareth Howe said: “I would certainly say that this rumour is a load of rubbish. Darlington has signed an agreement to come and play at Dean Street and we have not heard anything to the contrary.

“If Darlington do not come to Shildon they will have broken the contract.”

Tags: News | Darlington

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