Latest news with #BlackwellMeadows
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Darlington FC 'still committed' to stadium move despite setbacks
A football club has said it remains committed to finding a long-term, permanent home despite difficulty Football Club admitted finding a new location was an "incredibly complex process", as it has faced multiple setbacks since revealing an ambition to move in it announced its intention to leave its Blackwell Meadows ground, the National League North side said it hoped to build a new site with additional sports, retail and hospitality executive David Johnson said the club had been discussing several potential locations. The new stadium was initially planned to be built in time for the 2024-25 season, but the project has been repeatedly delayed."This is an incredibly complex process involving many stakeholders and is therefore extremely time-consuming and unfortunately very slow-moving," Mr Johnston said. Securing Darlington FC's future Board members remained committed to finding a "long-term, permanent home to secure the future of our club", Mr Johnson are in talks with stakeholders about several possible locations, including the football club's former home, Darlington Mowden Park RFC, which currently plays at the arena, recently outlined its ambition to partner with other sports clubs to develop the site, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."We have been discussing several options for the arena site, as well as other locations, but what we as a board are very clear on is that we cannot envisage a move back to the Darlington Arena in its current form," Mr Johnston said."The aim is to deliver a sustainable sports facility for the town, that hopefully will meet the needs of as many stakeholders as possible, but we will not enter any proposal that could jeopardise the long-term future of the football club." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Family fun day at Darlington rugby club in memory of inspirational Luke Bell
Rugby fans are being urged to support a fundraiser in memory of an inspirational eight-year-old boy. The TeamLuke Foundation is hosting a family funday on Saturday, 10 May, at Blackwell Meadows, the home of Darlington Rugby Club. The event will raise money for research into childhood cancers, adding to the £250,000 already raised by the charity in memory of Luke Bell. Luke Bell (Image: Supplied) Luke fought neuroblastoma for 21 months before passing away on 23 December 2018. The fund finances a researcher at the Institute of Cancer Research and raises awareness about the condition, as well as providing support to parents and enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of neuroblastoma. Organisers hope that as many as 1,000 people and 100 players will attend the funday, which will feature giant inflatables, food and drink, charity rugby matches, and live music. Team Luke Women's Rugby (Image: Supplied) The main pitch will feature rugby matches throughout the day, including a mixed touch game to kick off proceedings at 1pm, which will be open to all abilities and ages. At 3pm, TeamLuke women's team will take on a North East Barbarians women's team, followed at 5pm by the TeamLuke men's team against North East Barbarians men. Luke's father Mark, a former player at Mowden Park who now plays at Darlington, said: "Luke loved his rugby and also enjoyed watching me play. There will be giant inflatables (Image: Supplied) "We started the charity as a legacy with the £125,000 we raised for him to go on a drug trial in Barcelona, which unfortunately he didn't make. "Since then we have raised double that and the latest funday is a natural progression of our charity work. "Over the years the rugby community has been spectacular in its support and we are really looking forward to welcoming families to the event." Public admission is just £2. Fun for all (Image: Supplied) There will be fun for the whole family (Image: Supplied) Team Luke Bell (Image: Supplied) There will be giant inflatables (Image: Supplied) (Image: Supplied)
