BACKGROUND

 

Darlington Spraire Lads were formed in 1982, initially catering for boys football, then formed an Under 16's Lasses and Women's team which disbanded after 5 Years then in 1999 the club has expanded to provide opportunities for girls to play as well, resulting in the club adopting their current title, Darlington Spraire Lads & Lasses Football Club.

Spraire Lads provide junior teams from U7s through to U18s, as well as a senior team. The Under 7's play their football in the Cleveland Youth league with the remainder of the junior teams playing competitive football on Sundays in the very successful Teesside Junior Football Alliance, and the Saturday Senior team play in the Darlington and District League.

Spraire Lasses now provide teams at U10s, U12s, U15s and 16's. The U10s & U12s groups compete within the North Riding Tees Valley league. The Under 15's and Under 16's in the Durham County league.

Spraire Lads & Lasses earned their FA Charter Standard award in 2001. The Club achieved this award in recognition of the standards that the club has reached and good practice that has been adopted for the opportunities that they provide for both boys and girls. The Club has in place a football development plan, each coach is FA qualified and the club has adopted a child protection policy. The Club has now gone one step better and has been awarded FA Charter Standard Community Club status, which will create new opportunities and funding streams to aid development of the club.

There are exciting times ahead for Spraire Lads & Lasses. We are a community partner of Hummersknott School & Language College and we will benefit from their programmed redevelopment of their sports facilities. We are also an existing community partner with Darlington Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and we hope to have use of their refurbished playing fields on Abbey Road, including their brand new pavilion. In addition we have new changing facilities at our ‘spiritual home’ of South Park, which are now operational.

In 2009 Spraire and Queen Elizabeth Sixth form College have won a prestigious national award for the FA Club links programme. This was presented on the pitch at Wembley to club Secretary Dave Scott by Geoff Hurst England's 1966 World cup Hat - Trick hero.

So if you have a son or daughter, or you are junior yourself that would like to get involved with playing junior football in a safe environment, then either contact the manager of the appropriate age group or contact Dave & Linda Scott.