This football obsessed fanatic was born in Manchester, raised in Stockton-on-Tees, educated at Sunderland University and then returned to Teesside as a civil servant.
I bought my first house (which is coincidently on George Stevenson Boulevard - the inventor of the Locomotive)and moved in with my fiance in March 2010. We got married on 7th May 2011 the same day Darlington were at Wembley lifting the non-league FA Trophy! Then in September 2012 we were happy to announce the birth of our daughter Emily who will no doubt try to distract me from SOS. And my walking talking toddler is doing just that although bless my mother-in-law, but she's managed to get her to try and say 'Goal for Darlington!' when kicking a little ball about the kitchen. She's now 2yrs old and will still shout Goal! but without the Darlington bit. I need to work on her defending though as it's much too easy to nutmeg her... Her TV watching is slightly inflencing my player name choices with Frozen now imbedded firmly in my head.

One of the first things I did when I received my first wages was to buy a season ticket for my local football side Darlington. C'mon Darlo!
Darlington were in the Football Conference in season 2011-12 having been relegated from League 2 of the football league (ye olde Division 4) a few seasons ago, however after some financial mis-management they finished at the bottom of the Conference and were officially wound up.

Darlington 1883 was then started up as a phoenix club and started life 3 divisions lower in the Northern league Division 1. Three promotions in four seasons have the club going in the right direction and a move back into town is expected some time this year. We currently groundshare with Bishop Auckland and I've only been to one game there so far.

Darlington FC have had such illuminaries as Gary Pallister, Robbie Blake, Bobby Petta, Arthur Wharton (the first black pro in British football), some guy called Jason De Vos and the one and only Marco Gabbiadini! Recent Darlo alumni have included Dave Wheater, David Stockdale, Dan Burn, Danny Graham and Matthew Bates who I used to play against when he was a kid.

Recently I have been getting more into following Scottish League football, specifically League One. And if you don't mind ignoring the gaelic commentary BBC Alba shows the odd live game. Darlington 1883 were promoted into the National League Conference North last season, making it 3 promotions in 4 years. The club should be moving back into town this season. I've been to the groud we'll be sharing with Blackwell Meadows Rugby club and it looks ok. They were having a girls rugby competition with bacon and sausage buns served in the club and i could see more daughter becoming an egg chaser.

My daughter started school in September and is doing really well. So a few school runs have now been added to the day and we experienced our first birthday party for school friends and I survived being surrounded by 4-5yr old girls. She's now getting into lego and arty things, learning to read and it's just starting to sink in that she's now learning things that her parents haven't taught her, which is good, but feels odd.

Darlington moved back into town last season and have been playing at the new ground Blackwell Meadows. Unfortunately the whole management team left the club early in the season to go to York FC. The club brought in former striker Tommy Wright as the new manager, but we're now struggling this season. The first time since we were relegated from the Conference.   

Season 39 update - with more people returning to work it looks like I'll be able to meet up with friends on a lunchtime again (I've been in the office all the way through covid). 2022 resolution was to do more exersize and eat healthier and less. End of Jan - no change so far. Emily is still swimming so no football still. The tv planner is starting to clog up with shows I watch with the Mrs, but she just doesn't feel like watching - we still have 3 episodes of Dr Who to watch, but we've cleared the backlog of Masterchef and Celebrity Bake Off...

Season 40 update - I've managed to get to the pub a couple of times but work is very busy and it's hard to get away. It's now the 1st July and I haven't started any exersizes this year yet, I hope to start in July... Emily's now onto her junior lifesaver swimming badges, but it can't be much longer before she runs out of badges to do. Tomorrow she has her first Holy Communion. We've managed to have a couple of holidays this year - recently we went to a Haven campsite near Bridlington for the week. The only downside to that was finally catching covid.  

Season 41 update - The office where I used to work has transferred it's staff to Middlesbrough (about 6 miles away) which means the Mrs is working there twice a week but more importantly... the friends I've been meeting at the pub on lunchtimes for the last 15+ years are too far away to meet up with anymore. So no social life at lunchtime or after work :-( 

One of the friends I have made at the new job has also just been promoted and moving to another site. I might have to look for a promotion myself just to get a work social life again!

Emily's just passed her silver junior lifesaver badge so just has the gold to go before she's finished with Saturday morning swimming and I can return to playing football! It's been too long (nearly 3 years!). New Years resolution is to get fitter again for when I can get back on the pitch. Running on a Sunday and youtube aerobics after the family are asleep is the plan.

Season 42 update - Emily finished her gold lifesaver course. She tried to do a swim fit on Friday evening but she didn't like it. So my Saturdays were free for 5aside football again! Had my first game back last week and did ok but need to work on my fitness and I tweaked my hamstring in the last 5 mins so waiting to see how that pans out. Edward just turned 4

Season 43 update - Edward started school this September, joining his big sister who's in her last year. I had another couple of 5aside games but unfortunately they all ended in injury and I've yet to return, So my Saturday mornings have been spent doing overtime as we're going to EuroDisney in the October half term. This will be the kids first holiday abroad.

Season 44 update - 

I've moved offices again, same town, same job. The town's going through a major revamp as well. A random series of random injuries meant I only managed 3 games in the last year. Who gets bitten by an insect on an indoor football court?! Current plan is to lose a little weight (5lbs so far since New Year) so my hamstrings wouldn't give way the first time I tred to outrun an 18yr old. I've managed to play one game and didn't disgrace myself. Just need to squeeze in more games between the Mrs going out, events with the kids and the odd saturday working. 

I've recently been watching The Expanse on Amazon Prime. Loved the What If? Marvel series on Disney+ And obviously watched The Mandalorian, Andor and Ashoka.