Darlington FC’s New Floodlights To Be Used For The First Time In A League Game
The Premier League Stadium Fund is the largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower‑league football grounds in the country. It awards capital grants to eligible English Football League, English National League System, and Women's Football Pyramid clubs to improve stadium safety and enable clubs to satisfy The FA’s ground‑grading requirements.
The £18,000 grant has enabled Darlington, who compete in the National League at Step 6, to improve their floodlight facilities, installing a more efficient LED system. Their previous floodlights were more than 20 years old, and on three occasions in the last two seasons had gone out unexpectedly during matches, almost causing embarrassing abandonments.
The new LED floodlights will ensure consistent and reliable lighting, meeting the required ground grading lux levels and improving visibility for fans and players alike. They will be used in a league game on Tuesday night for the first time – they’ve already been used for the York City friendly in pre‑season.
Darlington Chief Operating Officer David Johnston said; “It was obvious from the interruptions to our matches in 2022 and 2023 when the floodlights unexpectedly went out almost causing abandonments, that we needed to upgrade our floodlights system. Furthermore, it was becoming quite clear that they were falling below the League's ground standard, which would have meant enforced relegation if they weren't replaced.
“Our early research suggested a replacement set would be a heavy cost burden on our fan‑owned club, so therefore the funding from the Premier League Stadium Fund was crucial and much‑appreciated.
“This system easily meets the criteria for our league, and therefore will help us progress as a club.”
Darlington FC have also thanked the DFCSG for contributing £3,737.25 towards the cost of the floodlights, saying their financial support is much appreciated, and also Darlington Rugby Club, who funded half the cash cost of the works.
