Feethams

Feethams stands in Darlington, north-east England, as a former sports ground that once hosted both cricket and football. The site was home to Darlington Football Club from 1883 until 2003, when the club moved to a new stadium. Before that, amateur football had been played there since the 1860s. The land was formally secured as an open space for athletic exercises in 1903 through a trust deed. Today, only the cricket ground remains in use, while the football ground was demolished in 2006 after years of decline. The ground holds a notable place in football history. In 1907, it hosted an England Amateur international where the home side beat the Netherlands 12–2. This remains the Dutch national team’s heaviest defeat. The final football match at Feethams took place in 2003, drawing a full house before the club left for a new venue. The site also hosted Durham County Cricket Club, including their first County Championship victory in 1992. The cricket ground once featured the largest sightscreen in first-class cricket, painted light blue to help players see the ball. Visitors to the remaining cricket ground find a modest but historic setting. The layout once included four sections: the West Stand, East Stand, Polam Lane End and the Tin Shed terrace. The East Stand was built in 1997 as an all-seater stand, contributing to financial difficulties for the club. A quirk of the ground was that spectators had to walk around the cricket pitch to reach the football terraces. The site’s unusual design allowed fans to switch ends at half time, creating a lively atmosphere. Though the football ground is gone, the cricket ground continues to serve as a reminder of Darlington’s sporting past.