Darlington Spraire Lads & Lasses

12/10/2026

11/10/2026

Durham County FA Programmes Reward and Recognition Quarter 1 Winners⚽🏆

We are delighted to share the winners for the 1st quarter of the FA Programmes Reward and Recognition Scheme

The below criteria helped us to choose the winners for each programme

✅ Utilising the Book Football system
⚽ Delivering fun, inclusive and engaging sessions all season long
👥 Bringing new volunteers into the game
💙 Creating a safe, welcoming and positive environment for everyone

Wildcats - News at Newton Aycliffe Youth Football Club
Comets - Darlington Spraire Lads & Lasses
Just Play Female - Velocity Football Club
Just Play Male/Mixed - Chester le Street Town FC

Congratulations to all of the winners for this quarter👏

11/10/2026

Spraire Ladies

💛Another victory after a hard battle for Spraire today sees the ladies remain unbeaten💛

A rather deceptive scoreline today, as the RA defended superbly in the first half, saving numerous relentless shots from Spraire.

The first 15 minutes stay level with both teams having good chances and controlling the ball well for an entertaining game.

At 22’ a good chance comes for Spraire as Katie fires one just wide of the post. Soon after at 26’ another fantastic chance for Spraire as Beth cleverly finds Katie who ri**es an effort which is saved brilliantly by the keeper. The ball falls to Sarah who fires one over the crossbar.

A great first half with both teams having chances providing an end to end first half to the game, game stays at 0-0 for half time.

The second half seems Spraire find their usual rhythm and open the scoring. At 47’ Georgia comes in and within 2 minutes makes a difference. After Katie wins a corner, Georgia plays in a great ball in over the top which Beth heads in to make it 1-0.

At 49’ another excellent stretch of play, Sarah is played in and finds Beth who slots a ball through to Katie who fires another far post to extend the lead. 2-0.

Again at 50’ Spraire playing with confidence now and Katie is played in down the wing, Katie then knocks it passed a marker and deftly lifts the ball of the keeper with a lovely chip to make it 3.

At 54’ Ellie N comes close with a fantastic curled effort from range which just hits the crossbar! Millie almost makes it 4 with a shot on the rebound.

At 56’ the fourth comes with a fantastic effort from range by Beth after a clearance beats the keeper to extend the lead to 4-0.

At 59’ Another wonderful chance for Spraire as Ellie Mae is played through and shows fantastic pace and determination to keep the ball and square it to Katie who just hits the post.

Immediately after Sarah plays it to Beth who fires another from range and hits the post again!

At 70’ Spraire with sustained pressure see multiple chances in a matter of minutes, very well saved by RA’s keeper.

Then at 72’ it’s 5-0 Spraire: Katie is played through on goal and takes a lovely touch inside the defender putting it onto her right foot and finishing calmly into the bottom left corner.

Soon after at 80’ a brilliant little 1-2 between Beth and Georgia sees Georgia play a lovely ball into Beth who slots one far post: 6-0 Spraire.

In the closing minutes of the game, an unusual and unchallenged penalty is awarded for a supposed handball that nobody appealed.

Kim steps up to take the penalty for Spraire, and fires it powerfully into the back of the net! The game ends 7-0 Spraire.

Goals:
⚽️⚽️⚽️ Katie
⚽️⚽️⚽️ Beth
⚽️ Kim

Player of the game:
🏆 Georgia !

Thank you to our sponsor SG Petch

11/10/2026

Absolutely fantastic day kids did absolutely brilliant 🤩

11/10/2026

U11's

This morning we travelled to Middlesbrough to play Riverside Juniors United for our first away game. Going with a depleted squad, our 2 wingers missing along with our goalkeeper, we didn’t know how the game would go.

The boys started on the back foot for the first 10 minutes until they found their feet. Matthew done well in goal sweeping any balls that managed to get through the solid defence, encouraging his team mates to drive forward. Oliver was first on the scoresheet after a perfect through ball from Sam, Oliver touched the ball away from his feet before striking it bottom corner. It wasn’t long after Jacob got his first goal, Sam dribbled the ball in from a kick in, finding Oliver once more who took the ball to the byline, left footed cross to Jacob for a tap in. Sam created his goal from a kick in, dribbling in just short of the half way line before striking the ball perfectly into the back of the net.

Half time we swapped keeper, with Oliver going between the sticks. Harry and Abdul kept focused and strong at the back, not allowing Riverside through. Sam drives through the sea of players before another brilliant strike sees him get his second of the game. Shortly after Bobby drives the ball down the left wing before having a shot which is saved by the keeper, only to parry into Sam’s path who got his hat-trick. Full advantage was certainly played with Riverside starting to tire. 2 quick fire goals assisted by Matthew for Jacob see him get his hat-trick.

A solid performance from the whole team today given we were missing 3 key players, but the boys worked for one another, cheered each other on and most importantly had fun.

Oliver ⚽️
Jacob ⚽️⚽️⚽️
Sam ⚽️⚽️⚽️

POTM Harry 🏆

Massive thank you to our kit sponsors Tailgate Schools, Ajah., Mark Robinson Visuals, My Property Box, Fletchers Waste Paper and Sand & Deliver - Wood Floor Restoration

04/10/2026

💛A magnificent 12-0 victory for Spraire Ladies against Horden💛

Spraire start the scoring early at 5’ its 1-0 Spraire: Competent defence leads to a counterattacking opportunity for Spraire. Beth controls and plays forward to Katie who calmly slots one past the keeper to open the scoring.

At 8’ it’s 2-0 Spraire: Excellent controlled build up with Sarah F and Sara W sees the whole midfield involved, a ball out wide to Ellie Mae is played across the box first time to Katie who scores again from close range to extend the lead.

At 22’ Kayleigh plays a fantastic through ball to Katie splitting the defence and putting her 1 on 1 with the keeper. Katie then places another into the bottom corner to complete her hat-trick. 3-0 Spraire!

Again at 33’ solid defending by Sarah sees the ball brought down and controlled by Beth, who plays a fantastic long ball over the top to Katie who finishes another from close to make it 4!

Soon after at 34’ more fantastic play sees excellent link up between Katie, Millie and Beth, Katie plays a ball across which is flicked on brilliantly by Millie finding Beth who lifts it over the keeper and narrowly puts it wide.

Then at 36’ it’s 5-0 Spraire: Kayleigh wins the ball back in the middle of the pitch and plays it to Katie who carries it forward and plays it across the box to Beth for a clean finish extending it to 5 for half time.

Straight from the half time whistle Spraire are on the attack again. At 47’ Beth wins the ball high up the pitch and finds Katie who makes it 6-0.

Soon after at 49’ it’s 7-0 Spraire: Fantastic composed play from the back between Lauren, Chloe and Sarah is played up to Beth who links up with Ellie Noble who beats the keeper cleverly from distance with a left footed effort.

At 52’ more pressure from Spraire sees Sara W recycle play and thread Georgia through brilliantly who ri**es one into the roof of the net. 8-0 Spraire.

At 66’ Tia wins a corner which is whipped in by Georgia and finished first time on the volley by Beth! 9-0.

At 72’ it’s 10-0 Spraire: Georgia plays the ball across to Ellie Noble who beats the keeper in a strong 50/50 and finishes it from range.

At 76’ 11-0 Spraire: Another corner taken by Ellie Noble finds Beth’s head who puts it in the far end of the net.

At 80’ Katie gets her sixth after a flick on from Sarah which is calmly finished from close range and ends the game at 12-0 with her double hat-trick!

Goals:
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ Katie B
⚽️⚽️⚽️ Beth
⚽️⚽️ Ellie N
⚽️ Georgia

Player of the match:
🏆 Katie B

Many thanks to our sponsor SG Petch

04/10/2026

Darlington Spraire U11 vs Newton Aycliffe Eagles U11

Last home game for the boys before we start our 5 away games and we welcomed Newton Aycliffe Eagles to Hummersknott. The boys dominated the opening 10 minutes before a counter attack sees the ball come down the left hand side, a miss-kick from the defence sees the ball fall to the Eagles striker who opens the scoring. Spraire play the ball around well, really bringing what they’re learning in training to the pitch. Another break sees the ball hit of the spraire’s defenders head and into the goal.

A positive team talk at half time and the boys are back at it. Riley and Abdul sweeping up any attack, and the midfield working hard to find Sam up top. The Eagles keeper made some brilliant saves to keep Spraire out while trying to break on the counter.

POTM today goes to Riley who was first to every ball and really drove the team forward

Massive thank you to our kit sponsors Tailgate Schools, Ajah., Mark Robinson Visuals, My Property Box, Fletchers Waste Paper and Sand & Deliver - Wood Floor Restoration

04/10/2026

U18's

🟡⚫ FULL TIME: DARLINGTON SPRAIRE LADS u18s 5–0 FERRYHILL TOWN u18s ⚫🟡

Back to winning ways with a brilliant 5–0 victory! 👏🏻

⚽ Jay x2
⚽ Thomas D
⚽ Lucas
⚽ Martin

A really strong team performance. We controlled the game well, had plenty of success out wide and were solid defensively throughout.

Max was excellent in goal, commanding his area with real confidence and helping us to a well-deserved clean sheet. 🧤

⭐ MOTM – Thomas D
Playing out of position at right-back, Thomas was outstanding. Defensively solid but also progressive going forward, giving us an extra option in attack throughout. A thoroughly deserved MOTM. 👏🏻

Still things to improve and we could have been more clinical, but five goals, a clean sheet and back to winning ways! 💪🏻

Next up ➡️ Durham United away in the cup. 🏆

UTDSL 💛🖤

Many thanks to our sponsor Tony & Gill's Taxis

04/10/2026

U14's

Another fantastic performance from the lads, securing an impressive 8–1 victory and showcasing just how far this group has come. 💛🖤

There were some outstanding individual performances once again, but more importantly, the team demonstrated great determination, commitment, patience and togetherness throughout the game.
The lads are continuing to play some really good football and, most importantly, they are putting into practice the things we have been working on in training. It’s great to see their hard work and development starting to show on the pitch.
However, the message remains the same: keep improving, keep learning and never become complacent. Results are a reward for the hard work, but our focus must always be on development, attitude and becoming better footballers and a better team.
Proud of the progress so far — but there is still plenty more to come. ⚽️👏💛🖤

And a shoutout to the parents who set equipment up in my absence today very much appreciated.

Proudly sponsored by Nxt-Gen Coaching