Two matches in the Blue Square Premier brought together four clubs from directly opposite ends of the football spectrum yesterday and, while the results of those matches were hardly unexpected, it was difficult not to feel at the end of this week that these were not as important as the fact that the matches had taken place in the first place.

This year has been a difficult year so far for several of our non-league clubs. Mike Bayly has a round-up of what has been going on at the foot of football's food chain.

By any measure of austerity, it's been a fairly turbulent week in the world of non-league football. On Sunday evening, the main stand at Rossendale United's vacant Dark Lane ground was completely destroyed in what police are treating as a suspected arson attack.

At the end of yesterday, Darlington FC remained alive albeit on life support. Today, however, stories started to emerge which threaten to fragment an increasingly fractious fan-base as the matter of this club's survival draws closer and closer to its denouement.
There have been words of encouragement and support funds and fury from many supporters that a situation such as this should be allowed to happen to the same club yet again but, at the time of writing, we are still nowhere near knowing whether the club will saved or, if it will, who by.

There may only be a couple of days left to go. Darlington FC continue to stare into the abyss and the comments of the club's joint administrator, Harvey Madden, in an interview with BBC Radio Tees this evening will have offered no comfort to those of the opinion that it is now only a matter of time before this football club folds after one hundred and twenty-nine years.

The news came through with startling speed, another rumour that swelled to an almost bewildering succession of public statements in just a few short hours. At the end of yesterday, the battle-wearied supporters of Darlington FC could only step back, blinking, and survey the wreckage. Their club has been pushed into administration for the third time in less than ten years, and the prognosis for its future looks bleak.

A new year may have begun, but familiar problems are already starting to make themselves clear with conflicting stories concerning the well-being of Blue Square Premier club Darlington. A club that has already had two spells in administration in the last decade could well be headed for further trauma following reports in the local press during the break between Christmas and the new year, but upon what were these initial reports based, and can a consortium group which has since announced itself get the assent of the club's current owner to take over a football club that has been shipping money left, right and centre for longer than most people care to remember?

The news in the Northern Echo today is that it looks like Fab Coloccini will not make the game this afternoon at Norwich City. If Coloccini is out will Simpson mocve to the middle? If that news is correct, and we don't whether they have inside information are are just surmising what could happen, then Newcastle will be fielding two out of position players at center-back, with one of them being James Perch.

Over the last few years it has become one of English footballs most instantly recognisable totems of the folly of ego, and now it seems as if The Reynolds Arena currently known as The Northern Echo Arena which has been an albatross around the neck of the club since it moved into it in 2003, may finally be play a significant role in the end of Darlington Football Club.

Newcastle will play Darlingoton tonight, in their very first pre-season game, before heading off to Kansas City on Sunday for their American tour. Darlington's Northern Echo Arena It's now nearly two weeks since the lads reported back for training, and tonight will be the first time to see some of Newcastle's new players, plus fit [.

It's time, then, for our weekly write-up of football-related charities and charity events that are deserving of your time and money. This week, we feature a charity match, a new project from Kick It Out and an initiative to help non-league football clubs fill their matchday programmes. As ever, we would ask you to remember that if you would like your charity or good cause mentioned on this page, drop us a line via the Contact page at the top of this page and we will get straight back to you.

There is more news today in the Northern Echo that Alan Pardew is trying to bring Manchester United's Darron Gibson to Tyneside. Darron Gibson Newcastle and Sunderland target If you remember a few months ago Darron opened a Twitter account, and it lasted just two hours, as he received significant criticism and abuse from [.

There's a report in the Northern Echo today that Alan Pardew will be stepping up his interest in Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson today. Darron Gibson is this lad good enough for Newcastle? We're not entirely convinced that Darron would be a good buy for Newcastle at around £5M, since he hardly looked impressive [.

Newcastle will play 3 games on their stateside tour this July, and they've just announced two more pre-season friendlies. FA Trophy winners Darlington will host Newcastle at the Northern Echo Arena, on Friday, July 15th, with a 7.45 pm kick-off. And on Sunday, July 31st Newcastle will travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United, [.

The Northern Echo is reporting today that Newcastle are interested in Toulouse left sided midfielder Franck Tabanou. Franck Tabanou - French U21 left sided midfielder We know Newcastle have been watching Toulouse left back Cheikh M'Bengue, but this is the first time we've heard Newcastle may also be interested in Tabanou.

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QPR Assess Their White City Failure (Enlarged to Make it Readable!)
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