A meeting with another club we have enjoyed regular rivalry with is set for Saturday, 17th October, as Darlington make the long journey south from County Durham to face the Bucks in the Enterprise National League North, with kick-off at 3 pm at the SEAH Stadium.
Last Season
The Bucks and the Quakers, or Darlo as they are also known, met twice in the league last season and also met in the Emirates FA Cup 4th qualifying round.
Both league matches ended with the spoils shared; the Bucks recovered from a 2-0 half-time deficit on August Bank Holiday Monday to draw 2-2, with Remi Walker cutting the lead the Quakers had taken from an own goal and added to by Josh Scott. Dylan Allen-Hadley scored an injury-time leveller to cap a second half the Bucks dominated, and felt they could have won.
The second league meeting was the final home game of last season at the SEAH Stadium, and was no less dramatic, with another painful ending for the Quakers. Tom Platt put the visitors ahead in a match both sides needed to win to preserve playoff ambitions; however, after Jack Maskell’s straight red card made it 11 vs 10, Jordan Piggott stabbed in an injury-time corner to make it 1-1.
The FA Cup encounter between the two, played on this corresponding weekend in October, was anything but close. In an astonishing first half, the Bucks accelerated into a 4-0 half-time lead through Dylan Allen-Hadley, Matty Stenson (2) and an own goal. Substitute Adan George added a second-half brace to make it 6-0, an afternoon for the Bucks to remember and for the Quakers to forget quickly.
That Cup defeat was an anomaly, however; the Quakers finished the season in ninth position on 69 points, two places and four points above the Bucks, but four points short of a playoff position.
Recent Form
The Quakers are currently 23rd in the Enterprise National League North, with 8 points from 11 matches.
They have 2 wins, 2 draws and 7 defeats, and a goal difference of -9, from 13 goals scored compared to 22 conceded.
They have failed to score on two occasions, both at home, when defeated by Chester and King’s Lynn Town, and have just one clean sheet to date, in a 1-0 away victory at Radcliffe on August Bank Holiday Monday.
The Quakers’ biggest margin of victory in the league is by one goal, which they achieved in a 3-2 win at Bedford Town and that victory at Radcliffe, their two wins to date. Their biggest league loss was a 5-2 defeat at Chorley in September, although they did also concede three in their 3-0 FA Cup exit at Morecambe two weeks ago.
Top Scorers:
Mark Beck, Paddy McLaughlin, Adan Rutledge - 3 each
Dylan Stephenson - 2
Max Howells, Ellis Stanton - 1 each
Facing the Bucks
Darlington’s squad combines non-league experience with several promising younger players. In goal, hometown player Bobby Jones brings experience from Middlesbrough’s academy, Wigan Athletic, AFC Fylde and Stockport County, as well as productive spells with Curzon Ashton, Boston United, Spennymoor Town and Chester. Reserve goalkeeper Liam Mason made a memorable debut in April 2026, saving a penalty with his first touch after coming on against Scarborough.
The defence has a strong, experienced core. Scott Barrow, currently on a leave of absence on health grounds, has played for Swansea, Port Talbot, Tamworth, Macclesfield, Newport County, Gateshead and York, helping the latter win promotion before joining Darlington, initially on loan. Versatile full-back Ben Hedley is the club’s longest-serving player, while centre-half Toby Lees has been a regular since arriving from Blyth Spartans. Left-sided defender Max Kilsby developed at Carlisle and Newcastle and gained valuable senior experience in Scotland. They are joined by Ciaran Thompson, a former Newcastle United Under-21 captain, and Dylan Wilkinson, who earned a contract after impressing on trial following more than 200 appearances for Park View Academy’s senior side.
There is plenty of experience and flexibility in midfield. Will Hatfield built his reputation with Accrington Stanley and Guiseley before becoming a key Quakers player across two spells, separated by a period at AFC Fylde. Captain Tom Platt previously represented York City, Harrogate Town, Alfreton and Boston United, and played an important role in Darlington’s successful fight against relegation in 2023–24. Paddy McLaughlin offers Football League and international age-group experience, having played for York, Grimsby, Gateshead and Hartlepool and won ten Northern Ireland Under-21 caps. Sam Hetherington has returned permanently after a productive loan from Carlisle United, while Max Howells made an immediate impact during his own loan spell, scoring on debut and adding several eye-catching goals. Tom Henson, formerly of Doncaster Rovers, Malvern Town and Newton Aycliffe, adds further promise, while Jesse Nelson is another member of the squad.
In attack, Mark Beck is back for a third spell after productive periods with Darlington and further experience at Harrogate Town, Solihull Moors, Scunthorpe United, Alfreton Town and Gateshead. Aidan Rutledge progressed from prolific form at Birtley to Gateshead, Scarborough, South Shields and Spennymoor Town before joining Quakers and scoring nine goals in 46 appearances. Dylan Stephenson came through Newcastle United’s academy and has since gained senior experience with Hamilton Academical, South Shields and Dagenham & Redbridge. Ellis Stanton, another Newcastle academy graduate and former England Under-15 international, established himself with 34 appearances in 2025–26. Together, the squad offers resilience, versatility and a useful blend of proven leadership and emerging talent.
Here’s the Quakers’ starting line-up from last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Merthyr Town.
GK: Jones.
D: Hedley, Atkinson, Lees, Kilsby.
M: Lowes, Stanton, McLaughlin ©, Fitzhugh.
F: Hazel, Beck.
Subs: Mason, Thompson, Walker, Stephenson, Henson, Hatfield, Rutledge.
The Boss
Steve Watson has been the Quakers’ boss since 2023, and his career has spanned more than three decades across the top tiers and the non‑league game as a player and manager.
As a player, he emerged from Newcastle United’s famed youth system, becoming the club’s youngest-ever debutant in 1990. Over eight seasons he made more than 200 league appearances, featuring prominently during the Kevin Keegan era and appearing in the 1998 FA Cup Final. His versatility became a trademark, operating across defence and midfield, and later earning moves to Aston Villa and Everton, where he added over 160 Premier League appearances. At Everton he enjoyed a memorable hat‑trick against Leeds United in 2003, before later spells with West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday rounded out a top‑flight and Championship career totalling 473 senior appearances.
After retiring in 2009, Watson transitioned into coaching, beginning at Huddersfield Town under Lee Clark and later joining Birmingham City. His first managerial role came in 2017 with Gateshead, where he stabilised the club and built a competitive National League side. In 2019 he took charge of York City, guiding them to a strong win percentage and earning the National League North Manager of the Month award in October 2021. He departed later that year and briefly managed Chester, before being appointed Darlington manager in December 2023.
Colours
Bucks:
Shirt: White
Shorts: White
Socks: White
Quakers:
Shirt: to be confirmed
Shorts: tbc
Socks: tbc
Match Officials
Referee: Joe Moss.
Assistant Referee: Craig Patrick.
Assistant Referee: Daniel Clenton.
Fourth Official: Kieron Rogers.
How to Follow
If you can’t be at the game, you can follow the events in several ways.
The Live Game Centre on our smartphone app and website will have live text updates.
Our X feed will also carry text commentary, while our Facebook and Instagram feeds will provide updates on major events, such as team news, goals, the half-time and full-time scores.
If you have the app, you’ll receive notifications of every goal, plus half-time and full-time scores.
Finally, BBC Radio Shropshire will provide live match commentary on DAB and on the Sounds app.
With plenty of options, you can follow the Bucks even when you can’t be there.