Here’s a great chance to wear the Quakers’ colours in your local parkrun on 14th
September – Darlington Football Club Foundation chairman Steve Rose tells us all
about it.
Just over a week ago I launched the Darlington Football Club Foundation and today
we’re delighted to announce details of our first step towards improving the physical
and mental well-being of our local community by inviting everyone connected with
Darlington Football Club to get involved with the Darlington South Park parkrun on
the morning of Saturday 14th September.
What is a Parkrun?
It is a 5km timed run that takes place simultaneously at 648 locations across the
country at 9am every Saturday morning. Parkruns are organised by volunteers and
are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in.
The organisers of the South Park parkrun have kindly agreed to step aside on 14 th
September to allow a ‘take-over’ by the Darlington Football Club Foundation.
Who takes part in the South Park parkrun?
The simple answer is “all sorts”. There is a huge mix of ages and abilities; From
primary school children running with their parents right through to those in their 60s
and even 70s; From serious runners who are members of running clubs, through to
those who just embarking on a journey to improve their fitness by mixing walking and
jogging; some energetic parents push their children around the course in their
buggies, whilst other runners take the opportunity to exercise their dogs on a lead at
the same time. They all have one thing in common and that is to partake in healthy
exercise in safe and pleasant surroundings with like-minded people. Upwards of 300
runners gather under the clock tower by the bowling green at around 8.45am every
Saturday to receive the pre-run welcome and briefing from the Run Director of the
day.
How can Darlington FC supporters get involved?
That depends on whether you are already a regular parkrunner or whether you have
never taken part before.
If you are a regular parkrunner, we would ask you to put away your running shoes for
the day and instead volunteer to help organise the parkrun on that day. To volunteer,
first go to the roster at https://www.parkrun.org.uk/darlingtonsouthpark/futureroster/
to see which roles are still unfilled and then email Hilary at
darlingtonsouthparkhelpers@parkrun.com and let her know which role you would like
to undertake on Saturday 14th September. It would also be helpful to let Hilary know
that you are part of the ‘take-over’.
If you have never participated in a parkrun, we would be delighted if you could join
us on the 14 th September. But first you would need to register on-line by going to:
On registering you will be issued with your bar code and you would need to bring a
printed copy of this bar code with you to the run. Don’t forget or you won’t be given a
time of your run. Once you have registered for your first run, you won’t need to
register again.
Although the doesn’t start until 9am, runners begin to assemble under the Bowling
Green Clock Tower around 8.45am before the pre-run briefing. All first-timers can be
assured of a very warm welcome from the parkrun regulars.
The event on 14th September is an opportunity for Darlo fans who are lapsed
parkrunners to get back involved. It is also an opportunity for those who have been
thinking about improving their physical fitness but just need that final push into
action.
All Darlo supporters, either volunteering or taking part in the run on the 14 th
September, are encouraged to wear their Darlo tops, hats, scarves or whatever they
fancy.
The success of the Foundation’s involvement in this event will be measured by the
number of first-timers that take part on the 14th September and then return for future
runs.
I’ll look forward to seeing as many Darlo fans as possible bedecked in black and
white at South Park at 9am, Saturday 14 th September. By the way, if you have any
other ideas or offers of help for Darlington FC Foundation please drop us a line at
Steve Rose, Chair of Trustees
Darlington Football Club Foundation