Stars rally for ailing football club

The celebrity teams won both games in front of a 14,000-strong crowd

A record number of fans turned out on Sunday to watch Darlington Football Club take on a team of celebrities.

A clutch of former international stars - including Paul Gascoigne, Brian Robson and Kenny Dalglish - took part in the two games.

The celebrity team - which also included stars from TV's Holby City and Coronation Street - won both matches 13-7 and 7-5.

It was organised by the club and consortium trying to save the Quakers from closure.

Last week creditors estimated the club's liabilities to be about £2m.

I'm feeling very positive about the future of the club David Hodgson, manager

An estimated 14,000 supporters came through the turnstiles at the Reynolds Arena to help the ailing club raise money.

Quakers manager David Hodgson said he was delighted with the day's success and said he was now confident the club would stay open.

He said: "It was amazing really.

"The whole week has been so hectic, preying that everyone comes, that the weather was going to be right.

"Having a crowd of 14,000 plus was amazing.

"I'm feeling very positive about the future of the club."

The former chairman of the struggling Third Division club, George Reynolds, resigned earlier this month.

He called in administrators in December amid club debts of about £1m, and to avert a winding-up order from the Inland Revenue.

Since then, a consortium of local business leaders and supporters has said it is trying to raise money to help bail the club out.