Paul Hodgson – författare

What were Darlington FC''s most memorable matches of the last 50 years? Paul Hodgson is better placed than most to weigh in on the matter. He''s been a regular presence at games for the past half-century. What''s more, as a disabled fan attending games in a wheelchair, he offers a unique and fascinating perspective on the matchday experience. The story begins in the 1972/73 season when Paul''s mother took him to his first game: Southport at home. The Quakers were soundly thrashed 7-0, yet the seven-year-old Paul was hooked. The book takes us through the 1970s when Darlington had to apply for re-election almost every season, on to the 1980s when their fortunes improved and through to the modern day. Paul hasn''t just chosen the 100 best results - some were horrific defeats - but each match made an indelible impression on him. One Hundred of the Best is an interesting mix of match reports and Paul''s experiences of not just the games, but his adventures of getting there in his wheelchair. The book is a ''must'' for every Darlington fan.

For the Love of Darlo is the inspirational autobiography of multi-award-winning writer and Darlington FC devotee Paul Hodgson, who overcame severe disability to achieve his ambitions.When Paul was seven months old, he was struck down by meningitis and left severely disabled. On being sent to boarding school in 1973, he had almost no speech, had to be propped up and could neither dress nor feed himself. But by the time he left, he could sit up unaided and talk, albeit with a stammer, and also feed himself. Paul praises the staff who helped him, but sadly, there were bad experiences with other staff members, which Paul reveals in the book.Before he started at boarding school, Paul's mum surprised him by taking him to see Darlington FC. It was a watershed moment. He became a fan for life.As well as charting his 50 years as a Darlo fan, Paul's story offers a unique insight into what it was like to grow up in a 'special school' in the unenlightened 1970s. It's a tale of triumph over extreme adversity.

Darlington FC fan Paul Hodgson pays tribute to 100 of the Quakers’ most memorable players from more than half a century of supporting the club.The story begins in the 1972/73 season when Paul’s mother took him to his first game: Southport at home. Darlo were soundly thrashed 7-0, yet the seven-year-old Paul was hooked. It was at this game that he came into contact with his first-ever Quakers hero, goalkeeper Phil Owers, who was followed by many more, the latest two being Jarrett Rivers and Tommy Taylor from the current team.Paul hasn’t just chosen the 100 best players – some only played a few games for the club – but each individual made an indelible impression on him. The book profiles players and games from the 1970s, when Darlington had to apply for re-election almost every season, through the 80s, when their fortunes improved, right up to the close of the 2022/23 season.A roller-coaster ride that any lover of football will enjoy, the book is a ‘must’ for every Darlington fan.