A club in the 11th tier of English football have chosen to appoint a much loved 400-game former EFL player in Alan White.
That team is Darlington Railway Athletic, who currently play their games in the Wearside League Division One, and it will be the ex-footballer’s first job as a manager.
The appointment was confirmed on the 21st of October, and RA are ready to play out their first league game under new boss Alan White, who was at Spennymoor Town as a player-coach, and spent two years with National League North side Darlington as an assistant.
⚽️ FRIDAY NIGHT ⚽️
Alan White & the management team face @CLSUnited in their first league game in charge
🆚 Chester Le street
⏰ 7:30PM KO
📆 29 Oct
🏟 Brinkburn Road
📍 DH3 9LF
🎫 £3 Adults
💳 Card accepted🚂 Come on RA 👊🏻#upthera #darlora #UTRA #NonLeague #groundhopping pic.twitter.com/bbTfVZ1u3N
— Darlington Railway Athletic Football Club 🚂⚽️ (@DarloRAFC) October 28, 2021
Head-coach White will be assisted by coaches Mark Wheldon and Christian Holliday.
The Darlington-born takes over a team 14th in the table, and have 16 points from 16 games played.
He replaces Carl Boyce, who stood down earlier this month due to work and family commitments.
His first game in charge was a 4-3 win over Washington United in the Durham Challenge Cup at Brinkburn Road.
The match after that. scheduled for Wednesday the 27th of October, at home to Coxhoe Athletic, ended up being postponed.
A club statement read: “We are delighted to announce former Luton Town, Colchester United and Darlington player Alan White as our new head coach to work alongside Mark Wheldon and Christian Bisto Holliday.
“Local lad Alan, is vastly experienced and has been on the management team at Darlington FC.
“Alan is very passionate and brings with him a great level of professionalism which will help us to raise the standard both on and off the pitch.
“We are very excited by the appointment and are looking forward to working with Alan.”
ALAN WHITE’S CAREER:
1995–1997 – Middlesbrough
1997–2000 – Luton Town – 79 games (3 goals)
1999 → Colchester United (loan) – 4 games (0 goals)
2000–2004 – Colchester United – 140 games (4 goals)
2004–2005 – Leyton Orient – 26 games (0 goals)
2005–2006 – Boston United – 48 games (4 goals)
2006–2007 – Notts County – 35 games (5 goals)
2007 → Peterborough United (loan) – 7 games (3 goals)
2007–2009 – Darlington – 75 games (3 goals)
2009–2010 – Luton Town – 16 games (0 goals)
2010 → Darlington (loan) – 24 games (1 goal)
2010 – Stalybridge Celtic – 6 games (0 goals)
2010–2011 – Gateshead – 3 games (0 goals)
2011 – Blyth Spartans – 15 games (3 goals)
2011 – Boston United – 13 games (0 goals)
2011–2013 – Harrogate Town – 48 games (3 goals)
2013–2016 – Darlington 1883 – 78 games (12 goals)
2016–2017 – Spennymoor Town
Teams managed
2016–2017 – Spennymoor Town (player-coach)
2017–2019 – Darlington (assistant)
Here are some clips of him in action, one in 2008 and the other in 2015, both of them goals…
Twitter users reacted as 11th tier club Darlington Railway Athletic appoint the much loved 400-game former EFL player…
@Arthurt27L: Good choice Alan will give you 110% in everything he does.
@northernshrek: He bleeds darlo ⚫️⚪️
@MichaelBarrass1: Good luck AW in your role hope to see them in the ebac NL soon
@BrianRyder5599: God help them they will be the fittest players in the league 🤣🤣🤣
Danny Chambers: Brilliant appointment for the club ⚽️🚂
Andrew Hodgson: Good Luck Alan White tomorrow, me and the baby branch of the Darlo RA hooligans are staying at home unfortunately so the barriers are safe for one night.
Shane Dwyer: Welcome onboard Alan.
Andrew Hodgson: Best of luck Alan, great to see you involved 👍🏻👍🏻🔴🔴
Joanne Bruce: They are very lucky to have you
James Ivil: Fantastic announcement I thought Alan would of been snapped up well before now. A great bloke knows the game inside and out and is a very talented coach and very professional in every thing he does. I can only see good things for the RA now. Speak soon mate, Top man ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Paul Moss: Excellent appointment! Good luck Alan mate, I know you’ll give it your all.
Ronnie Colman: Good luck Alan I’m sure you will make a big impression 👍⚽️🥅
Jay Bear Burgess: Good luck to you Alan. Won’t be available to spectate but wishing you and the lads good luck. Make sure a few of them work extra hard
Craig Morrison: Brilliant whitey 👏
Keith Watson: Congratulations mate, hope you do well and enjoy your new role and have lots of happy times there
Tony Waters: Suspect this will be a really good appointment. Good luck Whitey, really hope this works out well.
Robert Morley: All the best Alan. 👍
Darlo Are BACK: All the best! Alan White
Mr Q , Darlington FC: 👏👏 Alan White White White 👏👏
Steven Swift: Best of luck
Jimmy Muir: Good luck Whitey lad. UTRA❤️
Ruth Hetherington: Good luck Alan 👍 I will be there.
A local lad with a load of passion and commitment for the game!
Good luck Whitey! https://t.co/NFRtZ6y3fK
— Darlington FC (@Official_Darlo) October 21, 2021
Good luck to Alan White in his new position as @DarloRAFC manager. pic.twitter.com/9uaDFLctk1
— Darlo Retro 📸 (@DarloRetro) October 21, 2021
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