Mark Carruthers: Darlington’s rise shows the value of the bigger picture

When assessing the merits of a glorious success or a perceived failure, there should be a necessity to look at the bigger picture.

We are at that stage of the season where the emotions are polarised and falling either side of the thin line between success and failure can often be a matter of narrow margins.

Of course, for some, that will mean disappointment and elation for the lucky few – but there should also be balance for those that come out on the negative side of that emotional scale.

Assessing the merits of Darlington and their ongoing push for a National League North play-off place this season is a perfect example.

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Quakers on the rise

Considering this season on its own shows a side full of talent that have taken their battle for a top seven place into the final week of the campaign and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility the Quakers can return to the National League over the coming weeks.

Yet looking at the bigger picture, and just how far they have come over the last two and a half seasons, only heightens the appreciation of the job that manager Steve Watson and assistant manager Terry Mitchell have done during their time in charge.

At the time of their appointment, I always felt Watson was the right man at the right time after witnessing his work under difficult circumstances at Gateshead at close quarters.

There were somewhat mixed fortunes during his managerial stints at York City and Chester – but a return to his native North East and the opportunity to kickstart an upturn in fortunes at Darlington felt like a chance for both parties.

The appointment of the vastly experienced Mitchell was also something of a masterstroke and his ability as a coach and eye for a player should never be underestimated when assessing the improvement over their reign.

The Watson and Mitchell effect

The duo took charge of a side struggling in the National League North relegation zone following back-to-back defeats against Scarborough Athletic and that still had an 8-0 hammering at the hands of Chorley fresh in their minds.

Two wins in their first seven games offered little hint of what was to follow – but that all changed as a 4-0 win at North East neighbours South Shields acted as a catalyst for a push away from the relegation zone and safety was secured with a sixteenth placed finish.

Further progression came with a mid-table finish last season as Watson and Mitchell started to mould a side comprising of exciting young talents, experienced professionals and battle-hardened National League North players.

An upward trajectory has continued throughout the current campaign as the likes of Tom Platt, Scott Barrow, Cedric Main and Jack Maskell have all impressed and helped mould their side into genuine play-off challengers.

Recent defeats against Scarborough and Marine have hampered the top seven push – but the Quakers are still in the mix with just two games remaining in the regular season.

Darlo’s EFL dream

Watson and Mitchell have been handed new deals committing them to the club until the end of the 2027/28 season and there is no doubt they deserve an opportunity to build upon the firm foundations they have put in place.

Their reign has been one of gradual improvement and they look well placed to help the Quakers realise their unquestionable potential and move closer to their target of becoming an EFL club once again.

There are other matters to consider and the need for a home of their own – and a move away from their current Blackwell Meadows home – would be a major boost and offer further opportunities to push forwards on and off the pitch.

Whether they are successful or fall short in their play-off push, Darlington have progressed under Watson and Mitchell, where it was once a matter of merely surviving; the Quakers are thriving under their management team.

Of course, falling short of the top seven would bring understandable disappointment, but that should be counteracted with a belief that things are firmly on the up once again.

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