Who should Darlington sign this summer?

Darlington have made two additions to their squad so far this summer; midfielder Joe Lesley and striker Jack Maskell.

With the backing of a strong ‘Boost The Budget’ campaign, boss Steve Watson has a job on his hand to strengthen this Quakers squad to the tune of pushing for promotion this year.

I take a look at areas in their squad which I feel they are short and need to add players, and subsequently discuss some possible targets to consider signing in the close season.

James Montgomery (Gateshead)

Darlington need a new number one goalkeeper this summer after the departure of Matty Young. Recruiting goalkeepers is always difficult and so it is important that Steve Watson signs sensibly, and one player that I think fits the bill and who is both local and – in my view – a top-end, National League North performer is James Montgomery.

Montgomery was let go by National League side Gateshead at the end of the campaign, and is someone that I don’t think – and indeed would say with some confidence – that he won’t be short of offers this summer. I think that he is more than capable of playing in the fifth tier, albeit has spent time out on loan in the National League North last season, and I do think that his next move will likely be to a team in the North East that is in the National League North. As such, it does make a whole lot of sense with Darlington as a destination for him.

He has experience of being promoted out of the National League North and so that experience would be vital in helping Darlington to scale similar heights this year. He has been with a Gateshead side that have had a big focus on passing out from the back and so is comfortable with his feet. For clubs in the National League North, Montgomery is very much the option to go for this summer as a complete goalkeeper who is progressive and a decent shot-stopper, and I feel he’d be a super addition.

John Lufudu (South Shields)

One player that has been let go by their parent club at the end of the 2023-24 campaign and who will certainly not be short of offers, but who I feel Darlington should go for, is defender John Lufudu. Released this summer by fellow National League North outfit South Shields, I think that Lufudu is one of the best players in the league for his position and so would give Darlington a top-seven operator.

Lufudu is a powerful, attacking, right-sided full-back that would provide Watson with a more progressive and athletic option from full-back to what they have at their disposal currently. Lufudu was one of the standout players in the league last term, and so for The Quakers to be able to land the defender then it would be a coup. With the strong backing of ‘Boost The Budget’, I think that he would be the perfect addition for Steve Watson.

One of the benefits of signing Lufudu would be that The Quakers would directly be weakening another side (in Spennymoor Town) that will likely be going for a promotion next season. He is a top-end performer that is of a good age and gives them a better athletic profile than what they have now, and so I think he would be a useful addition to the squad.

Will Smith (Harrogate Town)

Darlington need to add a centre-back – or two – this summer, with Toby Lees the only option for them in that area of the pitch. One player that is available that I think would be a good pickup for them having spent last season out on loan and who is now looking for a permanent home is Will Smith.

Smith was let go by league Two outfit Harrogate Town at the end of the season, and is a player that was promoted out of the fifth tier with the Sulphurites. Last term, he was out on loan with York City and also Scunthorpe United, and so for a side that are looking to battle for promotion at the top end of the National League North, I think that Will Smith represents a good option.

The defender has played for Darlington before, spending time on loan with The Quakers, and so this is one that would go down well with the supporters. He is only 25 years of age and so is coming into the prime years of his career, and so Darlington would be inheriting a player that is entering the best years in theory. He is perhaps not the most robust, but he is comfortable with the ball at his feet, reads the game well and works hard, and is a good character for the group.

Scott Barrow (York City)

It may not win many awards for being a creative suggestion on this list, but one player who will be high on the list for Darlington fans as someone that they would like to see them sign this summer is experienced defender Scott Barrow. He spent last year with The Quakers on loan from York City, and so in wake of his release by The Minstermen, I expect Darlington to sign him.

Barrow is an experienced campaigner that has been around the divisions and has the first-hand nous and knowhow of being successful at the level – winning a promotion from the level with York City under John Askey – and so is another that buys into the ambition that Darlington have of being successful in 2024-25. He is a left-back by trade, has a wand of a left foot with good delivery and endeavour going forward, and is an out-and-out strong defender.

The defender was one of the key reasons for Darlington’s upturn in fortunes after Steve Watson arrived at the football club and so I expect Watson to want to bring him back into the club. He will likely drop out of the National League after leaving York City, and so it makes sense that Darlington is where he goes. He is a good professional, is going to set high standards within the group, is diligent off the ball and smart on it; a useful pickup on a free.

JJ O’Donnell (Blyth Spartans)

The Quakers need to strengthen their midfield ranks this summer. One option that I think they should look at is JJ O’Donnell. Released by Blyth Spartans at the end of the campaign, the experienced campaigner will certainly not be short of offers this summer to remain in the National League North and as such I would try to acquire his services if I was Steve Watson.

O’Donnell is another one that Steve Watson will know personally, having spent seven years at Gateshead. The midfielder is now in his early 30’s and so would offer a more experienced option for Watson, but what he does provide is a player that is technically good off both feet, has a strong passing range, intelligent, can find space to exploit the opposition and has the reading of the game to know what type of pass and end product is required in different situations. As such, he provides better balance, end product and decision-making in the final third.

He was let go by Blyth Spartans at the end of the campaign, albeit after they were relegated from the National League North, I imagine that it was much to do with the fact that he himself didn’t want to remain with Blyth Spartans fully in the knowledge that he is capable of getting a deal in the sixth tier again next term. Darlington represents a fairly local option for him after his time at Blyth Spartans, and so I think this has a lot of merits.

Wes York (Coalville Town)

Darlington have benefitted by signing a younger profile of player last year under Steve Watson, but I fully expect The Quakers to still opt for an experienced face or two to their ranks; indeed, they have already signed Joe Leesley. One player who I think would be a good signing for Darlington, and a player that Watson is a big fan of, is experienced midfielder Wes York.

York is currently on the books at Coalville Town, and they have been demoted for the forthcoming season. There have already been a number of Coalville Town players that have gained moves higher up the pyramid following their withdrawal from the league, and I think that York is another that is fully capable of handling the step-up. If he does go elsewhere, I think that Darlington could well be the ideal destination for him.

Wes York is someone that Steve Watson is familiar with, having been manager of Gateshead and York City when Watson was in charge of the respective clubs; as such, there is a previous there on which Watson is able to navigate such a deal.

One thing that York does provide Darlington with is a versatility. Primarily a wide midfielder, York is capable of playing as a centra midfielder, can play wide, and is also capable of being used as a wing-back. As such, even though Darlington have the benefit of the hefty ‘Boost The Budget’, York represents a clever option for Watson in terms of covering a number of bases and all the while providing an experienced option that is technically strong and positionally smart.

Zak Atkinson (Consett)

The final player on this list is a local option for Darlington that would be making the step up into the National League North if he was to sign for The Quakers; Consett front man Zak Atkinson. 28 years of age, he is one of the best forwards in the local North East non-league scene, and as a complement for the options that Darlington have at their disposal currently, I think that Atkinson would be worth a look.

Darlington already have forwards Cedric Main, Andrew Nelson and new signing Jack Maskell at their disposal, and I think that a player of Atkinson’s profile could well complement that well. He is a player that is hall-marked by being a quick and strong forward that is able to play in behind, hold the ball up and link the play, all while having the flexibility to receive the ball into feet or to chest. He is a good size and can hold off defenders, but also has the nimble movement and speed to evade challenges and try to drag defenders away.

He is on the books of local side Consett, having been with Whickham, Shildon and Blyth Spartans prior to that. He gives Darlington a versatile and selfless type at the top end of the pitch that is not just capable of scoring goals, but has the intelligence, game understanding, technical quality and tactical appreciation to lay on opportunities for his team mates. He is an extremely hard-working player that can press from the front, and I think that he is worth the step up as a squad option for Steve Watson’s side.