Source: Northern_Echo
Byrne makes it eight January arrivals
Darlington yesterday completed their eighth January signing when Irish defender Richie Byrne arrived in the North-East.[LNB] The 28-year-old becomes the fifth Irishman signed by manager Steve Staunton.[LNB] The left-back, a free agent who spent three seasons with Aberdeen until 2008, has joined until the end of the season.[LNB] Before playing for Aberdeen, who paid £50,000 for his services in January 2005, Byrne spent time with Shamrock Rovers and Dunfermline.[LNB] The Dubliner spent two seasons with Dunfermline, for whom he played for in the 2004 Scottish Cup final, and went on to play 59 games for Aberdeen.[LNB] He arrives at The Northern Echo Arena having spent the second half of last season with Inverness Caledonian Thistle who he joined from Oldham Athletic.[LNB] He is the 21st player brought to the club by Staunton, who let Dan Riley to join Northern League side Billingham Town for a month.[LNB] Byrne will hope to make his debut in Saturday's home game with Rotherham United, a match which represents the first of a remarkable sequence of six fixtures that will all see Darlington facing a former player.[LNB] Among the Millers' ranks is Micky Cummins, and the game is followed by matches with Lincoln City (Clark Keltie), Morecambe (Neil Wainwright), Chesterfield (Adam Rundle and Barry Conlon), Notts County (Ricky Ravenhill) and Bradford (Matt Clarke).[LNB] Rundle joined Chesterfield from Rochdale yesterday while Conlon has made his switch from Grimsby permanent having initially been on loan at Saltergate.[LNB] Meanwhile, following the controversial postponement of Darlington's game at Cheltenham on Saturday, Robins chairman Paul Baker has launched a scathing attack on referee Keith Stroud.[LNB] The official adjudged the surface was frozen at 1pm, with Quakers' squad and some fans already at stadium.[LNB] I think the decision was poor and premature and I am very angry, said Baker. At 1pm, all the management staff felt the pitch was fine and it was in the sun with two more hours left until kick-off.[LNB] Words fail me, I am so cross and we will be looking into what can be done about it. It's a nightmare. We have to pick up Darlington's bill and pay our staff and stewards.[LNB] As soon as I heard it was off I drove to the ground, but I just missed him (Stroud) and it's a good job I did really.[LNB] Darlington are to stage a Question of Sport evening as part of the club's ongoing fans nights.[LNB] Quakers legend Kevan Smith will host the event on Thursday, February 25, with past players taking on current stars in the Ron Greener Suite at The Northern Echo Arena. Craig Liddle will captain the ex-players' team, assisted by Neil Maddison and Kevin Stonehouse, while the modern day team will be skippered by Ian Miller.[LNB] Darlington are aiming to hold regular fans' nights, on or around the last Thursday of every month, with a different theme each time. Tickets cost £5 each, which includes food, and can be bought from the Arena main reception, by calling 01325 387000, or email commercial@darlington-fc.net.[LNB]
