Source: Northern_Echo
Chandler relishing an early reunion with Sunderland
HE may have swapped the Premier League for the Blue Square Bet Premier Division, but ask Jamie Chandler if he had any doubts and the response is an immediate no'.[LNB] The 21-year-old has joined Darlington from Sunderland, leaving behind his boyhood favourites to join the club relegated from the Football League after their worst-ever season.[LNB] The South Shields-born midfielder was with Quakers on loan at the beginning of last season, brought in by Colin Todd before being sent back by Steve Staunton, but this time he is at The Northern Echo for the long haul, and he has no regrets.[LNB] I've no reservations about dropping into the Conference, said Chandler who plays against his former club in today's pre-season friendly.[LNB] Darlington are a club with ambition and I feel very welcome here. Hopefully, if we play our best football, we'll be back up in the Football League within a year.[LNB] The new gaffer, Mark Cooper, has taken the reins and he has got the spirit in the camp very high.[LNB] Everyone has gelled pretty quickly. There are a lot of new faces, some experienced boys and some young lads, and we're all driving each other on.[LNB] We've done a lot of team shaping in the last couple of days. The gaffer is getting us organised and we're all very ambitious and want to get the club back up.[LNB] During his 14 appearances last season Chandler's tenacity made him a crowd favourite and he is pleased to be back at the club having turned down opportunities to join clubs in the Football League.[LNB] I enjoyed my time here last season, he said. It was a bad time with results and at times I felt embarrassed with our performances.[LNB] People would travel a long way to see us and we would let them down.[LNB] I'd built a good rapport with the fans and people around the club. Then Steve came in and wanted his own players, which was fair enough, that happens at times.[LNB] It's good to be back. I did speak to Hartlepool and Carlisle, but once I found out Darlington wanted me back there was only one option really.[LNB] Although Chandler represented England at various age groups and was a regular in Sunderland's reserves, he did not make the breakthrough at the Stadium of Light but is looking forward to renewing acquaintances today.[LNB] Hopefully a couple of the young boys who I grew up with at Sunderland will be playing, so it will be good to kick a few of them around![LNB] joked Chandler.[LNB] Hopefully, we'll get a few supporters in, which would be good for the club, and we'll give ourselves a chance against them.[LNB] When I look back there's probably only Jordan Henderson who has come through from my year. I did well at youth level for Sunderland but it never worked out.[LNB] You can only learn so much at reserve level and then you want to push on. It was the right time to move on and start playing first team football for Darlington.[LNB] Darlington have given their match programme a new look, as pictured left.[LNB] Today's issue, which covers the club's home pre-season friendlies, includes the thoughts of chairman Raj Singh and manager Mark Cooper, a detailed look at the visitors and a special feature on the major work being put into a new pitch at the Arena. Priced £2.50,Quakers is available in and around the Arena before the game and from the club shop and ticket offices before and after the match.[LNB] Darlington Under-15s will be holding a charity bucket collection today to help raise much-needed funds for the youth team.[LNB]
