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Fans favourite Craig Liddle has returned to Darlington as Youth team coach it has been revealed today.

Liddle has worked in Middlesborough`s and Sunderland`s Youth Academy in recent years, opened a sports shop in Chester-le-Street as well as undertaking a role as football development manager at Darlington College. He replaces Mick Tait who left this post earlier in the year.

Craig was a huge favourite amongst fans for his never say die performances in the heart of the Darlo defence and for staying with the club through hard times when many other players choose to leave the club for higher wages and to further their careers. For me Liddle had never really been adequately replaced until this year and when Dave Penney brought Steve Foster to the club.

In a way I am slightly surprised at this appointment, as Dave Penney has not brought any of his coaching staff from previous jobs with him to Darlo but with Liddle`s commitment and dedication the Youth team could well go from strength to strength like it did under Martin Gray a few years back.