Durham Amateur Football Trust

	Welcome to the website of the Durham Amateur Football Trust, "Celebrating the Golden Age of Soccer" The trust was established in 2006 with the assistance of a grant from the "Awards for All" office in Newcastle. The 1940's and 50's are acknowledged as the high point of Amateur Football in England and in particular, Durham County, with Bishop Auckland winning the F.A. Amateur Cup on numerous occasions.
			Latest News.... A programme of exhibitions for 2010 is now available on our 'exhibitions' page Please note, the Trust office will be closed from Monday February 1st until Monday February 8th for staff holiday
	The first Annual General Meeting was held at The Welcome Building of the Locomotion museum in Shildon on 10^th April 2008 and the highlight was the attendance of the Trust’s first President, Jim McMillan, who won a record 4 Amateur Cup Winners’ medals with Crook Town between 1954 and 1964. Jim spoke of his pride in being asked to join the Trust in an official capacity and praised the work being done to record a part of north-east history in which he had been involved. The second AGM took place on 16 April 2009 and the Chairman took pleasure in announcing how far the Trust had progressed since the previous year, due to the hard work of the small band of volunteers and the various sources of funding that had been received. The Trust received a tremendous boost in January 2008 when Mike Amos recommended us to the family of the late Arthur Clark who was a long serving official in local football until his death in 1997. We received numerous trophies and mementoes which Arthur had accumulated and which his family wished to go to someone who would display them suitably. They were put on show for the first time at Crook library in April and contributed to one of our most attractive displays to date. As well as sculptures, goblets, tankards and plaques from the Durham and Northumberland FA’s, the Northern League and numerous clubs north and south, Arthur had served on the FA Council as a member of their International Committee. This took him to all corners of the globe representing the FA and he has an astonishing array of pennants, blazer badges and lapel badges most of which we were able to mount in frames making a very colourful display. Arthur’s son, Tony, travelled from his home in Leeds to be present at the film evening in the library and was very pleased and proud with the display of his father’s collection. In April 2009The family of the late Bob Hardisty (Bishop Auckland) kindly donated memorabilia from his lifetime and it is hoped to put on an exhibition in 2010 to display this memorabilia. A small exhibition based around West Auckland Town's success in the first "world cup" took place at Clayport Library, Durham during April 2009 and it is hoped that further exhibitions will reflect the success of the 2009 win and 2011 defence of the title.
	More on these stories and others can be found on the DAFT Newsletter. To receive the newsletter please join DAFT. For information on joining pease click Here
	The Purpose(s) of D.A.F.T. is To record this sporting and social history by establishing an archive of Amateur Football in Durham County. To collect newspaper reports, audio and video footage, vintage newsreels and to collect memorabilia. Organise exhibition material, lectures and maintain this website for the benefit of clubs, schools and community groups. To promote interest in the history of Amateur Football and non-league football in an effort to get young and old involved in local clubs, playing, helping and supporting.