The Lads

.....Brown.....Frankel.....Azzarello.....Robertson.....Rose.....Meyerowitz.....Santos.....Sutherland.....

.....Dinis.....Francis.....Hammond.....Sukovski.....Weigel.....Maiorano.....

This is Dan's 3rd and final season with the FC but he is certainly no stranger to the Darlington name sake as he played here in the 2005 OYSL season. Frankel dons the arm band for the FC. Daniel plays a mean midfield game and uses his experience and high skill level to control and dominate the midfield traffic. He has great passing strengths and has an overall vision of the play before it unfolds. Danny reads the game better than anyone and lets very little pass through the midfield on his watch. Dan is one of the few lads whose name appears at the top of the voting list for both MVP & Sportsmanlike Awards as this shows you exactly the kind of well-rounded individual that all teams want on their side. Frank plays for the Western University Mustangs in the CIS. This summer Frank will be representing Canada in some International play in Israel. It's a real pleasure to have the Frankel name on the back of the Darlington kit and we all look forward to big things from the Toronto lad.

Jere is the senior footballer on the squad. Jere has been around the longest and has seen it all from early days with the new kids on the block right up to our new-look team this season. Jeremy has been consistent and constant with his hard work ethics and 100% effort year after year. Jeremy is coming off a great season as a star on the Flemming College squad in Peterborough. Jere plays in the back corner on our FC team and has developed into a bright, brave back. He takes on all comers and his solid build and smart sense gives him the upper hand. We are all watching the team's veteran in training sessions and I know everyone is thinking the same as me.....This well liked defender has developed and advanced himself into a starting spot on this talented team.

Azza has returned for his 2nd season with us and now with a year under his belt we expect nothing but big things from this crafty middy. No pressure eh Joey! This gifted footballer plays an intense game through the midfield and possess uncanny ball skill. He has a brilliant strike and never shies away from a crack at the net. Everyone that has the pleasure of playing along side this aggressive middy loves to have him in their corner but the same cannot be said about the opposition. This crafty pint-sized athlete gets under the skin of all opposition and agitates and frustrates all opponents. His in-your-face style has made him a stellar standout in the past and something tells me we will see a lot more of the same, this season.

Robbie is a long time Darlington lad who has spent his entire career playing under the town colours. Kyle's father is the Club Head Coach here in Darlington and the second anyone sets eyes on him they realize he comes from great stock and professional footings. He is a tall lad for his age and plays an even bigger game. He is a very smart lad with the football at his feet and has great vision. He plays in the back four. He has an excellent crack on the net from set pieces and puts a deadly pass at his team mates feet. Kyle has a rookie year behind him which means bigger and better things are expected from this stocky stopper.

Brad is in his 2nd season with us. Rose lead the OYSL as the "Golden Boot" winner for as long as I an remember. This gifted footballer has played at the highest of levels earning his stripes and strikes through hard work ethics and exceptional football foundations. Mr. Rose comes to us directly from the United States as he plays for Yale University and like most CIS lads, has a stint off for the summer and felt the best way to continue touching the ball has got to be in the Ontario Soccer League's Provincial Division where the best of the best hang out. Mr. Rose will also be on that plane to Israel midseason. We are all expecting huge things from this solid striker this season and if he stays healthy then the OSL will be handing that "Golden Boot" to Darlington FC.

Zach jumped on board after the season began last year and showed well in just a handful of matches. He is a bruiser of a lad and can be implemented almost anywhere on the pitch. We are expecting some solid footy from this bulky lad and hopefully with a full slate of games he can make an impact. Zach will be joining Frank and Brad in Israel in July. Zach has asked me to add that he is 5'10" and a half, 163 pounds. He wears Nike Laser 2s, size 11 and Nike mercurial blade shin pads. He likes to sip red wine on quiet nights with a good book.

It's a new look FC squad this season and one of the newest recruits Brian Santos, is one of the future building blocks we are expecting big things from. Brian is a local home grown addition who has worn the arm band in the past. He is a true leader and a very unselfish footballer. Santos has brilliant footwork and commands the midfield with General-like composure and direction. Santos is a clever player who never backs down from any challenges. I have personally seen Bry in many of his Darlington tilts over the past few seasons celebrating after some spectacular finishes. This crafty footballer has capitalized from the spot and set pieces in the past and we hope we see more of the same in the future.

I've been watching this lad play for as long as I can remember. I have sipped coffee, taken notes, pictures and footage of Sutherland for as long as he's been donning the Darlington Blue. Jordan plays a patient game of football yet he can turn on a football and have a crack as quick as the next player. Jord has great speed, reads the game as well as anyone and will take on any opponent. Jordan plays a very attractive game and is another one of Martin's lads that plays a very unselfish game of footy. Durham's "Rookie Of The Year" has hopefully saved a bit for us and if he has.....we are all in for a treat this summer.

Dustin is another of our recent signings. This lad has turned heads right from his very first appearance. He is competitive, courageous and charismatic. His fitness level, endurance and stamina is at the highest of levels and we have not even kicked off yet. Dusty has been around this game for years and his style and swagger is quite unique and it is obvious he has homed his skills in various locations around the globe. Already after a handful of sessions, Dinis had demonstrated uncanny goal sense and finish. He has precise finish but at the same time, prefers setting up others, sending them away. He is another very unselfish player who is already liked by everyone. We are expecting big things from this speedy sensation.

This new addition is certainly not new to this game of footy. Francis has been honing his skills for years and has become the complete midfielder. This left footed lad has brilliant foot work and piston-like power and speed. He pounces on wandering balls and takes a ferocious crack at the net whenever given the opportunity. This crafty middy will punish opponent's mistakes and cough ups. Mr. Francis just finished up his Freshman Year at the University Of South Carolina so hopefully he will be bringing some of that Upstate touch and tenacity to Darlington.

Brent is another new addition, and again, nothing newcomer about this old hand. Brent is another local lad who moved on to bigger and better things south of the border. Locally he captained the Whitby U-18 squad that reached OYSL status and then again as an U-21 lad, he contributed towards their Provincial promotion. Brent began his USA full ride as a Freshman at West Virginia then transferred to South Carolina in his Sophomore year. He's showcased with Washington State in several Tourneys and did a stint playing numerous other US Universities touring with the elite Ontario St. Catharines Concord Provincial Club. We are expecting big things from this solid speedster.

This Darlington lad has been around these parts for so long we even forget his name is Brandon. He goes by "Fezz" and anyone who is anyone that has played football in these parts knows that. This stay home back four defender is as good as they come. I remember labelling him as a "Technician" many years ago and he still reads the game and plays it the same all these years later. He is a smart defender with incredible slide tackle deliveries. I challenge anyone to take this lad on in the fitness department. Fezz left our region for a few years honing his skills north up in Peterborough where he also became a fixture on the Trent University team where he still plays now. We are all welcoming this veteran back with open arms and I know every striker and attacker will feel his wrath this upcoming season.

Mike is one of two new keepers on board this season. Already in Spring Training he commands and orchestrates from back in his box like he has been on board forever. Mikey never stops directing from his cage. Mr. Sukovski was a home-stay in the Whitby area wearing the arm band for 9 straight seasons taking the 1988 lads from 200th to 16th in the Province. Mike just came off his Freshman year stateside at West Virginia and went 7-3-2 back-stopping his club into the Conference Semis. Mike is in his final year as an U-21 OSL star and hopes to backbone his new Darlington FC lads all the way up to the top of the tables for a Championship campaign.

Aldo is a nice addition to this team and I feel we have a very solid back four in front of our backstopper with this big 6'1" newcomer. This strong and solid defender plays a very attractive game of football. He's calm and very cool under pressure and can be off on his bike at the drop of a dime with his speed and quick excursion attributes. For a back four defender he has great footwork and ball control. Aldo played with the cross -town rivals, Oshawa Turul last season and is just coming off his Freshman year at Lakeland Community College in Ohio, USA. This well-rounded footballer was voted to the All Conference Squad at the OCCAC Awards.

Adrian Williams was with us in pre-season 2008 and shifted elsewhere but now, as 2009 comes 'round, he has returned and looks as strong as ever. Adrian just finished up at Francis Marion University in South Carolina as they won the Conference Regular Season & Tourney. Age finished up with the 2nd most minutes on the squad. Age plays in the back line and reads the game well. In a handful of sessions he looks willing and eager to help out at the back in a flat four that looks better than any back line I have worked with over the years. We are all looking forward to Mr. Williams' contributions as our FC takes a serious run at the Championship.

This gifted lad comes to us from the Toronto FC. Elkinson was born in Bermuda and played for their Youth National Teams from U-12 - U-15 which is when he left Bermuda. His colourful career has taken him from Bermuda to Dixie and with the new MLS roster rulings this year the Toronto FC had no choice to release him and for that.....this other FC team from Darlington gains the benefits. This dazzling defender adds a delightful touch to our back line and something tells me this fullback is going to be a force to be reckoned with when he goes into one of his colourful gallops up the flank. Elkinson will also be representing the Canadian Maccabi in Israel this July.

David signed with us last season and came back again this Spring but found pre-season injuries and ailments to be overwhelming and almost called it a season but second thoughts and a bit of time away mended everything and Mr. Dudar remains a Darlington lad. David came back in the dying moments and looks as strong as ever. Hampton's hero finished last season as the team's 3rd top point getter with no cautions and a remarkable 38/39 appearances earning him the best overall attendance record. With a Freshman year under his belt we are all expecting Mr. Dudar to step it up even more this year. Welcome back son.

If one was going to elect or name someone from a list of FC players through the ranks that would be eligible to take over the training responsibilities then I could never come up with amore appropriate candidate for the job than this class act lad. Swanny has led the team in all areas both on and off the pitch. The team Captain, the team's all time goal and point getter, the team's best attendance over the years and the one individual to win the MVP two times is more than worthy for this position. Swanny has recently been abroad in England and seen how the game is played and delivered and has played at the highest of levels and will be returning to Bolton at the end of this season but for the time being, we have this fit and fanatical fitness guru for the 2009 summer campaign. Personally, I have never seen a fitter specimen at this level and our lads are in for a real ride over these next months. I know one thing that will happen.....our lads will be the fittest in the OSL.

Martin jumped on board for the 2009 season and this added addition is going to be a nice fit for the new look FC side. Martin is another of the fine home grown quality from this area as he took the 1990 Darlington lads through the CSL ranks capturing the elite Regional Premier Title last season advancing these local lads into the prestigious and almost untouchable OYSL. The team has dissolved and never fielded a side into the OYSL but instead, Martin made a few more advances and jumps up the ladder of play and has joined forces with the best of the best Provincial OSL. The majority of Martin's lads have come on board this franchise awaiting tryouts and sessions. Martin brings a calm, collective and controlled demeanour to this team and we are all welcoming this class act with open arms.

I really do believe virtually anyone is capable of levelling and certifying up, earning the rights and responsibilities at becoming a head coach. It's a matter of learning the game of football and then taking what one knows and teaching those willing youngsters around him/her. Every coach has different theories and techniques about the way it should be taught but in the end it all works if the lads buy into their program. However, just like every coach is different, that also applies to every student of the game which is where knowing the lads becomes crucial. I truly believe knowing the lads inside and out is well over 70% of the mileage necessary at making them achieve. No one knows their lads better than the coach and in my case I have always stated one thing for years and years and years now.