Darlington Football Club, an English association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, was founded in 1883. For their first six years, there was no league football, so matches were arranged on an occasional basis, supplemented by cup competitions organised at both local and national level. In 1889, Darlington joined the newly formed Northern League, and moved into the North-Eastern League in 1908. They were founder members of the Football League Third Division North in 1921, and spent two seasons in the Second Division in the mid-1920s. Thereafter, they remained in the lower divisions of the Football League until 1989, when they were relegated for one season to the Football Conference. After another 20 years in the Football League, they were again relegated to the Conference. Two years later, financial issues stemming from administration forced a demotion of four divisions and a change of name: Darlington 1883 was chosen. Five years later, after three promotions, they reverted to their original name. Darlington's record against each club faced in first-team league competition is summarised below. The opening match of the inaugural Northern League season pitted them against Newcastle East End, their first Football League match was against Halifax Town, and they met their 255th and most recent different league opponent, Peterborough Sports, for the first time in the 2022–23 National League North season. The team that Darlington have played most in league competition is Hartlepool United, whom they first met in 1908 in the North-Eastern League. The 152 encounters between the teams have produced 59 wins and 62 defeats, which are club records. Rochdale have drawn 38 league meetings with Darlington, which is more than any other opponent. All statistics are correct up to and including the match played against Hereford on 26 November 2022. Key The table includes results of matches played by Darlington (under that name and as Darlington 1883) in the Northern League, the North-Eastern League, the Football League, the National League and predecessors, and the Northern Premier League. Matches from the abandoned 1939–40 Football League season are excluded, as are promotion play-offs and matches in the various wartime competitions. The name used for each opponent is the name they had when Darlington most recently played a league match against them. Results against each opponent include results against that club under any former name. For example, results against Leyton Orient include matches played against Orient (1966–1987) and Clapton