Canadian defender Jason De Vos joined Darlington in 1996 and went on hold two club records for the highest transfer fee received from a sale and the most appearances at international level. Big and strong in the air the well liked defender went on to prove himself at the highest level of the Scottish game and the highest level of the English Football League.

Whilst De Vos was only with Quakers for around two years he played a significant role at the time off the pitch. In 1998 the club's finances were in a perilous state with the future of the club, not for the first time in its history, in real doubt. Jason's move to Scottish side Dundee United for £400,000 was not only a club record it crucially helped the club's cash flow. Whilst the amount was to prove a drop in the ocean when the club's full debts were ultimately added up it still played a crucial part.

De Vos started his footballing career in Canada and even before his move to Darlington in 1996 was no stranger to off the field problems. His hometown club the London Lasers where De Vos started his professional career in 1990 folded along with his second club the Kitchener Kicks in 1992. De Vos spent the next four seasons with the Montreal Impact of the then American Professional Soccer League before moving to the North East of England to play for Darlington.

De Vos made his debut for Quakers in their 3-1 win against Northampton Town at Feethams but finished the 1996/97 campaign with a total of just nine appearances. The following season was far more successful for De Vos but his Quakers' career was cut short early into the 1998/99 campaign. With the club facing money problems De Vos moved North of the border to Dundee in October 1998 for £400,000. Before his move however he made his debut at international level for Canada - a 1-0 home defeat to Iran on the 19th August 1997. De Vos went on to play for Canada two more times during his spell with Quakers with the defender eventually notching a total of forty-three appearances.

De Vos went on to play over 100 appearances for Dundee but he moved to Wigan in 2001 for £500,000. He was soon installed as skipper at the JJB Stadium, playing a prominent part in the Latics' Second Division Championship campaign in 2002/03. De Vos played a significant part in Wigan establishing themselves as a Championship club before moving to Ipswich Town in May 2004 under the Bosman ruling. De Vos' first season with the Tractor Boys saw him miss out on promotion to the Premiership as Ipswich fell in the Play-off Semi finals to West Ham United.