Craig Liddle is one of only a handful of players to have made over 300 appearances for the club. Liddle joined that special collection of players on Saturday the 1st of May 2004. When Liddle emerged from the tunnel in the build up to the game against Swansea City (that afternoon's opponents) he joined a Quakers hall of fame which included Ron Greener, Hugh Dickson, Ken Furphy, Brian Henderson, David McLean, Clive Nattress, John Peverell, Alan Sproates and Kevin Smith.

All of them completed over 300 games for the club. To celebrate the occasion, fans raised a glass with a pint of Liddle's Best - a specially-produced beer named after one of their favourite players. Since his arrival at the club six years prior to this date in May 2004 Lidd's had become a firm favourite with supporters at the club thanks to his committed performances and excellent performances at the back.

Defender Liddle started his career at Aston Villa as a trainee and eventually signed pro forms with them in 1990. Things did not work out for Craig and was released after a signal season. He ended up signing for Blyth Spartans in August 1991. He was handed a way back into the professional game by Middlesbrough and after only a few appearances for the Boro he joined Darlington on loan in February 1998.

His appearance in the squad did not help Quakers and the team crashed to 4-0 defeat at Mansfield Town. Whilst Liddle may have wonder what he let himself in for exactly six years later Liddle was still at the club. He was convinced by then manager David Hodgson to sign permanently for the club ahead of the 1998/99 season and his spell at Darlington was only ended in 2005 thanks to injury.

There were times however when Liddle was close to departing the club. Singled out by a former chairman due to his popularity with supporters Liddle may well have packed his bags and moved on - there were certainly no shortage of suitors - however he stayed and as club captain guided the team from Feethams to their new home on Neasham Road.

Injuries were part and parcel of Liddle's time at Darlington however his determined and committed nature saw the defender continue to play on through the pain barrier when others would have sat back and rested. Liddle played a big part in struggling Darlington side's which scrapped around the wrong end of division three for a number of years early into the new century and made one of the best tackles seen at Wembley when Quakers made the play-off finals in 2000 - a match he played a part in setting up with a goal against rivals Hartlepool in the semi-finals.

Craig hung up his boots in late May of 2005 having suffered several injuries throughout the 2004/05 season. The defender still had a year left on his contract but decided it was time to call it a day following a stomach muscle strain, a shoulder injury and a micro fracture to his right knee cap - an injury similar to the one he played on with through the whole of the previous season.

Following his decision to bow out of the game the club held a testimonial match with Liddle's former club Middlesbrough in July 2005. However this was to end in disappointment as a hoax bomb threat was phoned into the club at half time ensuring it was abandoned at 0-0.