Michael Cummins was Darlington's first signing ahead of the 2006/07 season. Signed by David Hodgson on a free transfer from Port Vale Cummins has proved he knows where the net is from his midfield position.

During his time with the Valiants he scored thirty-four times from his place in the middle of the field and can draw from a wealth of experience from a higher division. His final goal for Port Vale came on the final day of the 2005/06 campaign when he scored against Darlington's rivals Hartlepool United as he played a part in them dropping out of League one.

Cummins started his career in the North East at Middlesbrough however he failed to break into the first team squad there and moved to Port Vale in 2000 on a free transfer where he went onto play over two-hundred and fifty games. Hodgson had been a keen admirer of Cummins for some time and had previously missed out in a bid to sign the player in 2000 when he moved from Middlesbrough.