AN expensive 'goal cam' camera stolen from a football match on Bank Holiday Monday has now been returned - but not before fans raised hundreds of pounds to buy a replacement.

One of two GoPro cameras used by Darlington FC to record goals at home matches, for use in online highlights clips, was stolen during the second half of Quakers' win over Blyth Spartans.

The camera, worth an estimated £280, was stolen from the open end of the Heritage Park ground, in Bishop Auckland, where fans of both sides were mingling without segregation.

On Wednesday morning, Quakers announced the camera had been returned. 

A statement on the club website read: "Darlington FC is pleased to announce that the goal cam which was taken from Heritage Park has been returned and is currently in the possession of Blyth Spartans.

"The camera will be returned to the club as soon as possible.

"The football club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Blyth Spartans for their efforts in recovering the equipment and the professional manner in which this incident has been dealt with.

"The football club now consider the mater to be dealt with."

Darlington fans launched a crowd funding appeal to raise £300 for a replacement camera – a fundraising target that was surpassed in a matter of hours.

The club now says fans will be consulted, via social media, over how those funds - which at 11am stood at £335 - should be utilised.

Supporters initially contributed money online to buy one of the cameras last season, with half of the money raised through public donations.

Quakers' media team member Kevin Luff paid the other half out of his own pocket.

Speaking before the camera was returned, Darlington director Dave Mills said: "This came as a real shock, you don't expect that kind of thing to happen at any level of football, let alone a family club like ours.

"One of the fans started a crowd-funding campaign to buy a replacement and the goodwill of the fans who have donated is much appreciated.

"We are working with Blyth Spartans, who have been very proactive and put a message out on their website asking for any information from their supporters."

Asked which club's supporters was most likely responsible for the theft, Mr Mills replied: "I would not want to point the finger as the camera was taken from the open end of the ground at Heritage Park.

"It was there at half-time and it was not there at full-time.

"We would like the camera to be returned undamaged and I would appeal for those responsible to return it.