DARWEN FC manager Steve Wilkes today told of his brush with Sunderland counterpart Mick McCarthy who told him: "You can keep your record."

McCarthy's team beat Preston North End 2-0 at the Deepdale stadium to avoid equalling Darwen's 104-year-old record of 18 consecutive league defeats.

Steve, his players and club officials were desperate to keep their claim-to-fame and dashed from Fleetwood, where they lost in the FA Cup, to Preston for the 5.30pm kick-off.

But because of traffic they, were 40 minutes late, by which time Sunderland were already two-nil up.

After watching from VIP seats given to them courtesy of North End chairman Derek Shaw, they went to the executive area where McCarthy, in his famous deep Yorkshire drawl, made the light-hearted comment.

Steve said: "I was on the phone and he walked past and spotted my Darwen tracksuit. He said: 'Darwen?' I said I was the manager and he said: 'I tell you what, you can keep your record.'

"He also said: 'That record has been the bane of my life'. He was a good bloke. He met the team and signed their shirts and programmes."

Sunderland fans also joined in the joking as they taunted Preston with chants of: "Are you Darwen in disguise?".

McCarthy, unaware that Darwen wanted to keep the dubious claim to fame, told a press conference: "I apologise to Darwen for not taking that record off your hands.

"It wasn't in my team talk and it hasn't been mentioned in training either. A lot of people have tried to hype it up, but to have mentioned it would have put pressure on."

For those connected with Darwen FC, life returns to normal, but with special memories of their week in the spotlight.

Steve said: "After the game I couldn't move for my mobile ringing. It has been fantastic for the club. When was the last time I was on Sky Sports?

"The club has never had as much hype. If we get 30 or 40 extra spectators to come and watch us because of this, it will double our gate.

"It is our claim to fame and we have kept it. Let's hope someone gets close to it next year, then we can get some more attention.

"It has been great for the club, but we have to get back to normal now -- we've got Cheadle away on Wednesday night."