THE new family stand at Darlington FC stadium will open for the first time today, and young fans will get in free.

At today's League Two match against Kidderminster Harriers, fans will get inside the North Stand of the Williamson Motors Stadium for the first time -marking the completion of the Quaker's new home.

The club has spent more than £500,000 to complete the stand for Darlington's youngest fans.

With a capacity of 5,378, officials hope it will be full on its opening day. As well as watching the match, families will be able to enjoy a host of entertainment, including watching a world record being broken.

Stewart Davies, the chairman of Darlington FC, said: "There is something special about parents bringing their children to football matches and passing on traditions from their family and from the club they support, so the North Stand will be for all of those Darlington supporters who want to do exactly that."

As well as getting in free, children of school age could see the stand named after their school for the season.

The school that brings the most fans in relation to the number of children on its register will see the stand bear its name and will also get to play one of its school matches there.

Banners produced by schools will be also be paraded around the pitch, and the most popular with the crowd will win a trip to the Magic Kingdom of Camelot theme park.

There will also be a schools' penalty shoot-out competition as part of the pre-match entertainment, which will be compered by TFM Radio's Breakfast Show host, Tom Davies.

Chart band Freefaller will perform and the club is also hoping to make it into the Guinness Book of Records for setting a world record by having 122 mascots - one for every year of the club's existence -in full Quakers kit at the same time.

The Saturday bus service will leave at 11.15am, running from Tubwell Row, in the town centre, to the stadium and making the return journey after the match.

The World Cup Qualifier between England and Northern Ireland will be shown in the stadium bars after the match.

Gates will open at 11am, and activities will start at 11.30am, with a 1pm kick-off.