Despite the gloom, a carnival atmosphere descended on yesterday's vital fundraiser at the Reynolds Arena. Julia Breen reports.

SQUINTING into the sun, a surprisingly slimline Paul Gascoigne mumbled into a microphone.

A hush fell over the stadium as 14,000 fans strained to hear what the former England, Newcastle, Tottenham and Lazio star had to say.

Most couldn't quite make it out, but it didn't matter, it was enough that he was there.

But, watching 14,200 people take to their seats in the 27,000-seater Reynolds Arena in a last, desperate bid to save their club, it was almost more beautiful than being successful.

There's been a "Blitz spirit" in Darlington since the football club crisis began just before Christmas.

Before kick-off, a queue for tickets snaked around the arena as thousands of fans pulled together in a show of support for the club.

Even Hartlepool fans, although none unwise enough to wear their team's strip, were helping out the old enemy.

In the arena's Bar 66, the Supporters' Trust stand was doing a roaring trade, to the amazement of those manning it.

"It's fantastic, unbelievable," said board member Tony Taylor, as yet another recruit - and one kitted out in Arsenal colours at that - grabbed a pen and membership form.

"The numbers we've got here, plus those we got from the Cornmill Centre on Saturday, will take us past the 1,000 mark, which is about 25 per cent of the average gate."

Suddenly, one young fan leapt on to the raised platform that trust officials have made their base and lifted his Darlington shirt up to reveal a Liverpool top.

"I've got this signed by Kenny Dalglish and Alan Kennedy," he shouted proudly. "If the trust wants it, the trust can have it."

There were similar offerings of support throughout the afternoon.

It was a sign of the trust's growing popularity that huge numbers of fans enjoying their pre-match pint sported its merchandise.

The organisation had an enormous presence, from the hundreds of people wearing trust tops, to raffle ticket sellers and volunteers rattling buckets.

And its policy of increasing fans' involvement in the Quakers was going down a storm.

People who had never set foot in the arena savoured the family atmosphere the game should be all about.

Children and adults alike took part in a Mexican wave, usually reserved for sunny days at Wimbledon, which rotated around the stadium four times, with cheers from the fans.

The star of the football was Gazza, who fell to the ground during a tackle and attracted a concerned crowd of fellow team-mates around him as the team doctor ran on with his medicine bag.

Just as the worried medic reached him, Gazza sprung to his feet, offered his hand to the bemused doctor, and bounded off, grinning, as fans cheered.

"Gazza's a nutter," said a small child in a Liverpool shirt. "I like him, why doesn't he buy the club?"

Now it's time to focus on attracting another big crowd

AFTER the phenomenal success of yesterday's all-star match, focus now turns to Saturday's league match at the Reynolds Arena.

A bumper crowd is still needed at the home match against Rochdale to confirm Darlington Football Club's short-term survival.

The Northern Echo has teamed up with the club's administrators to promote an offer where under-16s can attend the game for free if they are accompanied by an adult.

In addition, The Northern Echo is still offering the chance for companies, organisations and individuals to sponsor each of the scheduled 90 minutes of the game.

For sponsorship of a particular minute, the price is £100 for companies and organisations. There is a separate £50 per-minute sponsorship opportunity for individuals or groups of individuals.

Already 53 companies and organisations have agreed to sponsor a minute. And eight individuals or groups of individuals have signed up.

So far, £5,700 has been pledged in sponsorship money.

Darlington Building Society, the club's primary sponsor, has set up an interest earning trust fund account to channel money raised through this appeal to the administrators to be used to address the club's immediate day-to-day solvency.

In addition, the building society has signed up to sponsor five of the 90 minutes and is offering a prize of two home game tickets to any sponsor in whose 'minute' a goal is scored on Saturday.

Companies, organisations and individuals can sponsor the minute or minutes of their choice. Each minute can be sponsored more than once.

Each day in the run-up to Saturday's match we will publish the names of every sponsor.

Read more about the Quakers here.