THOUSANDS of supporters turned out yesterday to back Darlington Football Club as the fight to save the Quakers began in earnest.

More than 6,200 people - one of the biggest crowds of the season at the Reynolds Arena - attended the match against Huddersfield Town, three days after the club went into administration.

The crowd saw Darlington lose 1-0 to remain in the Third Division relegation zone, but all the talk was of matters off the pitch as supporters took the first steps towards launching a fighting fund.

Bucket collections were held around the stadium as part of the Darlington Supporters' Trust and supporters' club efforts to ensure the club's short-term survival.

Peter Ashmore, of the trust, said: "We had a very good response from the Darlington fans and from Huddersfield.

"They were very sympathetic because they've been through administration as well. We'll get it all counted up and the total will be announced as soon as possible."

Chairman George Reynolds has placed the Quakers in administration to prevent the club being wound up by the Inland Revenue.

Supporters' trust members are now turning their attention to a crucial meeting with the town's senior business figures on Monday. Mr Ashmore said: "We're hoping they get behind the trust in terms of supporting the club. We'll be looking for money or guarantees of some sort."

Yesterday's kick-off was delayed for 20 minutes because of the huge volume of traffic around the ground. Cars were left on the roundabout on the A66 and in Roundhill Road, near Hurworth, as fans arriving at the last minute rushed to get into the stadium.

Jan Mazurk, of the Neasham Road residents' action group, criticised the chaotic scene, saying: "They were going all the way up to the railway cottages, impeding access for the fire brigade.

"There were also cars parked all the way up to the Tawny Owl pub and even on the roundabout."