It has taken years to transform an unassuming patch of land into a football stadium worthy of comparison with anything in the country. Quakers supporter Ray Crisp was among the first through the turnstiles...

NO sooner had a very dapper-looking George Reynolds finished his microphone address to hordes of awe-struck Quakers fans than Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" began blaring out across the arena.

By 5pm, the song title would be seen as fitting for a stadium beyond the wildest dreams of fans brought up on a footballing diet consisting mainly of pneumonia-inducing nights huddled together in Feethams Tin Shed.

"Unbelievable", "magnificent", "incredible" . . . the words were tripping off the tongues of diehard followers, fairweather fans and the simply curious, all of whom had turned up in equal numbers for the occasion.

Three hours before the kick-off, the Reynolds Arena was a hive of activity, fans flocking to Bar 66, radio and television crews sorting their equipment, programmes selling like hot cakes.

Admittedly, getting served in the bar was something of a challenge on a hot afternoon when liquid refreshment was of the essence, but spirits were high for a day, four years in the making.

"It's time to put everything in the past behind us now," says one supporter, wearing a replica shirt.

"Who would have ever thought we would see Darlington playing in a stadium like this?"

His sentiments were being echoed in the winding snake of a queue for the ticket office, when a luxury car pulled up at reception, sparking a rush among reporters and cameramen.

Out stepped Mr Reynolds, the flamboyant chairman who had delivered on his promise of bringing an arena worthy of national repute to Third Division Darlington.

He posed for the cameras, said a few words, and then headed inside for the start of the realisation of a dream.

Inside the South Stand, supporters remained in awe.

"Bloody hell, the club logo is on the soap dispenser. It's a bit posh is this," uttered one fan emerging from the block four toilet. And he wasn't wrong - Feethams this is not.

Mr Reynolds said a few more words on the pitch, too, to the effect that Darlington was a club heading for the Premiership and finished with the pledge to supporters: "I'm on your side."

After a 15-minute delay, a new era began.

And all was jovial for the opening period, a Tannoy announcement urging fans in the West Stand to remain seated being met by thousands rising to their feet with the chant, "Stand up if you love Darlo".

Then it all started to go wrong. Two impressive goals by the red shirts of Kidderminster and suddenly Ms Turner's classic tune no longer seemed applicable.

In truth, the frustration had been growing throughout the first half and queues for a half-time pie and pint stretching as far as the eye could see didn't help.

Into the second half, the novelty had well and truly worn off. Solemnly, people headed for the exits, the exodus accelerated by the announcement that anyone in the car park would not be able to move their vehicles for 15 minutes after the game.

The final whistle, in truth, came as a relief. The handful of Kidderminster followers rejoiced, the 11,000-strong Darlington faithful sloped away quietly.

The next big challenge will be persuading a crowd of that size to return on Bank Holiday Monday. The team's abject performance may not deserve it, but nobody could argue that the Reynolds Arena is simply the best.

Read more about the Quakers here.