THERE was a clamour for souvenirs at Darlington Football Club's final game at the Feethams ground on Saturday.

All 2,000 of the £5 souvenir programmes were sold by 2.05pm - the club normally sells around 400 by kick-off.

A crowd of 5,723 witnessed the last home game of the season, a 2-2 draw against Leyton Orient. Many were not football fans, but had come to witness history being made.

After the game there was a good-natured pitch invasion by hundreds of fans aiming to claim a piece of the quaint but tired-looking ground's 120-year history.

There was a carnival atmosphere, tinged with nostalgia. Families stood together in the goals for photographs. Some dug up pieces of turf and others prised off the numbers from their regular seats. Pieces of concrete from the Tin Shed were taken as souvenirs by many.

Darlington Supporters' Trust helped to organise a parade of players and awards evening.

Before the match more than 50 famous former players paraded on the Feethams pitch including Harry Clarke, at 82 the oldest surviving Darlington player and the only man ever to play professional football and cricket at Feethams.

Other famous names from the past included Ronnie Hartbertson, who scored in the club's most famous win against Chelsea in the 1958 FA Cup and Gary Coatsworth, who scored the goal against Welling that won promotion from the Conference in 1990.

At the final game, views were mixed about the new ground. David Wilkinson, 19, said: "When you think that Darlington have played here for more than 100 years, then it is a bit sad. But we are moving forward. We are progressing."

In four months time the club will be kicking off a new season in an immaculate 27,500 all-seater stadium on Neasham Road. Fans are hoping that the move will encourage the team to raise their game.

Bigger crowds are hoped for. Chairman George Reynolds has promised the lowest gate prices in the country. Those who had a season ticket in the final Feethams season can get another season ticket free for a newcomer to the club.

* Darlington Supporters' Trust has produced a Farewell to Feethams photographic and memorabilia exhibition, which is currently on tour in Stockton-on-Tees.