DARLINGTON Football Club chairman George Reynolds will today mark the first official milestone for his multi-million pound football stadium.

Mr Reynolds will open the stadium's visitors' centre at 10am this morning.

And the multi-millionaire boss has extended an invitation to everyone to come along and enjoy the event.

The centre, which stands just a short distance from the Quakers' new stadium, will give supporters a chance to see what lies within the giant steel structure.

A virtual reality tape will be on sale and architect's sketches will provide a preview of the sumptuous restaurants, bars and hospitality areas within the stadium.

Football strips and general club items will also be on sale at the centre, which will be open from 10am to 8pm seven days a week.

Work on the stadium continues ahead of schedule, with the first and second floors now laid in the main building and the foyer's glass faade well under way.

More than 70 per cent of the roof is complete and Hall Construction, which is erecting the complex, is confident the stadium will be watertight within two weeks, allowing internal work to be completed.

The formation of the car parks has begun with a view to laying a tarmac finish before the end of the year.

Some interior design has already begun, including the laying of marble flooring.

The four lift shafts were nearing completion this week and the escalator system is already in place.

As he proudly surveyed the stadium that some people predicted would never happen, Mr Reynolds said: "No expense will be spared on this stadium. I intend to install the best fittings and finishings available. It is not in my nature to cut corners and I would never settle for second best.''

Extending an invitation to everyone to come along to the the visitor centre opening, today, he added: "It will be a pleasure to welcome as many people as possible and to offer them the opportunity to see exactly what the new stadium will look like on the inside."

Read more about the Quakers here.