JUBILANT Quakers fans will pack Darlington town centre for a civic reception to honour their heroes.

Click here to view a gallery of pictures from the day

Civic leaders have praised Darlington’s winning FA Trophy team and laid on a reception to celebrate their achievement.

Four days after Darlington lifted the silverware after a last-gasp victory against Mansfield Town at Wembley, a reception to honour the triumph will be held at the town hall.

The winning team will arrive by bus at the town hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday. They will show off the trophy from a balcony to their loyal supporters below.

The council hope as many of the 10,000 Darlingtonians who made the trip south to London as possible attend.

Mayor Bryan Thistlethwaite said: “This was a great victory for the team and the whole of Darlington is very proud of their efforts.

“I know many fans travelled down to Wembley to watch the match and I am sure this support helped in their victory.”

Messages of congratulations have poured in from other dignitaries who were among the 24,668 attendance.

Jenny Chapman, who was elected the town’s MP a year ago, said: “It was a brilliant sight seeing all those Darlington fans celebrating. It was a very emotional experience.

“The club can now put many of its troubles behind it and make a fresh start. The win will restore pride in the club and the town should be proud of them and celebrate the win for all it is worth.”

North-East MEP Stephen Hughes and Darlington councillor Cyndi Hughes were there with their family.

Mr Hughes said: “This was a real morale booster for the entire town in the face of the worries around cutbacks and recession.

“It was a magnificent show of support and it needs to continue as a break with the past.

“The team has delivered for the town and now it’s time the town got behind the team – not just as a one-off but come hail, rain or shine.

“If only half of those there bought season tickets it would go a long way to easing the club’s financial woes.”

His wife said: “After yesterday’s event, seeing approximately ten per cent of Darlington’s population at the stadium united in hope and then complete joy, the important role the club plays in developing community cohesion and pride was made incredibly clear to me.”

As a result, she said she believed the club could play a major role in Darlington Partnership and would raise the matter with both bodies.

Alasdair MacConachie, chairman of the Darlington Partnership, said: “It was an amazing day.

“To score in the last minute of extra-time was stunning.

“It is a great boost for the team and for the town as a whole.”

􀁧 Feethams and Church Row will be closed to traffic at 6pm to 7.30pm for the parade.