DARTFORD will reach a landmark in sporting history on Saturday when the town's football club play their first proper home game in 14 years at their own purpose-built stadium.

Interest in the big game reached such a peak that that all match tickets were sold in just three weeks.

Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite said: “It is great to see that there has been such huge interest in this game and fantastic that we sold out in such a short space of time.

“The interest from the town shows how much we’ve missed having our own football club in Dartford. Tickets for the game were like gold dust.

“It is also good to know that 65 per cent of the tickets were sold to people living within two miles of Dartford town centre so there has obviously been massive local interest.

“We hope the support for the club is not just about the first game but that it continues for years.”

Bill Archer, the co-chairman of Dartford Football Club, said the sellout had been both a great financial boost and a massive show of confidence for the team.

He said: “This is just the start for re-paying the confidence that the council and the fans have shown towards the club in the last few years.”

Dartford’s homecoming match, with a 3pm kick-off, is against Horsham YMCA. The Darts have already warmed up for the match by beating Horsham YMCA 6-0 in the FA trophy on October 22.

SEE THIS WEEK'S DARTFORD MESSENGER FOR THE FULL STORY