Maidstone United take on Brighton at the Gallagher Stadium on what was a momentous day for the Stones Picture Ady Kerry

By Andrew Gidley

Maidstone United celebrated their long awaited return to the County Town after an absence of 24 years as a sell-out crowd of around 2300 watched them lose 5-0 to a full-strength Brighton & Hove Albion side in the first game at the new £2.6m Gallagher Stadium on Saturday.

The Seagulls manager Gus Poyet kicked off the game to officially open the ground, and acclaimed the new 3G pitch as "magnificent" after watching Ashley Barnes’ nine-minute second-half hat-trick help clinch victory.

Scottish international Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Hoskins scored Brighton's other goals.

Local MPs Helen Grant and Tracey Crouch, and Paul Dolan and Philip Smith from the Kent FA were among many special guests, which also included former players Cliff 'Chalky' White, Brian Humphrey, Jimmy Fletcher, Arthur Wallis, Bob Jeffrey, Dave Wiltshire, Steve Butler, Jason Lillis and Aaron Lacy.

Maidstone player-manager Jay Saunders included new signings Paul Booth, Ian Draycott, Nicky Humphrey and goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim in his squad, and gave himself and new assistant Steve Ward a run-out late in the game.

Co-owner Terry Casey said: "I was absolutely delighted with the way it went, and it means a lot to so many people who have waited a long time for this to happen."