WITH Darlington's new multi-million pound stadium now watertight, work is proceeding apace on the installation of miles of cabling needed to service the complex.

For weeks, teams of electricians and plumbers have been busy erecting the casings needed to carry the essential services.

The network of metal conveyors is now complete and teams of plumbers and electricians are installing the massive lengths of water pipes and wires.

Darlington Football Club owner George Reynolds, expressed his delight this week at the speed and efficiency with which the latest phase was being carried out.

"This is all the unseen but essential section of the construction of stadium," he said.

"It is hard to imagine all the pipework and electrical wiring needed to service a building of this size. There are literally miles of it.''

As the electrical and plumbing work is completed teams of joiners and plasterers are following on, creating the partition walling, which will separate out the host of hospitality rooms, kitchens, toilet blocks, executive boxes, director's rooms and office suites.

Fixtures and fittings are now largely all ordered. The next major phase of the complex will include the vast car park areas and landscaping work of the lake and picnic areas.

Hall Construction, the North-East contractor which is building the stadium, is confident the project will stay on schedule.

The company's success with Darlington has also sparked nationwide interest in Halls from other football clubs who are considering having new stadia built.

Mr Reynolds says he has no doubt the Neasham Road ground will be the best in the country when it is completed.

"I have just returned from the FA chairman's meeting in Nottingham and, the more I see other stadia, the more I realise what an absolute gem our new stadium is going to be,'' he said