WHILE fans at many of the country's top football clubs are knocking back their pre-game pint in what amounts to a concrete corridor, Darlington FC's supporters will be drinking in style.

An artist's impression of the bar area of the Quakers' £20m stadium, being built on the outskirts of the town, gives an insight into the surroundings fans can relax in at half-time and before kick-off.

Construction of the 25,000-seater stadium, at Neasham Road, is progressing weeks ahead of schedule, with Hall Construction Services at the helm.

The majority of the superstructure is expected to be complete by September.

Then, work on the plush interior of club chairman George Reynolds' dream stadium can begin.

This week, work has got under way on the large glass facade which will form the main entrance of the stadium, leading to the foyer - artist's impressions of which were unveiled in The Northern Echo last week.

The 2,500 cubic metres of concrete floor will be in place by Monday, as will be the first and second floors, which will form the hospitality areas of restaurants, bars and executive boxes.

The four seven tonne escalators are also in place but will remain covered to protect them until work around them is completed.

Outside the structure, which has become an impressive addition to the town's skyline, a pond feature is now complete, providing site drainage, and is ten per cent full of water.

* The Northern Echo's Stadium Watch column keeping keeping fans and residents up to date on the latest developments of the stadium's construction.

Read more about the Quakers here.