DARLINGTON make a long-awaited return to the town today, playing the first of two games in four days at their former home The Northern Echo Arena.

They last played at the venue in April 2012, beating Kettering Town 3-1 in their final match in the Conference, before leaving due to financial reasons.

It is now home to Mowden Rugby Club who raised the funds to purchase it after selling their Yiewsley Drive for housing.

Quakers' move to Blackwell Meadows, home of Darlington Rugby Club, is planned to take place at some point during the course of the forthcoming season, so the Arena return represents a brief homecoming.

Games against under-21 sides from Newcastle United today (3pm) and Sunderland on Tuesday are an opportunity to raise revenue and, says manager Martin Gray, a chance for Quakers to test themselves against full-time pros.

After beginning their pre-season programme with three comfortable wins, against Buxton, Harrogate RA and Billingham Synthonia, Gray’s side will face more challenging opposition over the coming week, with the Arena fixtures followed by a trip to Gateshead on Friday.

On Tuesday Darlington defeated Synthonia 5-0, and Gray said: “Saturday will be a stiffer test, of course it will. A lot of Newcastle’s players will have been in their academy system for four or five years.

“They will be good on the ball and will have a lot of possession if we allow them, just like any team would, so we’ve got to be ready for the game.

“You want these challenges, you don’t want to go through an easy pre-season and the suddenly the season starts and you’re not ready for it.

At Synthonia Gray and assistant Brian Atkinson stood on opposition touchlines while coaching their players through the run-out.

The manager explained: “It’s important to get into good habits, simple things like the timing of a cross, getting a shot in or clearing the ball at the right time. You can run up and down all day long, but you’ve got to get into good habits.

“Brian was on one side of the pitch, I was on the other, and we worked the players as hard as we could, coaching the players and encouraging the good habits so that they fall into place on a match day.

“It was a little bit false because we were playing against opposition which did not really challenge us, but at the same time you’ve got to do the right things and that’s what Phil Turnbull always does.

“He was a class above any player on the pitch. His mentality is right, he’s got pride in his performance.”

Darlington have previously hosted the Black Cats in friendly fixtures, facing their first-team last summer and losing narrowly at Heritage Park.

“We’ve got a great relationship with Sunderland and it’s great that they and Newcastle are coming to play us,” added Gray.

“It’s exactly what we need, we want to challenges ourselves. We’ll be playing against full-time professionals who will be fitter than us.

“We’re looking forward to the week, we’ve got Gateshead to play too, so we’ve got a busy six or seven days coming up and it will be a real test for us.”

* Tickets can be purchased today at The Northern Echo Arena.