Stadium benefits sport and nature

The club have been playing matches all over north-west Kent

A football stadium in Kent described as "one of the most ecologically sensitive buildings for sport ever built" is ready to host its first match.

The Princes Park stadium is welcoming Dartford FC back to the town after 14 years spent as footballing nomads.

Dartford council said the ground and buildings had a green roof, dedicated water supplies and solar heating.

The homecoming game is on Saturday against Horsham YMCA in a Ryman League Division One South fixture.

The match is now completely sold out.

Borough council leader Jeremy Kite said: "It's wonderful that 4,000 local people have said they want to come."

Team manager Tony Burman added: "Most of the tickets sold have been within a two-mile radius of the stadium, so they're Dartford people that's for sure."

'New kind of stadium'

Mr Burman, a former Dartford player himself, said: "I can't tell you how proud I am to be part of the opening day ceremony.

"To be back in the town is a great achievement."

Dartford FC left their old Watling Street home in 1992, and the council announced plans for the new stadium more than two years ago.

Mr Kite said: "One of the things we had an option to do at the beginning of this was to create a new kind of football stadium.

"We've got a green roof right the way around, we have our own reservoir and water system so we're not draining on the local community's water supplies, and we've got a solar panel system in here which heats our water."