Darlington will hand a debut to new signing Terry Galbraith tomorrow evening after bringing in the player from Dunston UTS.
Negotiations between Quakers and the Tyneside club lasted for a couple of weeks, but they finally concluded yesterday with Galbraith moving for an undisclosed fee.
Although capable of playing in several positions, Galbraith will tomorrow start against Guisborough at left-back, which is where the 22-year-old played when Dunston won the FA Vase final at Wembley last season.
"He can also play left-wing or centre-midfield, but we're bringing him in to play left-back," said Quakers boss Martin Gray.
"It's an area we wanted to strengthen. He's very quick and has got good technique and is very good at set-pieces.
"He scores goals from set-pieces and general play - he scored a penalty at the weekend against Hebburn.
"We've had him watched a few times and his all-round game is very good."
Galbraith's arrival, however, has led to Gray releasing Dan Smith, who had been first-choice left-back for most of the campaign.
He was shown the door yesterday afternoon, as was midfielder Adam Clough. Neither were on a contract.
Galbraith had been with Dunston for four seasons, and Gray added: One of the big attractions to me was that the player wants to play at a higher level. He's very ambitious, as ambitious as Darlington Football Club.
"Dunston are a well run, a well-managed club and have had success in the last couple of years, so to leave them after so long is a big jump for him. It just shows you how ambitious he is.
"The two clubs have been working on it for the past few weeks and our chairman has done a great job of putting the deal together."
Galbraith's first two matches are both at home as on Tuesday Quakers host Hebburn Town.
A week on Saturday they make the short trip to Newton Aycliffe where a Galbraith free-kick teed up the only goal of the game when Dunston visited earlier this month.
* The Darlington Fundraising Group are holding their monthly quiz night at the Dolphin Centre this evening. Starting at 8pm, admission is £1 per person and there are cash prizes.
* After a short enforced closure, Darlington's club shop in the town's indoor market reopens tomorrow. It has relocated to a new site in the market.
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