Work has continued this week on the pitch. The lines have been painted on and the turf is being infilled with sand and rubber.

Elsewhere, the brickwork for the vice presidents’ lounge in the main stand is nearing completion and the focus of the work is turning to the stadium’s main building that will house the Spitfire Lounge, changing rooms and academy classrooms.

• Have you got your season ticket for 2012/13? You can buy one online and be part of the homecoming.

Photos from Brendan Donnelly.

The site changed dramatically this week after the state-of-the-art synthetic surface was laid.

Writing for the directors’ blog, Oliver Ash, who’s been checking out the Gallagher Stadium Gallery for updates, commented: “Every day means another chance to see the pictures and photos of the Gallagher Stadium taking shape. It’s a very exciting time for everyone connected with the club. The ground has become green this last week and what a difference that makes. It suddenly looks like a football ground, which is a good job really.”

• Have you got your season ticket for 2012/13? You can buy one online and be part of the homecoming.

Photos from Brendan Donnelly.

The ground has become green this last week and what a difference that makes. It suddenly looks like a football ground, which is a good job really. Getting the pitch laid and trouble-shooting every day to solve problems is a real challenge.

Our group of clubs, 3G4US, is going strong and lobbying for greater awareness and change on 3G pitches. We are eagerly awaiting feedback from the Football League after their survey, to which many of you contributed. Even more so because we are targeting automatic promotion this season.

We are working with Jay to reorganise the squad for next season and give ourselves the best chance possible of achieving this aim.

• Read Oliver Ash’s blog in full

There has been an incredible demand for tickets for the match against Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion. Dates for other pre-season matches at the stadium on James Whatman Way will be announced soon.

Chief Executive Bill Williams said: “This is great news for Maidstone United as it shows just how much passion there is for a club in the town. I know some people will be disappointed not to have been able to get tickets for the first game but we will have more exciting fixtures coming up. Saturday 14 July is going to be a fantastic day and I for one cannot wait to see The Stones back home.”

Season tickets for the 2012/13 Ryman League Division One South campaign are still on-sale. You can buy one now online.

Three-quarters of the synthetic surface has been laid and the remainder should be completed tomorrow.

Photos from Brendan Donnelly.

The state-of-the-art synthetic surface is being laid over the next couple of days and club co-owner Terry Casey was on-site to see work begin. By the end of the day, the team had laid up to the centre line.

• Would you like your name on one of the seats in the main stand? You can donate a seat for £50. Sign up and help the Bring The Stones Home Association towards its £50,000 target…Download a form

Photos from Steve Terrell.

After today’s game, the next Maidstone United home match will finally be back in the town.

• Would you like your name on one of the seats in the main stand? You can donate a seat for £50. Sign up and help the Bring The Stones Home Association towards its £50,000 target…Download a form

Photos from Brendan Donnelly.

After good weather for most of the build, the April showers are making for interesting conditions.

Elsewhere on the site, the floor for the main building has been laid in the past couple of days. Work will now focus on the walls of what will house the newly-named Spitfire Lounge.

There’s just 80 days to go, so expect lots of changes in the next few weeks.

• Would you like your name on one of the seats in the main stand? You can donate a seat for £50. Sign up and help the Bring The Stones Home Association towards its £50,000 target…Download a form

Photos from Ian Tucker.

The sponsorship deal will see the clubhouse at The Gallagher Stadium named The Spitfire Lounge, after one of the family-owned brewery’s most famous brands. It will open on Saturday 14 July – the day when The Stones entertain Championship club Brighton and Hove Albion.

To celebrate Maidstone United’s return to Kent’s county town, the Faversham-based brewer will launch an ale, named after the club.

Club chief executive Bill Williams said: “Shepherd Neame has supported Maidstone United for many years, so it is great that the brewer will be part of our homecoming. As well as kitting out the bar and stocking it with some of the company’s famous brands, it is a real coup to get an ale named after the club. This will help promote The Stones and celebrate the long-awaited return.

Head of Freetrade at Shepherd Neame Giles Hilton said: “These are exciting times for Maidstone United and we are delighted to be part of their homecoming. Shepherd Neame is committed to supporting sport, investing more than £500,000 annually across the south east. The Stones’ first game, against Brighton, promises to be a fantastic day for the county town.”

Shepherd Neame is an independent, family brewer which operates more than 350 pubs, inns and hotels across the south east. The company brews a portfolio of distinctive Kentish ales, including Spitfire, Bishops Finger and Master Brew in addition to international lagers Asahi, Sam Adams Boston Lager and Oranjeboom, which are brewed under licence.

• Shepherd Neame online

The doors opened for the first time at 9am this morning (23 April). There are exhibitions, events and activities at the centre throughout the day, including:

• Exhibition of Kent’s archive treasures
• Kent History Timeline and Kent on Film displays
• University of the Creative Arts student project on the move to the new centre – on screen
• Dreamland, Margate – on screen
• History Tree art work
• Short ‘pop-up’ readings from Shakespeare by staff in Elizabethan costume
• Face painting and children’s activities with West Kent Housing Association
• Book-giving to celebrate World Book Night
• Assistance with the self service machines
• James Bond Quiz
• Volunteer meeters and greeters to show people round
• The Cultural Baton will be parked on James Whatman Way
• At 7pm, local crime writer Elizabeth Haynes will give a talk about her work and sign copies of her books.

What the new centre offers

Kent has a wealth of documents, photographs, maps and records about the county’s history but to make sure they survive for future generations; they need to be kept in carefully controlled conditions. The new centre has been purpose built to protect and display many more archives than has ever been available to the public.

There is around 14 kilometres of historic material relating to Kent, dating back to 699 AD and it is the place to come for anyone interested in local history. There is also a community history area, where visitors are able to get close to history and a large space for displays and events, as well as a research room.

There is a well-stocked library with 40,000 books and the children’s library that hosts regular storytime and baby bounce and rhyme sessions. The centre also hosts author events, reading groups and community activities with support available to those needing help to use computers.

Visitors to the centre can enjoy improved library and IT services, Wifi access and there are well equipped meeting rooms.

• Kent History and Library Centre online