THE manager of a non-league club has thanked their Premier League neighbours for allowing them to use their "unbelievable" training facilities ahead of a historic final.
Littlehampton Town, who play in the ninth tier of English football, became the first ever Sussex side to reach the FA Vase final after they dispatched Loughborough Students 4-0 last month.
Brighton and Hove Albion allowed the club to train at their 20 million pound facility in Marsh Barn Lane, Lancing yesterday.
They have also allowed the club to train free of charge next Thursday, just three days before their final at Wembley against Newport Pagnell Town on Sunday, May 22.
Joint-manager Mitchell Hand said it was great to have the support of people in Sussex and thanked Brighton for supporting them.
He said: “One of our club secretaries went to them and asked if it would be possible. They came back to us and gave us two different dates for training. So they’re allowing us to train next Thursday as well which is brilliant from them all free of charge.
“The pitch was absolutely unbelievable, which is really good for the boys as well to be able to train on a pitch that’s a similar standard to Wembley.
“It’s obviously a huge difference for us but it was really good for the boys to step into that professional environment. The session was brilliant too.
“A massive thank you to everyone at the club for allowing us to do that. It’s massive for us in terms of preparation for the final.
"It’s really nice how the local Sussex community has rallied around us and are trying to help us along the way. So just a big thank you to Brighton.”
Littlehampton Town won the Southern Combination Football League Premier on April 23 and will be competing in the Isthmian League South next season.
The Marigolds also have another cup final in Horsham against Newhaven in the Peter Bentley League Cup final this Sunday, May 15.
Littlehampton Town’s FA Vase final will be shown on BT Sport at 12.15pm on Sunday, May 22.
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