It is vital the two professional clubs in Brighton and Hove, the Albion and Sussex CCC, receive the backing they require to help sport at the highest level to be played locally.

Local football followers will recall Withdean FC played at the stadium from 1972 until the Albion took up residence. They totally support the Albion in their plans for the new stadium.

Withdean 2000 FC, however, have plans of their own and, in association with the Dorothy Stringer High School and the Football Foundation, aim to provide a community football club for local players, both girls and boys, from the age of seven through to senior level. Negotiations are also underway to provide for special needs groups.

The club is preparing a bid to the FA to become a Charter Standard Club, has arranged courses with the Sussex County FA to train all adults associated with the club as registered coaches and is working alongside Dorothy Stringer School to provide a permanent home base on the school campus for all its 14 junior teams which will be playing from September.

Vital to this is Withdean 2000's return to their spiritual home at Withdean Stadium. New, brick-built changing rooms for men and women and disabled groups would be provided and a child-centred clubhouse developed at the heart of the community club. A home, too, would be provided for the Brighton and Hove Schools FA, where Brighton boys' matches and schools cup finals would be played. The local schools association has no home ground and plays many of its home matches outside the city.

The Albion's move to Falmer would therefore benefit not only the professional club but also the hundreds of volunteer coaches and players whose ambitions are at present being stifled by the Seagulls' frustration concerning the new ground.

Andy Marchant, Director of Sport, Dorothy Stringer Sports College,

-Peter McConnell, Managing Director, Withdean 2000 Limited