After years of neglect and under-achievement the roots of a revolution are in place.

Albion are at long last developing a youth policy to be proud of.

They have gone further than ever before in the FA Youth Cup.

Last season the under 17's won the south-east division, the season before the under 19's were champions of the southern premier.

More importantly director of youth Martin Hinshelwood believes the Seagulls now have an abundance of Sussex-born youngsters with the potential to progress not just to Albion's first team but the Premiership.

Fans like nothing more than seeing a local lad come good. Sadly such examples at Albion have been few and far between.

Ian Chapman, Kerry Mayo, Ross Johnson, Stuart Tuck and Adam Virgo have been exceptions to the rule.

Circumstances dictated that other youth team products, like John Robinson and Paul McCarthy, were sold on.

But while clubs such as Crewe and Peterborough have relied on home-grown talent to fill first team places and ease financial hardship when they are transferred, Albion have been lagging behind.

Scott Ramsay, who has just joined Dover, is the latest addition to an alarming failure rate.

Just consider the list of names from the Nineties alone. John Westcott, Neil Winter, Phil Andrews, Paul Armstrong, Danny Davis, Mark Ormerod, Darragh Ryan, Terry Streeter, Duncan McArthur, Ross McNally.

There are many more: Eric Saul, Phil Andrews, Mark and Simon Fox, Kevin McGarrigle, James Virgo, Derek Coughlan, Stuart Myall, Simon Funnell, Danny Simmonds, Bradley Wosahlo, Derek McGrath, Brian McKenna and Wayne Stemp.

There are all sorts of reasons why youth team players do not go on to become first team regulars. Some do not develop as anticipated, others fall victim to influences outside football.

In Albion's case eight different managers in as many years, each with different opinions about the club's players of the future, has been another drawback in establishing a stable system.

Hinshelwood and youth team coach Dean Wilkins were appointed three and a half years ago by Brian Horton. Now they are working entirely with boys they have selected, not inherited.

It is no accident that every member of the squad which beat Leicester in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup at Withdean last month was born or raised in the county.

Hinshelwood said: "My policy is to have boys from Sussex playing for Brighton and since I have been here we haven't signed one from outside the area.

"We want as many Sussex people as we can playing for Brighton, so that they can live at home and be in their own environment. At the moment we have got just one in digs.

"When I was here before with Barry Lloyd and Ted Streeter I used to go over to Ireland. Paul McCarthy is still playing and a couple went back who should have done better, but they came across to a different environment and were easily led at times.

"That is probably the reason why we have gone the other way and are now sticking local boys in and working with them."

Albion are no longer just paying lip service to the needs of the youth set-up. It costs more than £200,000 per annum to run the teams and Centres of Excellence.

The money comes from the club, a generous sponsorship deal with Brighton-based Weatherstone Properties, plus grants from Sport England and the Premier League.

Qualified coaches at the Centres of Excellence look after approximately 150 players, aged eight to 16, at Worthing Leisure Centre on Monday evenings and Park College, Eastbourne, on Tuesdays.

Under 13's upwards attend a combined session at the University of Sussex, Falmer, on Thursdays.

Hinshelwood said: "We have got two people working on the scheme and to be honest we could do with another. It's become very big and we get a budget, which helps.

"In the past when somebody did the youth team job they looked after the reserves as well or had to go to meetings.

"Now if there's a meeting I am off and away, which drives me mad sometimes, but Dean carries on working with the boys. That is a big change to have two of us here."

The change in outlook is also changing the way local youngsters look at Albion. Brighton-born forward Mark Windsor, 17 this month, scored one of the goals against Leicester.

He said: "Not many boys wanted to join the club as it was a laughing stock, but it's improved greatly. I've got a much better chance of making it here than anywhere else."

Chris Breach, a 15-year-old defender from Brighton who also played against Leicester, said: "I'm so happy at Albion. I want to go through a scholarship and sign pro forms here, keep up the hard work and hopefully play for the first team. I've only got one club in my head."

Albion currently have 16 boys on a three-year scholarship from the age of 16, which combines football with education.

A third of the week is spent studying for A levels, GCSE's, GNVQ's or other job-specific qualifications at BHASVIC or the University of Sussex. If they don't make it as pros then at least they have something to fall back on.

Hinshelwood is confident Albion's conversion rate is about to take off. "In Sussex now there is so much quality football," he said.

"Going back years ago when we were coming down to play Sussex schools from Surrey it was a case of how many you were going to win by.

"That has all changed now. You only have to go to watch county and school games and see how many scouts are there from Premier League and Academy clubs. They know there is some quality down here.

"You want all of the scholarship boys to be footballers and end up in our first team, but I think we have got at least half a dozen that will.

"Then I look down the other age groups and we have got some quality kids. I know there are clubs looking at one or two, but we have done things right now.

"If a boy wants to go to another club I am not going to stop him, but if any club comes in for any of ours we are not just going to roll over and lose them for nothing. I don't like talking about Gareth Barry and Michael Standing too often, that's gone. We have got lots of kids now who I really do think will go on and play in the Premiership."

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