The Hastings school that produced Gareth Barry is linking up with Albion.

William Parker Sports College are planning a performance centre for the Seagulls at Horntye Park, an all-weather facility, and kicking off next month.

Parker have also produced current Albion players Paul Watson, Chris McPhee and Dean Hammond.

The initiative, involving the Sussex County FA, is designed to provide an official nursery to include youngsters from Hillcrest, Grove, Filsham Valley and Helenswood.

Organisers want to start with under-12s and under-13s and develop a girls squad.

Ian Gillespie, director of sport and community at William Parker, said: "I believe Albion are happy to put their name to it. We intend to call it the Brighton and Hove Albion Performance Centre. Hopefully we can bring through a few more Gareth Barrys. There is enough talent in the area.

"We've identified a need among under-13s because a lot of kids from Hastings, Rye and Bexhill struggle to get to Albion's current centres of excellence. They have to travel a fair distance, take part in the session and do their homework all after school. There is a fair drop out rate and a new centre could stop this.

"Hopefully good coaches can develop youngster, then Albion can cherry-pick the best ones.

"We will have about a dozen in each age group. We will start with under-12s and under-13s first and see how that goes before considering younger ages. It is ground-breaking and will no doubt have teething problems, but we hope to have it up and running in January.

"We can't use the facilities at William Parker because they are also needed for athletics.

"But Horntye is a nice complex. The Sussex County FA have been quite helpful and hopefully we can get enough funding.

"We included the girls as well because women's football is becoming more popular."

Goalkeeper Ovie Opone was the penalty shoot-out hero as Cardinal Newman (Hove) beat Downlands (Hassocks) to reach the last 16 of the Sussex Schools Under-15s Cup.

The score was 4-4 at the end of normal time and Newman went through 6-5 on penalties.

Newman also reached the quarter-finals of the under-13s competition with a 4-2 victory over Oathall. They now meet Warden Park (Cuckfield).

Blatchington Mill (Hove) beat Steyning 7-1 and Durrington overcame Longhill (Brighton) 2-0 to book their quarter-final places.

Newman completed a hat-trick of successes when they reached the final of the Sussex Girls' Under-16s Cup with a 6-0 win over Blatchington Mill. They now meet either Willingdon (Eastbourne) or Durrington.

Chichester High beat St Wilfreds (Crawley) 2-1 to reach the under-16s final. Mill and Dorothy Stringer (Brighton) are scheduled to meet in the other semi-final tomorrow.

Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College pipped Chichester High 2-1 after extra time to reach the Sussex Schools Under-19s Cup final at Lancing College, with substitute Russell Turpin and Tom Levitt on target.

Winning manager Alan Sanders said: "Russell was not happy when I only put him on the bench. He gave me a wry smile afterwards."

Littlehampton meet Imberhorne (East Grinstead) in the other semi-final at BHASVIC today (2pm).

The losers will face Chichester in a play-off, with the winners going through with the two finalists to the national competition.