Micky Adams is heading up a new initiative to help grassroots football in Sussex.

The Albion manager, assistant Alan Cork, reserve team coach Ian Culverhouse and youth manager Dean Wilkins will go into schools for Master Coaching Classes next month.

And Seagulls players could also stage similar sessions.

It is part of a new idea promoted by Albion's Football in the Community Scheme.

Development officer Steve Ford, a former professional with Stoke City, said: "Micky has been very supportive with anything I've suggested to him regarding the community.

"The other day I asked him to turn up at a Seagulls/Family Assurance Soccer School in Preston Park. He could have said no because he had to see the board that day, but he made time and about 100 kids were delighted to see him turn up. It meant a lot to them.

"He, Alan, Ian and Dean have a lot of expertise and the kids I'm sure will respond. Dean has already taken his youth team into schools and will continue to do that. Perhaps we can also get the players who are into coaching involved.

"The youngsters will get good quality coaching."

Cork confirmed some of the Seagulls' stars are likely to become part of the initiative. He said: "I'm sure players will go into the schools and do coaching."

The Seagulls' Football in The Community Scheme expect to deal with a total of around 1,000 youngsters through the summer holidays. It has weekly soccer schools, weekend sessions and a residential course at Ardingly College.

FITCS, with Ford and fellow development officer Dave Jupp, has done coaching in the education action zone areas of East Brighton to promote more opportunities with planned trips into Hove. Albion will also go into schools during in-service days to help out.

There was the recent 4-fit South Downs Health Trust and the BBC Get Your Kit On campaigns which encouraged youngsters to take up sport. The Scheme's Seagulls Specials, for special needs children, and women and girls football sections are thriving. One hope is that it will all produce a star or two for the Seagulls, but Ford emphasises that the Scheme is for everyone.

"Everyone would like another David Beckham or Michael Owen to come out of the system, but that would be the icing on the cake."

Ford hopes Albion FITCS will get a slice of the national £60m grassroots football cake, a scheme backed by England coach Kevin Keegan and Prime Minister Tony Blair to help expand the Seagulls' operation right across Sussex.

Ford considers Albion's set-up is the template for the sort of programmes that should be encouraged with the financial backing on offer to help resurrect Britain's national game. He said: "We mainly centre in Brighton and Hove and have gone into Eastbourne but would like to go all round the county. Unfortunately we just haven't got the backing to do that.

"I feel we do a good job in the right way for the right reasons. But the job's still there to be done beyond what we do and we'd like to do more. There's always more you can do "We want to get more kids to play, more good coaches into schools, more medical back-up, get the youngsters to learn more skills and discipline and have fun and that goes for girls and boys of all abilities. It's good for them in sport and in life."

He also feels schools and Sunday League clubs with junior sections need a handout from the £60m pot.

"Schools do great work but they need support because teachers have to help out out of school hours for free because of school curriculums. People who run Sunday League clubs setting a great example, like Lancing Rangers, should receive encouragement and backing.

"Generally, if the grassroots are not looked after everything dies."

Adams is doing his bit and the kids appreciate it..

At Preston Park, Tom Rajan, 14, from Varndean School, said: "It was good to see Micky Adams taking an interest in grassroots football. "