Midfielder Danny Simmonds will be on a mission to pay a debt to Hastings and put one over his former club on Monday.

The ex-Albion player lines up against his old employers in the Sussex Senior Cup final at Priory Lane five years after former manager Liam Brady released him.

Not only did the Dr Martens League side pick him off the scrapheap, they paid for him to take a teaching degree at Brighton University.

Simmonds is due to graduate with an honours degree and accept a PE teaching post at Chailey School in September.

The 25-year-old, who made 23 appearances for the Seagulls and won three Senior Cup winner medals, said: "I have a few old scores to settle and would dearly love to put one over them.

"Iit would also be nice after what Hastings have done for me to help them win some silverware.

"I was bitterly disappointed when Liam Brady released me. He had a big summer clearout and I was the last man out.

"There were a lot of players that summer who should never have been released, like Ian Chapman.

"Since that day I've had to pick up the pieces, but Hastings have been brilliant by covering the cost of getting me through university. Otherwise I would've had to rely on grants and loans."

The eastern division club have three other ex-Albion players. Duncan McArthur, Stuart Myall and Spencer Mintram are all likely to figure in Dean White's squad.

Myall played with Simmonds in the Seagulls' 1994 Senior Cup-winning side against Peacehaven. Keeper Mark Ormerod also featured in the Albion side that day. Myall, also 25, thinks Hastings have got nothing to lose.

He said: "The pressure is on them. Micky Adams is desperate to win, because it would be an embarrassment for whatever side he puts out to be beaten by part-timers.

"They're fitter than us, but if we get an early goal the adrenalin could make the difference."

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