Dozens of footballers have been left with nowhere to change after a suspected arson attack on their clubhouse.

A fire broke out at Fishersgate Community Centre on Sunday, damaging four of the supporting triangles which make-up the dome-shaped structure and putting the whole building at risk.

Surveyors will be visiting the centre in Gardner Road, Hove, today to decide whether the building will have to be demolished.

Peter Averillo, of the Fishersgate Community Association, which runs several football teams from the centre, said: "We will be talking to surveyors about the long-term security of the building and they could recommend we pull it down and start again.

"The triangles which make up the dome all slot in together and if you take one out you can get away with it but if you take out, two you are causing a disturbance to all the other triangles which hold it together."

It is thought the fire was started outside the building. Firefighters spent more than four hours bringing the flames under control.

Mr Averillo said: "I am extremely disappointed to think someone has tried to destroy the building because it represents the whole community and gives people a chance to get out."

The centre's football club, launched when the building opened in January 2002, has about 50 seven to 11-year-olds who play in the Hove YMCA League and 25 adults who play Sunday league football.

Members use the building to store kit, get changed and take refreshments after matches.

The association has been forced to board up parts of the building and reinforce windows weakened by the heat. Most of the damage is in the kitchen and storage areas.

Club founder Tony Kybett believes up to £1,400 of kit was destroyed in the fire, including two complete away strips for the children's teams as well as training tops and rain jackets.

Mr Kybett said: "There is a brown film over everything and it smells like a piece of charcoal.

"We were just building up the side, getting people involved when something like this happens and it makes you think you should chuck it in.

"But we have had a successful couple of years and there is no way we are going to give up because we started with six boys in 2002 and on Saturday we are having a prize-giving ceremony for more than 70 people and their families.

"We are now desperate for a Portakabin on site which we can use as the headquarters for the club to hold meetings and store all our equipment."

The centre, known locally as the Dome, was built with the help of National Lottery funding and grants from Sport England and the Government's Single Regeneration Budget.

Fishersgate Community Association FC can be contacted on 01273 870342 or by emailing tony.kybett@ntlworld.com