Samantha Lambourne had been working in America for weeks and was feeling homesick.

Sensing she needed cheering up, a friend sent over a little something to remind her of home - a replica Manchester City football strip.

It was a puzzling gift as Sam is neither a Light Blues supporter nor a particular fan of football. But she was soon happily wearing the top on a night out in Boston.

The 35-year-old said: "This guy came up to me and asked, 'Is that Christian Dior sportswear?'.

"I told him he must be joking but he insisted it was a really good look. I couldn't believe it."

Instead of laughing the conversation off as an amusing example of goofy American ignorance, Sam got thinking. She said: "It lit a lightbulb in my head. What if you could buy football strips specifically made for women?"

Sam has now answered the question herself. Her Hove-based company Strip Like The Boys specialises in making fashionable football-themed sportswear for women and business is going from strength to strength.

In just under a year of operation, interest from Crystal Palace FC and sporting outlets has meant sales are expected to reach more than £1 million by the end of the year.

Sam's success is all the more remarkable as this is her first business venture.

Theatre was her passion, although it was her management skills rather than acting talent that got her ahead.

Sam, who lives in Hove, said: "I always loved drama but I remember having a part in a school production of The Importance Of Being Earnest and I just froze on stage. That was when I realised performing was not for me."

She left school with A-levels in English, art and history and won a place at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art to study acting and stage management.

When the course finished Sam took a job with Scottish Opera and for several years thought she was in her dream career.

The chance remark which changed Sam's life came during a tour of America about 18 months ago.

She said: "As soon as I got back I started doing research and realised there was definitely a gap in the market."

Sam initially asked men what they thought of her idea.

She said: "I questioned guys on whether they would be happy to come home and see their wife or girlfriend dressed in a sexier version of their team's colours. Most of them said it was their all-time fantasy.

"Girls were favourable as well and when I went to see my accountant to tell him of the idea he loved it. I had two offers of investment almost immediately.

"Since then the reaction has been great. We've had articles in magazines and managed to get the current Miss England wearing our Euro 2004 collection, which sent the Daily Star wild and they gave us a great write-up.

"If we had got through that dreaded game against Portugal, The Sun was ready to give us a big feature as well."

Despite this little hiccup, Sam is delighted with her company's early performance.

Her advice to other novice business people is not to be scared of going to banks for help if they feel their idea is good enough.

She said: "I went to Lloyds TSB and they were fantastic. I had a very animated conversation with one of the managers. I was in the process of launching a range for Euro 2004 and they reacted incredibly quickly. I got financial support within weeks."

Sam hopes to expand the company's range beyond football in the future.

She said: "Women are much more interested in sport these days but they don't want to be wearing just an ordinary T-shirt.

"They want something which will make them look good - that's where we come in."

Friday July 16, 2004