Former Albion centre of excellence striker Jonathan Neal is hoping to make the big time in America.

The 19-year-old, from Piddinghoe, has won a four-year sports scholarship to the United States.

Luckily he chose Tusculum College (Tennessee) instead of St John's College (Manhattan) which turned into a hospital for victims of the terrorist atrocity in New York.

The former Lewes Tertiary College opted for his new Tennessee base because it is quieter.

He said: "It was a lucky decision. I had several offers but St John's and Tusculum were at the top of my list.

"I picked Tusculum because it was a smaller campus and you get to know people easier.

"When the hi-jacks happened I wondered a little what I was doing here in merica. It was a very strange atmosphere but I felt reasonably safe and wanted to stick it out."

Neal, who was with the Seagulls for two years from 1996, wants to resurrect his hopes of becoming a professional footballer.

He said: Having played at Brighton for two years and Crystal Palace for one I hoped my chances were better than most. But at both clubs it was a case of thanks, but no thanks.

"I feel going to America will help me get there. I am getting plenty of football, the best facilities and feel my fitness will be fantastic, our pre-season was three sessions a day starting at 6am. I know I'll be 23 at the end of my course but maybe I can do an Ian Wright.

"I'd love to come back and play for Brighton, maybe in the Premiership with the way they are going.

"If none of that happens perhaps I can become a professional in the Major Soccer League in the States, which is about the equivalent of second and third division league football."

Neal is playing alongside captain Stephen Oakey, who was in the same academy side as West Ham duo Joe Cole and Michael Carrick.

He said: "The standard is pretty good. We have quite a cosmopolitan line-up with five English guys, others from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean. Only one American makes our starting line-up."

Neal rates the set-up as "fantastic".

He said: "There's everything you need. There's a big, air-conditioned indoor domed arena we use for indoor training. There are three practise pitches outdoors and a stadium that holds 2,000 spectators for matches.

"Any little niggle and you are whisked off for ultra-sound treatment. They've got the top equipment which is certainly better than a lot of English clubs.

"They've eased off training. I do a session each afternoon and study for a Bachelor of Science certificate in the morning. It's going pretty well."

Neal has been dreaming of the big-time ever since he was selected for national trials ten years ago. Now he is giving it one last throw of the dicewith a degree to fall back on if it fails.

Pat Harding (Hassocks) scored all five goals as Sussex beat Hertfordshire 5-1 in the FA Youth Cup.

His hat-trick came in seven minutes, including two in the opening two minutes.

Robert Body (Saltdean) and Grant Vanson (Littlehampton) were also outstanding in an impressive team performance. Sussex now meet Oxfordshire.