Albion stars Bobby Zamora and Paul Rogers are supporting a series of football tournaments involving more than 1,000 Sussex disabled youngsters.

They were at the first Albion-Sussex Specials Senior Schools Championships at The Triangle, Burgess Hill, which kicked off a six-week programme.

Newick House, a school for children with moderate learning disabilities from Burgess Hill, won the overall competition that featured 250 players of mixed disabilities aged from 14 to 16.

Muntham House (Horsham) were runners-up. The severe learning difficulties prize went to Queen Elizabeth II School (Horsham).

The tournament was divided into four leagues named after Albion players, with the winners going through to the semi-finals.

Muntham House won the Zamora League, Newick House claimed the Danny Cullip title, Palatine (Worthing) the Paul Rogers competition and St Anthony (Chichester) claimed top spot in the Charlie Oatway table. Newick House overcame St Anthony's and Muntham House beat Palatine in the last four.

The fairplay award was won by St Mary's (Bexhill).

Teresa Sanders, Albion's Community Disabled Football Development officer, said: "The youngsters had a fantastic day and Bobby and Paul were 100 per cent with the kids. They really got involved and asked to be kept informed about the rest of our series.

"The whole thing has snowballed because we have had such a great response from so many of the special schools in Sussex. Out of the 45 special schools in the county, 35 will be involved in the tournament.

"Albion have supported this in a big way. The kids just weren't getting football before. The club stumped up around £3,000 for the first event and the second will cost a similar amount, although Southern Water (Worthing) help out too. There are several trophies and every child who takes part gets a medal.

"The club have shown that they are just not paying lip service to these kids, they are digging deep into their pockets."

Albion stage the second event this Monday at The Triangle. Around 220 youngsters will take part in the Sussex Special Schools Championships for 11 to 13 year-olds.

The third will be a county event for primary school children at Moulescoomb Leisure Centre, Brighton, on March 6.