A FORMER Seagulls and international footballer has appeared in court charged with sexual assault.

Samuel Nelson, known as Sammy, spoke to confirm his name and address before Brighton magistrates yesterday.

The 69-year-old previously played for Brighton and Hove Albion, but was more famous for his appearances at Arsenal.

He turned professional at the age of 17 in 1966, and started out as a left-winger before dropping back into defence.

He was later a part of the Arsenal league and cup double winning team of 1971 and played in the successful 1979 FA Cup final for the Gunners.

Between 1966 and 1981 he made more than 300 appearances in a spell which saw the team also reach the FA Cup final in three successive years. He also played in the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1980 where Arsenal lost on penalties to Valencia.

Mr Nelson is listed at number 35 of the greatest ever Arsenal players on the club’s website.

It states: “Every team needs a character like Sammy Nelson.

“A funny and endearing individual, the Ulsterman was held in genuine affection by team-mates and supporters alike.”

On one occasion he “mooned” the North Bank at Highbury when celebrating.

He left the London team in 1981 and joined Brighton and Hove Albion, where he retired after the Seagulls were relegated from the First Division in 1983.

He didn’t appear in the team for the 1983 FA Cup finals against Manchester United, where Brighton nearly won the first game, only to lose the replay.

It was during his spell in Brighton that he also played for Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

In total he made he made 45 appearances for Brighton and 51 appearances for Northern Ireland.

Nelson, of Dyke Road Avenue in Hove, appeared in court dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt and dark blue tie.

He is accused of sexual assault on a woman in October last year.

The woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, accuses him of touching her in a sexual way without her consent.

Mr Nelson, represented by barrister Emily Baxter, was to face trial yesterday, but his court date was double booked.

He was granted unconditional bail and will next appear in court for trial on Thursday, July 12. He denies the charge.