I live in Northchapel, a village near Petworth in West Sussex, some 35 miles from Brighton. I have three children aged seven, 11 and 12, and they all attend Football in the Community soccer skills centre in Midhurst, run by Tony Clark, a community coach from Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

Tony also runs an after-school soccer club at Northchapel Primary School. He is fantastic and so enthusiastic.

I run Northchapel Colts under-eights and we have had our first season playing friendlies against local villages. My son and two other players from my team attend the Midhurst skills centre.

Tony gave us the opportunity for our tiny village green to host the Brighton and Hove Albion skills centre under-eights team against my Northchapel Colts side. He also brought up the under-14s who played Petworth Town under-14s.

The village green was transformed into an arena of football with two pitches. Brighton flags and banners were placed along the green and the Brighton coaches who came looked immaculate and professional in their Brighton attire.

My under-eights were thrilled at Brighton and Hove Albion coming to Northchapel to host such a wonderful event.

It was a great day. Both teams played in very sporting manners and there were lots of smiles and heaps of spectators who cheered on both sides.

As a Brighton fan, it was brilliant for me to be involved. It was also a very close game, with Brighton running out 6-4 winners.

At the end my guys were buzzing and asked if we could play them again. Tony said he would love to do this again, so my guys were thrilled. Petworth beat the under 14s 3-1 in a brilliant game.

I think this shows what the Seagulls do not just for locals but for the wider community such as us. There is a big following for them here so the profile of the club is already high.

They are also doing this without a home of their own so this has to be a big plus for people to see just how far this club is going to help the youth of Sussex and they deserve a permanent home. Tony and his team are simply brilliant with the kids.

-Ed Warren, Northchapel