Bobby Zamora has all it takes to become the greatest striker ever to have played for Albion.

Which means he is on course to be a better player than Goldstone hero Peter Ward.

That is the verdict from some of Albion's finest from recent history, many of whom were Ward's colleagues.

Club historian Tim Carder is happy to make Zamora, who was sold to Spurs last week for £1.5m, the best striker Albion have ever had.

Even some of Ward's immediate sidekicks in the double promotion winning side of the Seventies are prepared to suggest Zamora could prove himself the all-time No. 1.

He will be well on his way if he can beat Ward's 26 top flight goals and eight minutes playing for England.

Ward scored the goals which took Albion from the old Division Three to Division One. He helped keep them there for a season and set them on the way to the 1983 FA Cup final.

Zamora led the Seagulls from the basement to what is now Division One, winning back-to-back titles.

He played for the club at a lower level, in front of smaller crowds, but had a significantly better strike rate.

Carder knows the stats well and said: "Zamora is the best forward we have ever had. He potentially has everything.

"He can shoot with either foot, he reads the game well and he works hard Mark Lawrenson is the best player we have had and it might be that Bobby exceeds even that."

Alan Mullery was Albion boss in the top flight and twice tried to do the unthinkable and off-load Ward. That is why he will not give Zamora his vote until he has made a Premiership impact.

The former England defender said: "You can't compare. When we got into what is now the Premiership, Peter found it difficult. Defenders were a lot better.

"There will be the same question mark over Zamora. I was a little bit worried by a quote from Glenn Hoddle after his first game.

"Glenn was saying Zamora could do this and that and I thought 'Remember it was only against Oxford'.

"I will be delighted if he cracks it in the Premiership. He has got all the attributes and I know Peter Taylor reckons he can be a Premiership player."

Midfielder Brian Horton was Ward's minder in the Seventies. He has seen a bit of Zamora, too, as Port Vale boss.

He said: "You can't compare. They are both outstanding goalscorers.

"Wardy was so sharp, he could beat people quickly, while Zamora is taller, left-footed and better in the air."

So they could have played together then? "They might not hit it off," Horton said.

"Zamora might be better with someone like Ian Mellor or Teddy Maybank."

Ian Mellor. Now there is a man who must rate Wardy higher than the new kid on the block. Together, Ward and Mellor were Albion's Keegan and Toshack.

Mullery puts Ward's goalscoring prowess largely down to the hard work of target man Mellor alongside him.

Not even Mellor, though, will give Ward his vote.

He said: "Wardy at his level was great but his record suggests he struggled in the higher league.

"Zamora has the potential to do better but he has to prove himself."

Gerry Ryan reminded Zamora he had yet to score in the top flight and preferred to reserve judgement.

Former Albion and Spurs defender Gary Stevens was equally non-committal but happy to ponder the best case scenario for Zamora.

He said: "Football is very fickle but I think he can turn out to be the buy of the close season. He might get six goals after about four games and be in the England squad halfway through the season."

And if that happens, surely no one will hesitate to call Zamora No. 1.