Simon Rodger dreamed of playing for Albion as a schoolboy.

Instead, the 30-year-old midfielder from Shoreham has kicked off his testimonial year at Crystal Palace planning a glittering occasion against Glenn Hoddle's Tottenham.

Rodger currently has three other wishes: Promotion back to the Premiership, a new contract and marriage.

But he still remembers the time he was rejected by the Seagulls.

No matter how sensitively it is done, anyone's self-esteem plummets with news that you are unwanted.

Rodger was no different.

He said: "Myself and my family all supported Albion when I was growing up. I was even at Wembley to watch them play Manchester United.

"I was linked with Albion as a schoolboy but was told I was too small and not big enough physically.

"I was advised to work on building myself up. I was gutted. I felt like giving up the game. But my mum and dad told me to stick at it."

A spell at Bognor reignited his hopes of becoming a professional footballer.

"Bognor came in for me. I didn't want to play for them at first, but again mum and dad told me 'you never know, it might be worth a go.'

"Fortunately it went well. Jack Pearce, their manager, was great for me and Dennis Probee, who was part of the youth set-up, taught me a lot. I owe Bognor a lot.

"I played for the youth team and Jack, even though I was only 16, got me into the first team."

Palace spotted Rodger playing for the Rocks at Carshalton.

"One of their youth team coaches, Bob White, saw me play. I did all right and he recommended me to Alan Smith, who was in charge of the youth set-up.

"Palace invited me to a trial against Tottenham. It went well and they gave me a second-year apprenticeship. Even so, although I was told my technical side was okay and I was quite fit, I knew I still had to build myself up, and I did.

"When I eventually got my professional contract, it was great, unbelievable.

"I got some stick from my mates who were all Brighton followers as Palace are supposed to be the big rivals, but it was a dream come true."

Rodger was part of the Palace youth team, which also included Simon Osborne and Dean Gordon, that won the South East Counties' League and had a good run in the FA Youth Cup.

After impressing with the reserves, manager Steve Coppell called Rodger into the first-team squad as a travelling reserve.

He only had two hours' notice of his debut in the old First Division against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in the 1989-90 season.

"Ian Wright had left the club for Arsenal just two weeks before and I travelled believing I would just be sitting in the stand.

"It wasn't until I walked into the dressing room a couple of hours before kick off and saw my name pinned up on the team sheet that I knew I was playing.

"Everyone else knew, including my family, but it was kept from me. I'm glad it was because I wouldn't have slept too well.

"Some of the lads left a toilet roll on the bench where I was changing as a joke in case I might need it and that helped ease my nerves.

"I went out and played on the left wing and although we were stuffed I did okay."

Rodger became a regular the following season and his first goal helped him meet one of his footballing heroes.

"It was in 1992 against Blackburn at Ewood Park. When they had the likes of Alan Shearer playing for them and Kenny Dalglish was their manager and we needed the points.

"Chrissie Armstrong had scored for us and it was 1-1 with about 15 minutes to go.

"I picked up the ball about the halfway line and hit it with my left foot as hard as I could from 30 yards.

"It screamed into the top corner and the lads jumped on me before I could celebrate.

"As there were no other big games on that night, my name was banner headlines like 'Jolly Rodger KO's Kenny.'

"I got interviewed by everyone, including Bobby Moore, who was working for a radio station, which was a special thrill."

Rodger puts the highlight of his 11 years at Selhurst Park down as winning the First Division title in 1994 with the likes of Nigel Martyn, Gareth Southgate, John Salako, Richard Shaw, Chris Coleman, Armstrong and Paul Stewart. "It was a great little side."

Rodger also recalled the dramatic promotion back to the premier with a last-minute winner by David Hopkin in the play-off final at Wembley against Sheffield United in 1997.

"I'd been out of the side under Dave Bassett and gone out on loan to Manchester City, where Steve Coppell was manager, and Stoke. But Steve came back for the final games, and I was back in the side."

Rodger's Palace career has certainly been a roller coaster.

"A big low point was relegation on the last day of the season in the mid-Nineties against Arsenal, with Ian Wright scoring for the Gunners to rub it in.

"There was also the time the club went into administration, and we weren't getting paid.

Roger has seen a stream of managers come and go. Coppell (three times), Alan Smith (twice), as well as Bassett, Steve Bruce and briefly Attilio Lombardo.

"Attilio was the best player I have played with at Palace. I thought he'd be a big-time Charlie, but he was a decent bloke who taught me a lot about lifestyle.

"Look at the recent trouble involving players in nightclubs and you can see there is an attitude still around, but English football is learning from the likes of Attilio.

"If you look after your body and mind, you'll last a lot longer."

Now Rodger hopes he can enjoy another promotion in a season that has seen him make his 300th appearance for Palace.

"We are playing well and only Manchester City can rival us. Fingers crossed I can do enough to earn a new contract.

"I'll be getting married to Alison Young, a presenter of the TV shopping channel, in the summer and hopefully get to play Spurs in July."

There seems no stopping the former King's Manor pupil. Albion's loss has certainly Palace's gain. Jolly Rodger? Well, he has got reason to smile.