Two hundred youngsters played for trophies that linked three generations at the Sussex Specials football tournament for special needs children at the Portslade Community College.

Burgess Hill claimed two and Forest Flyers (Crawley/Horsham) one of the Patricia Louise Smith Memorial Shields, named after the late grandmother of Seagulls Specials player Ben Hickley-Smith.

Fourteen-year-old Ben, a St Mary's (Bexhill) pupil, was in the Seagulls team that finished third in the under-20s section behind Burgess Hill and Brighton Youth His father Ian, who played at youth level for Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, where he was coached by Terry Venables, and Southampton said: "I'm sure my mum was looking down and smiling on the Centre.

"She always followed Ben's progress. It helped in her battle against cancer which she finally lost two years ago. My dad Charles, sister Loraine and myself thought the shields would be a fitting tribute.

"Ben is an autistic boy but football has given him confidence, friendships and improved skills and co-ordination."

Organiser Teresa Sanders, Albion's disability football development officer, said: "The Specials is for everyone not just one family but it was thought shields in memory of Ben's nan would be a nice idea as they were very supportive of Specials football at the start."

The tournament was almost a knockout.

Michael Asola (Seagulls) and David Brown (Forest Flyers) clashed accidentally in the under-20s event.

Both fully recovered and Sanders said: "I don't want to give the impression it's dangerous, it was an accident but showed the level of competitiveness.

"Two hundred players proves Specials football has come a long way quickly. The Seagulls have doubled to more than 100 players in the last year and new teams from Crawley, Horsham, Worthing and Brighton have been formed."

The growth has resulted in a shortage of kits Sanders said: "The Seagulls aren't too badly off because of Albion's support, but the new teams have limited resources and are struggling to buy kit."

Burgess Hill, who won the under-20s and under-14s, are one such team.

They took the youth shield for eight to 14-year-olds from Seagulls with Forest third. Seagulls were also runners-up in the junior five to eight-year-olds section.

Other trophies were donated by the Co-op.