Thirty young footballers from Sussex are looking forward to the experience of a lifetime.

The youngsters, who play for Dorothy Stringer School, Withdean 2000 Youth or both, will fly to Cocoa Beach, Florida, to take part in a mini World Cup in July.

The Brighton school and club have entered both the under-11 and under-14 competitions in the school's name, although many of the pupils also appear for the club and the squad will be supplemented by other Withdean 2000 players.

Stringer/Withdean will be the only English raiders competing against teams from the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Spain and possibly other countries during a five-day tournament organised by the Florida Youth Soccer Association.

The youngsters and some of their parents will also have time to visit tourist attractions including Disney and Universal Studios.

Andy Marchant, director of sport at Dorothy Stringer, said: "The Florida Youth Soccer Association got some information about us through the Internet and we were approached about six months ago through the Sports College Network.

"It will be a good learning experience for our lads.

"Some of the South Americans play the game in a completely different way, like a five-a-side game but with 11 on the pitch, getting the ball down with short passing and hardly any physical contact.

"There's rarely a pass over ten yards in games like that.

"Football in America has developed so you can't really tell how well we'll do, but both of our teams will be strong."

Withdean 2000 chief executive Alan Pook, who also coaches the club's under-14s, said: "The most important thing is that they enjoy it but both teams have got realistic chances of doing very well.

"To go and play on almost a world stage is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity and everyone is looking forward to it immensely.

"To see how we compare with youth players in other countries will be very interesting. The boys have got a big desire to show that we're as good or better than them.

"We're very insular in this country. We think it's a long way if we have to travel to London or somewhere like that, so this is an experience the kids will take with them through life.

"I don't think there's anything like experience and this will broaden their horizons."

Withdean 2000's 17 youth squads include more than 300 players, aged seven to 16, who play their home matches at Dorothy Stringer.

Pook added: "We've grown very quickly into one of the biggest youth set-ups in the country.

"We've supplied nine boys from my squads and I think 15 in all to professional clubs, mostly the Albion, in the last three seasons.

"If we have the players who are good enough for professional clubs, I try to place them at the club which suits their needs best. We get on very well with Martin Hinshelwood and Dean Wilkins.

"We've got some players who are good enough to go to a professional club, but who are very happy with their school and club environment. They want to wait until they are 15 or 16, so they can concentrate on their schoolwork. They will all be tested to the extreme limit of their ability on this tour. Sometimes it's attitude, commitment and dedication that makes the difference and they will need that.

"I think the players should be aspiring to professional football, but we are a "football for all" club. Everyone who trains gets a game and we run extra teams, rather than turn players away."

Looking forward to the tour has helped Michael Damario, 14, recover from a road accident.

Michael was a pedestrian involved in an accident with a car in Westdene just after Christmas.

He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, with back and leg injuries, cuts and bruises - and returned to school at Blatchington Mill, Hove, a day late this week as he continued his recovery.

Michael, who plays at right-back or midfield, said: "The tour has given me a lot to think about and a lot to look forward to after the accident.

"It'll be a good experience to play better teams over there and my uncle Keith, who lives in Florida, might come over to see me. I know quite a few of the Stringer boys through Withdean and we'll have a very good team. I think we can win the trophy and we'll certainly have a good crack at it.

"I'm on the mend now and I should be playing again for Withdean on Sunday."