Simon Rodger is hoping to make it third time lucky with Albion.

The Shoreham-born midfielder's dream of playing for the Seagulls was shattered as a schoolboy when they rejected him as too small.

Years later he turned down Albion because the timing was not right.

Now, at the age of 31, Rodger has been awarded a monthly contract and the former Crystal Palace stalwart aims to prove he still has what it takes to play in the First Division.

Albion fan Rodger was devastated when the club told him size does matter. Dad Peter revealed: "It was his dream to play for Albion when he was a nipper, all he ever thought of.

"When they turned him down it was an extremely hard time for him and we had to pick him up.

"I know I am saying it with hindsight, but I knew he was going to be a professional footballer. He was so dedicated."

Rodger almost joined Albion towards the end of his 13-year career with arch-rivals Palace.

"I had the chance a couple of years ago when Micky Adams was in charge, but that was when Palace offered me a testimonial and I wanted to see that through," Rodger said.

"My contract was coming up and Glenn Cockerill, who was at Palace at the time, pulled me aside to tell me about Micky's interest.

"I told Micky to come back to me once my testimonial was sorted out, but things move on after that."

Rodger has Bognor to thank for his long career with Palace, during which he made almost 300 League appearances including more than 50 in the Premiership.

The Rocks took him on when he was on the rocks and that is where Palace spotted him.

"The rivalry with Brighton did enter my head when I signed for Palace," admitted Rodger. "A lot of my mates were Brighton fans, but my mum and dad pointed out I couldn't turn down an opportunity like that to play professional football.

"When Brighton turned me down I was ready to jack it in. I was so lucky that the Bognor thing came up and I went on to prove Brighton wrong.

"I owe Bognor and Jack Pearce a great deal. Dennis Probee was a great coach down there, I learnt a lot from him. He pushed me forward to get into the Bognor first team at 16.

"Stuart Corlett was taken on as a pro by Palace at the same time as me. They gave him a year then released him and he is a postman now."

Rodger was part of a pioneering project at Bognor. Long-serving manager Pearce explained: "We were the first non-league club to have a YTS scheme and Simon was a member of that.

"In all my time at the club there have only been a handful of people who have warranted a regular first team place at the age of 18 or under and he was one of them.

"He was technically sound with a wonderful left foot.

"My mate Alan Smith was Palace's manager at the time and we got a couple of quid for him.

"I've followed his career with quite a lot of interest."

Rodger made a nostalgic return to Selhurst Park for Albion's long-awaited derby against Palace last Saturday.

"It was very emotional," he said. "When we were getting off the coach they were booing all the Brighton players, but they gave me a big cheer!

"It was quite a strange feeling. The cheer I got when I came on was really nice as well. I appreciated that."

The match itself was an unhappy experience for the player inevitably nicknamed 'Jolly'. Albion were already 5-0 down when he was brought on for the last half-hour.

"It was very painful sitting on the bench," he said. "Obviously I wanted Brighton to turn Palace over. Conceding an early goal killed us, but I never imagined we would let in five.

"I thought we would maybe win something like 2-1 or get a draw. I just wish I could have done something about it."

It was equally painful for Palace legend Steve Coppell in his first away match in charge of the Seagulls.

Rodger believes if anyone can help Albion climb out of the relegation hole they have dug for themselves it is his former manager at Selhurst Park.

"He has so much knowledge and experience. He knows the game inside out. He studies videos of opponents and is so thorough in what he does.

"He likes to work hard on the training pitch as well to get things right. At Palace we had some great results, beating big teams when we were not expected to.

"Brighton now have got to look at every game like a cup final. There are loads of games to go and there is enough quality in the side to get themselves out of trouble."

Rodger is eager to help. He was due to have his first competitive outing for the reserves in Wednesday's postponed fixture at Bristol City and is gradually working his way back to full match fitness.

"I've just got to take things day by day and see how it goes," he said. "I am not really fit yet. I still need a few more games, but I am just happy to be down at Brighton and playing again.

"I'm getting stronger and sharper with every training session. I still think I have got two or three good years left in me at a decent standard like the First Division."