Sussex's football clubs have heaped praise on their supporters as latest figures show them to be some of the best behaved in the country.

Brighton and Hove Albion did not have to issue a single banning order last season, a record only shared by three other clubs in the top two tiers of the English system.

The Home Office statistics on football-related arrests thrilled Darren Balkham, Sussex Police’s football liaison officer.

He said: “It makes for really good reading, but it doesn’t come as a surprise because we have worked hard to achieve it and the fans are amazing.

“Let’s not forget that those figures come in a season where there were four Albion versus Crystal Palace games, two of which being in the playoffs.”

Arrests of Albion fans are also down to 24 from 49 last season.

MORE:

Club chief executive Paul Barber said: “We’re getting close to 1.5 million people through the gates of the Amex, so if you put those numbers into context it’s very pleasing.

“Overall our fans are absolutely superb but there will inevitably be a very, very small minority that have a little too much to drink or react badly to an action.

“We’d like to see less of the [homophobic] abuse that our fans are subjected to, and we’re being very proactive in dealing with that and any other type of abuse.

“The figures reflect the brilliant work of our stewards and security staff – away fans react to the way they’re treated and if they’re treated well they will behave.”

Mr Balkham added: “Albion fans have a good idea of how to get what they want and that’s by acting in the right manner.

“We’re always looking to improve and that’s by involving fans in the decision-making process.

“Before the Palace playoff game, we told them what we wanted to achieve and took some really good ideas from them as to how to achieve it – six arrests at a Palace game is unheard of.”

At other clubs only two arrests were made involving Crawley Town fans between November 2012 and September 2013, during which time they issued one banning order.

Michael Dunford, Crawley Town chief executive, said: “It’s excellent to be able to celebrate some positivity and the supporters deserve to be applauded.

“It’s a fantastic record.”