Bobby Zamora is not the only Albion title winner from 15 years ago to have forged a career in the Premier League.

Zamora's route to the top was fairly routine as he carried on scoring goals for fun after the League Two triumph under Micky Adams at Withdean, which marked the beginning of the Seagulls' revival.

The path taken by Mark Cartwright from lower division goalkeeper to the heart of the biggest January window transfer deal in Europe has been rather more unconventional and unexpected.

In his role as Stoke City's technical director - or, to put it another way, head of recruitment - Cartwright was heavily involved in the £18 million move of former Marseille midfielder Giannelli Imbula from Porto to the Potteries.

And, before that in the summer, the £12 million switch from Inter Milan of Xherdan Shaqiri, the stocky little winger otherwise known as the 'Alpine Messi', who will be taking on England with Switzerland in the Euro finals in France in June.

Cartwright, 43, has come a long way since a full-time playing career with Wrexham, Albion and Shrewsbury was cut short at the age of 31 by a knee injury.

His memorable season with the Seagulls started with a second half debut on the opening day at Southend, after Adams took off Michel Kuipers due to his poor kicking, and ended with a medal.

Two years later it was all over. Cartwright's life had reached a crossroads.

He said: "It's a really strange feeling when you finish playing football, because you suddenly have all the adrenaline gone out of your life, the buzz of the game, the buzz of the crowd, everything goes.

"You find yourself thinking 'Christ, what am I going to do' and you start looking for jobs that have a certain salary that you have been used to in football.

"So you are in this little bubble and then all of a sudden that bubble pops. I'd not done any coaching, I'd run a business when I was at Wrexham (creative design and print), so I was more business orientated than coaching-wise.

"Because of my background and being a cleverer one in the team, some of the lads that I played with started ringing me for advice on contracts and everything else.

"I started passing them to an agent, who then said 'do you want to do it?'"

Starting out with Premier Promotions, Cartwright became a freelance, combining the role of players' agent with a short spell as manager of non-League Leek Town and coaching at Scottish club Livingston.

Then came his big break, joining the reputed Stoke-based law firm agency, Beswicks. "I never looked back," he said. "Being with them opened a lot more doors and gave me the platform to succeed. I was very driven.

"I think that's what I took from football, the drive and willingness to succeed. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, I didn't mind that, I enjoyed it. That was my adrenaline replacement, working hard.

"Gary Mellor, who runs Beswicks, is a local guy. He knows the Stoke owners. They eventually approached Gary and said would I be interested in the role I am doing now."

The Albion connection continued during Cartwright's time with Beswicks. His list of clients included Liam Bridcutt, the ex-Seagulls midfielder heading back to the Amex later this month on loan to Leeds from Sunderland.

"Liam was on loan at Stockport," Cartwright said. "You could see he was a good player but he wasn't going to get any further at Chelsea, so he needed to step out.

"Liam was good. He took a big pay cut when he left Chelsea. A lot of players in that position get a little bit fluffy about it.

"Liam saw he had to take that step back to move forward.

"He was a good client. There were no dramas with him. I could tell him he'd played badly and he wouldn't take it personally.

"He'd use that as motivation to improve. I still text him every now and again. I've got a lot of time for him."

Another client was England's No.2 goalkeeper Jack Butland, Cartwright's first signing for Stoke following his appointment as technical director in December 2012.

He said: "I could see where Jack was going to go. Joe Hart had been at Shrewsbury when I was getting to the end at Shrewsbury. I knew Joe and Jack at the same age and you could see Jack was going to have that same potential.

"We weren't desperate for a goalkeeper at the time but he was too good to turn down."

Cartwright believes his background as an agent helps during transfer negotiations - "I'll know if they are trying to take the mickey" - along with the pedigree of Stoke manager Mark Hughes.

He said: "Mark is a huge factor, because he has played at the highest level for some half-decent clubs! He knows what a top player needs in terms of training, coaching, facilities, and the players know who he is and have that respect for him.

"When they meet him as well and talk about the footballing side they get it, because he's been there and gets what they need.

"There are times when you look back and pinch yourself. It couldn't have gone any better. I live 15 miles away up in the hills, so the closest Premier League club is Stoke. But I look back and think the only reason I've got here is because I worked hard to do it.

"I've never been one of those where things have just landed for you on a plate. There is luck involved but the combination of actually working my n*** off and having that little bit of luck has got me here. And if I'd been crap at my job I wouldn't be here now.

"The club is going in the right direction. It's a great place to be."

That last sentence could just as easily apply to Albion, who have Stoke midfielder Steve Sidwell back on loan in their quest to be playing at the Britannia Stadium next season.

Cartwright said: "I was at Wrexham the longest and at a few clubs after Brighton but I have to admit if anybody says who was your favourite club it's always Brighton.

"I absolutely loved the time I had there, the people, the fans. Everything was great and I've sort of followed them, kept an eye on them, ever since.

"With the new stadium and the ownership, they are a club now primed for the Premier League. The facilities are there.

"I think Chris (Hughton) is the right guy and hopefully they will push on and have that bit of luck that you need as well to get up."