The Argus: Moshe Gariani's career in the top flight of English football with Albion lasted just 17 minutes.

A quarter of a century on, the club's Israeli trailblazer is hoping two of his fellow countrymen continue to thrive with the promotion-chasing Seagulls and get more opportunities than he had to perform on the big stage.

Beram Kayal and Tomer Hemed have been leading figures in the challenge by Chris Hughton's side to reach the Premier League.

Kayal has just been voted player of the season by supporters, Hemed is top scorer with 17 goals.

It is not the only time two Israeli internationals have been signed by Albion.

But Kayal and Hemed are proving far more successful than Gariani and Jacob Cohen were back in 1980, as Albion found their feet following promotion to the first tier.

Gariani, tracked down by The Argus, still has an affection for the club and follows their fortunes, in spite of a frustrating and inauspicious 15 months on the South Coast.

He was 22, a featherweight attacking midfielder, when he caught Alan Mullery's eye in a friendly against the Israeli national side, managed in those days by former Albion favourite Jack Mansell, who passed away last month.

Gariani had already established himself in Mansell's plans and scored 16 goals for his club side Maccabi Netanya as they won the league.

"Everything started when the Israel national team played against Brighton in Ashkelon," Gariani said. "I played midfield and I was very good in that game.

"Even with all the tall players Brighton had I got to every header before them.

"I thought they liked me. One of the guys came to me and said 'They want you, do you want to play in England?' I thought why not?

"It was towards the end of the season. I thought that was it, just a compliment. Then in the summer time Ronny Saratov, one of the Board members of Maccabi Netanya, invited me for a cup of coffee.

"He told me they really wanted me and asked me 'Do you want to go?' I said why not immediately. I was young kid, let's go!

"I heard that Avi Cohen went to Liverpool. I didn't even hesitate. Football here (in Israel) was great then, a lot better than in Israel today.

"The national team back then were as good as the best teams in Europe. I have a chill down my spine thinking back to it.

"I was a young kid, no family, came to England alone. It took time to acclimatise.

"I had a sister back in London. She lived very close to Wembley. When I went the first time to sign contract my family didn't even know. Pini Zahavi (agent) was involved, I think he wanted the scoop for himself!"

Gariani laughs as he reflects on his naivety but it was no laughing matter as he struggled to make an impression on Mullery.

Captaining Albion in a friendly at the Goldstone against Maccabi, arranged as part of the deal, was a rare highlight.

He made only one appearance in the First Division, as a substitute in an early season 3-1 defeat at Southampton.

Bought for £40,000, Gariani returned to Israel to sign for Tel Aviv for a small fee and to this day is left wondering what might have been.

"I hardly played, only for the reserve team," he said. "I didn't get a chance in the starting eleven and I am sure it was their loss.

"If I'd had the chance to play for one game I'd have stayed there for years. In nearly every game in the reserves I scored.

"The coach didn't believe in me. Because of that I left."

Left-back Cohen, an experienced international defender, did not fare much better.

Spotted by Albion playing for Israel against Sweden, they bought him for £40,000 as well from Tel Aviv following a trial, five months after swooping for Gariani.

Cohen started three games and made a further three substitute appearances before returning to his native country to play for Bethsheba.

Gariani said: "We were in the national team together. It's like Hemed and Kayal now, except we didn't play in the same team. I don't know where he is now, I think he owns a bakery in Be'er Sheva."

Gariani, 59, went on to work in the youth system of his old club Netanya, a town with a harbour on the North-West coast of Israel reviving fond memories of his time in Brighton, even though his move did not work out on the pitch. "Of course I follow them now," he said. "It's not even a question. Every time I think of Brighton I feel awake. I remember a pizza place, run by a Saudi and an Egyptian guy who became my friends.

"I have a warm spot in my heart for Brighton. It's a great feeling to see the team going well with two Israelis. I want them to be promoted."