The glamour of Saltdean United was like Hollywood for young footballers as they made their debut performances as screen stars.

Three youth teams from the Seagulls Club, the supporters arm of Brighton and Hove Albion, were asked to show off their skills under the bright lights and cameras in a television advert for HSBC Bank.

The teams were Seagulls Club under-11s, Seagulls under-11s and Seagulls Club under-10s.

The 36 boys were filmed playing football and celebrating goals on a windswept training pitch with rusty goalposts while wearing replica Manchester United and Chelsea kits from the Seventies.

Unlike other film stars, no one made millions from their acting, since each boy donated his £30 appearance fee towards next season's kit.

The advert was shot at Saltdean's Hill Park ground, which has become a popular location for film crews after its unspoilt downland setting was used in a Seeboard advert two months ago.

Brighton-based casting agency Fresh Agents was asked to recruit boys aged between nine and 11 for the advert.

Agency co-owner Kate Merrin said: "None of them had done anything like it before and I think we may have created a few wannabe television stars.

"On the coach home, a few of them were joking about needing their own agents. It was very funny."

Tony Brown, manager of Seagulls Club under-11s, said: "It was quite a long day and there was a lot of stopping and starting.

"They filmed the boys celebrating goals and arguing with the referee, which some of them were very good at.

"There was a lot of jokes about becoming movie stars and a few of them were saying they wanted their own dressing rooms from now on. They took it all in very good heart."

Andy Bridle, manager of Seagulls under-11s, said: "The boys really enjoyed it. It was something different and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them. The producers wrote to us to say the boys had performed brilliantly. They say they would use us again if they needed footballers for another advert."

Tracey Garfield, production manager for the HSBC advert, said: "We chose Saltdean because we needed a shot of the sea and it was considered perfect for the job. The shoot went very well - the boys were great."

Paul Hubbard, manager of Saltdean United, said he was surprised by the popularity of Hill Park as a film location.

He said: "The location manager for the HSBC advert turned up at the ground one day and said she liked the ambience of the place.

"It's a very nice location tucked away at the foot of the South Downs and well off the beaten track. There are no houses to spoil the view either. We got some money for the advert paid into club funds."

The advert is expected to be screened next month.