Albion's Football in the Community scheme has been given a £70,000 sponsorship boost. Family Investment Management are pumping £35,000 into the project.

The sum has been matched by Sportsmatch, a Government scheme to improve the facilities of local clubs.

Family Invstment Management is a subsidiary of previous sponsors the Family Assurance Friendly Society, based in West Street, Brighton.

John Adams, the Brighton-based company's director, will present a cheque to the Seagulls' chairman Dick Knight before Saturday's table-topping showdown against Chesterfield at Withdean.

The money will be used over the next three years for the FITC's programme of 20 activities. They include after-school coaching, holiday soccer schools for children and the 'Seagulls Specials' coaching sessions for children who are disabled or have special needs.

Hove MP Ivor Caplin will be presenting the £35,000 cheque from Sportsmatch.

Caplin said: "As a life-long Albion supporter, I am especially pleased to present the club with this money.

"The Football in the Community scheme has been a great success."

Meanwhile, Albion are opposing plans by fans to taunt table-topping Chesterfield with brown envelopes.

A campaign has been launched on the Internet by Seagulls supporters. They are encouraging fans to wave brown envelopes at visiting players in Saturday's sell-out showdown at Withdean.

Chesterfield have been charged by the football authorities with a long list of alleged financial irregularities.

Their case has not yet been heard and Albion's chief executive Martin Perry has spoken out against the tongue-in-cheek demonstration.

He fears it could backfire and motivate the Chesterfield team.

"It could also be counter-productive. Some of the Chesterfield players might very well take offence and in the race for automatic promotion this match is effectively a six-pointer," said Perry.

Albion will also block suggestions by fans that songs such as 'Money's Too Tight To Mention' should be played before the game by public address duo John Baine and Paul Samrah.

"We will quietly have a word with the music maestros," said Perry. "The important thing about Saturday is that it is a big match.

"A win would put us well on track for our promotion target and that is the issue. We don't want anything to spoil our chances."

Trialist Richard Kennedy makes his debut for Albion in an inexperienced reserve side against Crystal Palace at Worthing tonight from 7pm.

Albion: Cartwright; Davis, Jackson, Virgo, Beech, McCurdy, McCann, Kennedy, Freeman, Ramsay, Steele,. Subs: Packham, Marney, Hinshelwood, Hemsley, Hammond.