Albion newcomer Daniel Webb is maintaining a proud club tradition.

The rookie striker has added his name to a long list of Seagulls with dads who were professional footballers.

Some have been more renowned than others. Few people probably realise, for example, that Mark Lawrenson and John Gregory fall into the category.

Gerry and Darragh Ryan, Phil and Ashley Neal are perhaps more familiar but not as instantly recognisable as the occupant of the seat next to Daniel when Albion played Rushden and Diamonds in the FA Cup.

David Webb's winning goal for Chelsea in the 1970 FA Cup final replay against Leeds at Old Trafford is still ingrained in the memory of many football folk.

Ian Hutchinson's long throw skimmed off Jack Charlton to the far post for Webb, that most uncompromising of centre halves, to head home.

Webb senior's second spell in charge of Southend ended abruptly in October.

His interest in the game now revolves around the development of his 18-year-old son's career with the Seagulls, a development made more difficult by his own achievements.

"It is most definitely harder for Daniel," Webb ackowledged. "If they do better than their dad it becomes easier, but if you have had a reasonably good career people think they should live up to expectations.

"I took him to Southend from Southampton and he had that quite a lot at the beginning of this season with the supporters, but he won them over.

"I would love him to go on and do wonderful things and play for England. Nobody would be more proud, but the first thing I have always wanted is for him to enjoy playing."

Daniel could hardly be further removed from his father, not just in terms of his position on the pitch but also his style of play.

"His heroes are people like Shearer, Sheringham and Bergkamp," said Webb. "That is the type of player he can grow into. Peter Osgood was like that when I played for Chelsea, but it was a different game in my day.

"Refs were a lot more lenient. The tackle from behind was outlawed when I was playing, but we found ways around it!"

Footballers didn't pay much attention to their schooling back then either, but Daniel like many modern young pros is academically well qualified. The one thing we insisted upon is that he had a good education under his belt," Webb said.

"I am excited for him now that he is at Brighton. It's a good opportunity. He is severed from my links and is looking forward to making a career for himself. He couldn't work for anyone better than Peter Taylor."

Webb tries to be a dispassionate spectator, but that old competitive spirit still gets the better of him.

"I enjoy watching Daniel," he explained. "It is one of the reasons I packed in management. I try not to be too critical or give him too much praise, but I kick every ball anyway. I was trying to head that one in when Zamora scored against Rushden."

One of Webb's former colleagues at Chelsea and Derby also has a son playing for Albion.

Matthew Wicks is a stopper, just like his dad Steve, but that according to his father is where the similarity ends.

"Matt and I are very different as players," said Wicks. "I was more of a Danny Cullip, although that is probably being unfair to Danny! My whole game was built around winning the first header.

"A lot of centre backs throw themselves into things, but Matt is never going to be that type of player. He's a thinker."

Wicks junior, a schoolboy with Arsenal and Manchester United, is finding it difficult at the moment to reclaim a first team place with Albion.

"I think it's hard for him," said Wicks senior. "There are always comparisons made. There is always the line in the paper that says son of.

"You feel the highs and the lows with them and you try to help them through the experiences of your own career.

"When things are going well the main thing as a dad is to keep their feet on the floor and encourage them to maintain a level of consistency. I've been picking Matt up a lot more times over the last few months. It's a father's job to share things and try to help.

"People talk about all the glamour, but Matt lives on his own and when you are down and there is nobody to go home to it can be a lonely life.

"I am there when he needs me but I am not one of those dads who is a hanger-on with his son. I go to see him play sometimes because I enjoy watching him."

One day soon a couple of old defensive chums from Chelsea could be sitting alongside each other, observing their offspring in action for Albion.