In one part of the playground Bobby Zamora would be kicking a ball around with current young stars of Spurs, Chelsea and Charlton.

In another you would have discovered the likes of Lee Bowyer, Muzzy Izzet, Ade Akinbiyi and Darren Purse.

Go further back and you find that Ray Wilkins and Ray Lewington trod the same route.

A year after Zamora came Jermaine Defoe, hero of West Ham's win at Old Trafford last Saturday.

Last season Defoe scored in ten games in a row during a loan spell with Albion's Second Division rivals Bournemouth. Zamora could match him at Withdean tomorrow night against Reading.

The young goal kings and the rest all have one thing in common. Their careers were nurtured by a Sunday junior club with an astonishing strike rate for producing professional footballers.

Zamora's rise to stardom with the Seagulls was launched with Senrab in the east end of London.

He played in the same team as Tottenham's Ledley King, Chelsea's John Terry and Paul Konchesky of Charlton.

The line-up also included Aston Villa's J. Lloyd Samuel and Izzet's younger brother Kemal, who opposed Zamora for Colchester at Withdean earlier this season.

They honed their skills in training sessions at Langdon Park School in Poplar, then put them into practice at Senrab's home ground on Wanstead Flats, a public playing field.

The team won trophies galore in the Echo League, covering East London and South Essex.

Manager Paul Rolls never had any doubt that Barking-born Zamora and the rest would make it.

Rolls, a scout for West Ham, revealed: "Bobby and John Terry were the talk of the Echo League.

"I have been scouting for 20 years and they stood out a mile. They were the best boys in Essex at that time.

"Bobby was a different grade to anything else up front. The boy was lethal. He had everything, pace, an eye for goal, a good header, passing and composure.

"West Ham thought he was too frail at that time and would not go on to make the grade, but I told them they were wrong.

"He was an outstanding prospect right the way through. He was the first forward you put on the teamsheet. He had a great attitude as well, there was nothing about him you could dislike."

Zamora was playing for rival club Lakeview when Rolls snapped him up for Senrab.

"I used to go all over the place watching games and picking the best boys," said Rolls. "It was very unusual for Senrab at that time to lose a game. If you did you were in danger of the sack!

"Bobby always played well against us for Lakeview. I'd heard lots of rumours about him and I went and spoke to his mum to invite him down with us. I told her he would be a regular.

"He knew the reputation we had for winning and he didn't hesitate about joining us. We had him for two and a half years in the same side as John, Ledley, Paul, J. Lloyd and Kemel.

"It doesn't surprise me how well he is doing with Brighton. I would be very surprised if he doesn't make the jump up to a higher level.

"I know his name has been linked with a lot of big clubs, but I think he should go to someone in the First Division to learn his trade a bit more and then get a big move.

"The boy can go on and earn a good living out of the game. He listens and works hard."

Zamora's Senrab side was coached by Kevin Nicholls', father of the Wigan midfielder of the same name who had a spell on loan with Albion from Charlton.

Senrab, Barnes spelt backwards, is named after a street in Stepney. The club was founded 40 years ago by West Ham's youth development officer Jimmy Tindall, who is recovering from a heart attack.

A dinner is planned for May, which Zamora and his pals are due to attend. He is still a close friend of Terry, the England under 21 captain, and it should be quite a gathering.

Rolls added: "Bobby invited me a couple of weeks ago to come and watch a Brighton game, but it's been difficult to fit in with my duties for West Ham.

"It makes me feel proud when I look at that Senrab side and what they have all achieved."