IAN Chapman pulls on an Albion shirt for the first time in almost three years tonight and he admits: "I will have a few butterflies."

The former Seagulls favourite is one of five new faces in the reserves facing Tottenham at Woodside Road, Worthing (7.0).

Chapman, 29, joins ex-Dundee United centre half Julian Alsford, young Bradford City centre forward Lawrence Davies, Finnish left winger Jari Makinen and Billericay stopper Darren White.

"It's brilliant, especially to be back playing at Brighton," he said. "I never wanted to leave."

Brighton-born Chapman made 331 appearances in ten years with Albion before he was controversially released by Jimmy Case in April 1996. He joined the Seagulls' landlords Gillingham but snapped a cruciate ligament in September 1997.

"I've only played one proper game in 16 months, so I need matches to get fully fit," he said. "I will have a few butterflies, but I'm an older head now I suppose.

"I know I can do a job for Brighton again and it's up to me to prove I am worth taking on."

Albion Reserves: Ormerod; White, Alsford, Hobson, Smith, Chapman, Ansah, Browne, Makinen, Davies, Ryan.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.