Brian Horton lasted less than a year as Albion's manager.

His hero status as an inspirational captain of the Seagulls took a battering when he left for another of his former clubs, Port Vale.

During his all-too-brief reign, Horton took a decision which Albion are now reaping the benefits of and are likely to do so for years to come.

He appointed Dean Wilkins and Martin Hinshelwood to overhaul a decaying, neglected youth system.

Eight years on, Wilkins and Hinshelwood have spectacularly vindicated the choice Horton made with their achievements.

Albion's table-topping under 18s visit Newcastle tonight in the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, the furthest the Seagulls have ever been in the competition.

They have already knocked out Chelsea and Blackburn and three of the youngsters - Joe Gatting, Joel Lynch and Tommy Elphick - have already played for the first team this season.

Wilkins and Hinshelwood have transformed the youth section into a high-tech, high-quality production line envied up and down the country.

Just as well then that Wilkins was rescued from a career as a property dealer. His playing days as a cultured midfielder for Albion had ended and he was turning out part-time for Bognor when the call came.

"I'd started doing some coaching in schools, totally different to the job I am in now, but I was keen on going through the whole system, getting my badges and eventually trying to get a job in the pro game," Wilkins said.

"It's strange the little bits of luck you need. Brian (Horton) and myself share the same accountant (Colin Brennan).

"Brian would speak to Colin and explain they were thinking of revamping the youth section, Colin knew I was coaching and keen to get back involved. That's how it happened."

Wilkins, the youth team coach, and Hinshelwood, the director of youth turned manager and now director of football, inherited a disorganised mess.

They set about restoring pride in the club and dragging the youth system into the 20th century.

Today's Albion youth players receive 21st century back-up. A sports scientist and nutritionist are part of Wilkins' advisory team. It is a different world from the one he walked into.

"We are incredibly proud," Wilkins said. "When Martin and myself came in we felt it would take six years to actually instill the kind of discipline we wanted, to get the kind of environment we felt the players would flourish in.

"There are so many little things involved. The first year we turned up, the players at the centre of excellence were all wearing Arsenal and Man United kits.

"Martin realised then we had to get them wearing the shirt in training as well. We kitted them all out so they all turned up in the same gear. Things like that make a big difference.

"From 16 through to 19, which is the guys we are working with full time, we need to educate them as much as possible in every aspect of being a professional footballer.

"We try to educate them into looking after their bodies. We've said to them your tools are your body, if you don't look after that you can't move on to the next stage, you just stay at base one.

"I made a contact over at Brighton University and we were able to get the players tested for different kinds of fitness, aerobic, endurance, speed and power.

"Also, from my travels talking to the players and parents and the feedback I was getting, we wanted to bring a bit more enjoyment back into the place, to see some smiles on faces.

"There were lots of well dones and unluckys when mistakes were made and encouraging them to stay on the ball a little bit longer.

"I know from past experience if there is any degree of fear when you step onto the pitch then you are never going to perform to anywhere near your best.

"We try to eliminate the fear factor and over the years I think we have probably done that. Now we are producing accomplished footballers, players that are comfortable in possession, good athletes and good people, which is really important.

"If they don't succeed at this club we want the boys to leave here with a good grounding andsome discpline. They can then go on and lead an organised, successful life in what ever they choose to do."

Adam Virgo, now at Celtic, and Dan Harding, of Leeds, followed the Wilkins way as they progressed through the system. The outlook is even more encouraging for the current crop.

"This group is probably the best we've had," said Wilkins. "We recognised that could be the case from the age of 12, when Ian Chapman was taking them.

"We had a large number of very talented players. Two years ago, when we made decisions on these boys, we had a group of 18 at one time and ended up taking 12.

"Previous to that we had been taking, on average, six so it was a massive commitment for the club but Dick (chairman Dick Knight) was supportive in that.

"He trusted our judgment and I think 18 months down the line our judgment has been proved to be right with the amount of players that have got in and around the first team, the success we are having in the FA Youth Cup and in the league. They have been a special group."

So special that Wilkins' post-match reactions to the victories over Chelsea and Blackburn were surprisingly downbeat.

"It's only because I know they are capable of achieving more," he explained. "Although we are enjoying the success, I want us to win every game in style as well, every aspect of the performance, the physical side, the tactical side, the attacking and defensive sides.

"I want to go to big grounds with this group of players and for people to be talking about us all over the country, what good players we've got, athletic, mobile, I want the lot.

"I must admit I did regret it coming away from Blackburn. I felt like I'd put a bit of a dampener on it. I did try and make up for it. The next day I bought some cakes in and apologised.

"They are good lads, they work hard day in and day out and I really do regret not letting them just shout and holler and enjoy the victory. I've told them we'll enjoy it all the way through to the final now!"

Wilkins, 43, is naturally ambitious. He does not agree with the pigeon-holing of youth coaches and sees no reason why his methods would not work at senior level somewhere some day.

That is for the future. For the present, his mind is one-track, another upset at St James' Park to set up a mouthwatering semi-final over two legs against Manchester City.

"We watched Newcastle play Brentford in the previous round," Wilkins said.

"We mustn't be too confident but we have got a serious chance, a real chance of actually winning the whole competition. I believe we will."