Two Brighton players feature in BBC Match of the Day segment

Men’s keeper Bart Verbruggen and women’s midfielder Dejana Stefanovic went to Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation’s session in Whitehawk.

It was part of the foundation’s work with the Premier League Kicks campaign that provides free weekly football sessions and mentorship to hundreds of children across Sussex, many who come from the county’s most deprived communities.

The MOTD cameras filmed at the Manor on January 25 where Verbruggen and Stefanovic got to meet youngsters.

Women's midfielder Dejana Stefanovic speaking to two youngsters (Image: Supplied)

Children got to take part in small-sided games as well as fun activities like football-volleyball, a hardest shot competition, and a penalty shootout.

Martin Schooley, inclusion manager at the foundation, was grateful to the players for coming to visit.

"The kids all had a great time today and they loved meeting Dejana and Bart," he said.

"Premier League Kicks is a really amazing programme, which gives high-quality coaching and organised football sessions to children who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it.

"It helps young people learn new skills, make friends, become leaders, and gives them something positive to look forward to every week. It can be a real lifeline for some of the families we work with.”

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After their football session, the kids were taken inside to the hall at the Manor for some workshops ran by Sussex Police officers.

Chief Inspector Simon Yates, force lead at Sussex Police’s serious violence and knife crime unit, regularly visits PL Kicks sessions as a way of speaking to the local community and “breaking down barriers between young people and the police”.

"Working with the police really adds a lot to the PL Kicks programme," Martin Schooley said.

"It shows the kids that the police are on their side, that they're just ordinary people like them. Simon and his team are great at working with the children, and I think they have a big impact on them."