Apprentices of Brighton & Hove Albion will be hoping for an opportunity to impress at the club’s brand new home – the American Express Community Stadium.
The East Sussex club had temporarily used the Withdean Stadium and had been without a permanent home for twelve years before the club were handed the keys to their new facility this year.
Gus Poyet will be preparing to start history at the AMEX, as his side look to replicate the success of last year which saw them promoted the Championship for the 2011/12 season.
The Seagull’s Apprentices will of course be itching to experience some game time at the 22,500-seater stadium and this could soon become a reality if the youth team were to receive a home draw in the FA Youth Cup.
However the young starlets at Brighton will be looking at the future and hoping the ground becomes their permanent footballing residence.
LFE’s Regional Officer Ian Smithson said: “It’s great news that the club as a whole can now settle down somewhere they can call home and as far as stadiums go in my opinion this has to be one of the best outside of the Premier League.”
“From my point of view, which is angled towards the youth department and its Apprentices, I am confident the move will provide the neccessary facilities to enhance the youngster’s development educationally and on the pitch.”
“The Apprentices work really hard in and around the ground and I hope to see them reaping the rewards by being given the chance to cross the white line for the first-team.”
