By Tim Dudding

With the exception of the actual match result, Albion's trip to Le Havre last week was an overwhelming success - and not just for the first team squad.

Albion's Football in the Community team also made the trip to Normandy, taking an Under-11 & 12 side from the club's Community Skills Centres for a five day spell of training and coaching.

The team enjoyed training with Le Havre's youth team coaches, were guests at the banquet which followed the first-team's match on Saturday, and even played a friendly against their counterparts from the HAC Youth Academy.

Albion's Football and Community Development Officer, Dave Jupp, told seagulls.co.uk, "It was a fantastic success and the squad of 17 really enjoyed themselves.

"The aim of the trip for the community scheme was to enable our players to be treated in a professional playing manner, and for them to enjoy playing and receive coaching in a foreign country with top level facilities.

"For the coaches involved in the project, the aim was to educate them in foreign coaching techniques, and for them to be able to put these techniques into practice.

"It is then hoped that they will pass on these techniques when they coach back in England."

The overall initiative with Le Havre was funded thanks to the government's Interreg Scheme, designed to promote community and cross-cultural development between the two respective clubs.

In addition, the team were sponsored by Sussex-based Martlett Homes, who already sponsor the Community's West Sussex Officer, Tony Clarke.

Jupp added, "I would like to thank Stephanie Smith and Martlett Homes for sponsoring our trip and providing us with all our training kit and equipment.

"I would also like to thank everyone involved at the HAC Academy, and in particular Michael Blahay, Thierry Brisset and Michael Lebaillif, who spent all weekend with us and made us feel extremely welcome."