A PROFESSIONAL footballer was joined by scores of youngsters hoping to follow in his footsteps as summer fun began at a memorial football court.

Aldershot Town striker Charlie Walker opened the summer season of sport at Connor's Court in Rottingdean on Saturday.

The former Longhill High School pupil was a friend and ex-teammate of Peacehaven FC player Connor Saunders who tragically died in a street fight in April 2012.

All players received a free Connor’s Court football while the best players received skateboards kindly donated by South Coast Skates.

The all-weather pitch on Rottingdean seafront opened in October after £85,000 was raised by the Play Area in Rottingdean Committee (PARC) and The Argus Appeal.

Cathy Taylor from PARC said: “It was a really successful day, the kids really loved it.

“The court wasn’t opened until October last year so we haven’t had a full summer season yet.

“Its somewhere we can hold more football tournaments in the future.”