Albion are mourning the death of former full-back Jack Mansell at the age of 88.

Mansell played 122 games for the Seagulls after making his debut in February 1949, scoring 11 goals.

He later coached Littlehampton and was player-manager of another Sussex County League side, Eastbourne United.

Mansell joined Albion on a lengthy trial in 1949, having previously been an amateur on Manchester United’s books.

However, it was after switching to left-back that he became a regular in the side.

It was always going to be difficult for Albion to hold on to a player of his class and in October 1952 he joined First Division Cardiff City for a £15,000 fee.

Less than a year later he switched to Portsmouth for £23,000 and went on to win two England B caps, represented the Football League on two occasions and be elected for two FA tours of South Africa.

He also played in the first ever Football League staged under floodlights, a 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United in 1956.

After his playing career was cut short in February 1959 by a bout of appendicitis, Mansell embarked on a coaching and management career, initially with Eastbourne United.

He nearly became Albion manager but the job was given to George Curtis ahead of him in 1961 and was an applicant again when Archie Macaulay was appointed in 1963.

A keen cricketer, Mansell spent his retirement in Seaford.