Webmaster, 14, scores a big hit

by Carrie Buckle

A schoolboy has scored a massive hit on the internet with his web site devoted to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Computer whizzkid David Snowball, 14, set up the site about the Seagulls six months ago.

He has seen it shoot into the world wide web's premier league as Zamora and co become an international obsession.

Now it has stood up to competition from the Manchester United and Arsenal sites to be ranked among the top 150 most popular football web sites in the world.

David said: "I first got the idea of starting the site when I was on a Brighton message board. People kept asking why there wasn't an Albion site which combined match reports, games, quizzes and other information.

"I thought I would give it a go and ever since it started I have had great feedback. Fans leave messages on the site and say well done. I am pleased it has done so well."

A lifelong Seagulls fan, David grew up in Worthing and got to grips with computers at Broadwater Manor School.

He said: "For as long as I can remember I went to the Seagulls' games. And then I got into computers so I could follow them."

His mother Karen, 42, of Evelyn Road, Worthing, who also has a son Mark, 12, and daughter, Maddison, three, said: "David has always loved Brighton and Hove Albion - as a little boy he was in the Junior Seagulls club.

"He is also a natural when it comes to computers so the site provides the best of both worlds.

"The site was all his own idea but he is quite modest about it. I am so proud of what he has achieved. I just want him to be happy and hope the site will lead on to other things."

The web site is at www.bhafc.cjb.net