YOUTH teamer Marc Leach made his first team debut at Brighton on Tuesday but was back cleaning coach Terry Gibson's boots by the end of the week.

The 18-year-old, who hasn't even got a professional contract, was drafted in from the youth team when Mark Rogers was ruled out because of a family bereavement.

And the teenager, who has been playing centre forward for much of the season, was given a baptism of fire as he was handed the job of marking Bobby Zamora.

Leach said: "I was disappointed with the result but I thought I did okay in the circumstances. Zamora's brilliant, Premiership class. He's got quick feet and is so pacy. He always seemed to know where the ball was going before I did."

Zamora scored twice in Albion's 4-0 win, but Leach reckons he's learned a lot and wants more.

He said: "I wasn't expecting it. I went into training on Monday with the youth team and got called up to train with the first team."

It was a dream for the player who feared his career could have been over before it started. In his first week as a trainee he discovered he had a fractured spine and was signed off for 14 months.

He said: "I thought the club might get rid of me. I didn't play until my second year but they kept me for a third because I missed a year."

He had reason to worry. Brother Nick was released by Blues without breaking into the team.

Marc said: "I'm pleased for the family that one of us has played a game in the Football League."

Now he faces a fresh battle. His contract is up in June and he's fighting for a professional deal.

But before that he doesn't know whether to prepare himself for a youth team game against Plymouth on Saturday or the first team's game against Stoke.

March 7, 2002 13:00