Spurs friendly opens Brighton's Falmer stadium

Brighton & Hove Albion's new £93m ground was officially opened when the team took on Spurs in a friendly match.

Thousands of fans filled the 22,500-seater Amex Stadium at Falmer long before the 15:00 BST kick-off.

Chichester Archdeacon, the Ven Douglas McKittrick, said prayers before supporters sang the traditional football hymn, Abide with Me.

The two teams were led out to the song Sussex By The Sea, which has become the club's theme tune.

Brighton manager and former Uruguay international Gus Poyet played for Premier League Tottenham Hotspur between 2001 and 2004.

The Seagulls were left without a permanent home after leaving the Goldstone Ground in 1997.

An initial planning application for a 22,500-seater stadium on land north of Village Way, in Falmer, was submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council in 2001.

It was accepted by the government in July 2007 after a High Court challenge and two public inquiries.

The real action at the Falmer Stadium begins on 6 August, when the Seagulls kick-off their season in the Championship against Doncaster Rovers.