Seagulls supporters asked to back the Sussex Sharks

Sussex Sharks are hoping football-starved Seagulls supporters will flock to Hove tonight for a feast of cricket fun.

Sussex CCC and Brighton and Hove Albion teamed up earlier this year in a bid to promote the other to their own set of supporters.

And tonight Albion fans are being asked to head down to the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground to show their support for a Sharks side still with an outside chance of making the Natwest T20 Blast knock-out stages.

The Sharks welcome near-neighbours Kent Spitfires to the Sussex coast and are hoping for a near-sell-out crowd.

To help fill the stands, the county is offering all Albion season-ticket-holders a 10% discount on match tickets.

Zac Toumazi, chief executive of Sussex CCC, is hopeful football fans can be convinced to give cricket a go. He said: 'I'm thrilled that our friends from The Amex are joining the party.

'The partnership with Brighton and Hove Albion is really exciting and will undoubtedly help both clubs engage more people across a wider area.'

All fans heading to the match are encouraged to wear blue to create a sea of blue around the ground and crank up the support for the Sharks for what is traditionally a spicy derby encounter.

Mr Toumazi added: 'We want to see fans in blue - their Sussex shirts or their Albion kit - and we'll be giving out more than 1,000 blue t-shirts when spectators arrive to add to the sea of blue in the stands.

'Hove will be rocking, the atmosphere will be fantastic. It's what people want to see on NatWest T20 Blast nights, especially when it is a hotly contested fixture with our neighbours Kent.'

The two teams do traditionally share a significant section of their support base, but with the football team now regularly playing in front of crowds topping 26,000, there is clearly room for a few new recruits to cricket.

The Seagulls boasted 23,000 season-ticket-holders last season - the highest outside the Premier League - meaning the offer for tonight's match has the potential to fill the County Ground.

To buy tickets (from £20 for adults, £10 for juniors) visit: www.sussexcricket.co.uk/sea-of-blue and to receive 10% discount enter the promo code: Seagulls.