Darlington based American Football team, the Tees Valley Cougars, host their very first home game at Eastbourne Sports Complex on Sunday and they would like as many supporters to turn up.

Despite an unlucky start to the Cougars' first British Senior League season their record stands at played two, lost two - head coach Craig Buttery knows he has the personnel to change the team's fortunes.

The defeat at Dundee on April 26 particularly hurt Cougars as they knew they had performed well below par, and to rectify this the team were given longer and harder training sessions so as to rectify any field problems, in an effort to give a improved first home game showing.

This Sunday's opponents, the Merseyside Nighthawks, will provide stiff competition and the Cougars are looking to American Football Fans from around the Darlington area to turn out in their droves, so as to vocally support the team as they fight for points.

"It was amazing to see how home support can lift a team's performance," said Cougar's PR Manager Greg Beswick.

"It most certainly did at Doncaster, when there was seven seconds to go when we were finally beaten.

"We want a good vocal group of people to turn up and shout us on at home games. It is free to watch and we really need this support."

The result of Sunday's match, which starts at 2.30pm, will set the scene for the Cougar's second home fixture on Sunday, May 19 when the unbeaten Gateshead Senators visit for what will be a Tees/Tyne derby fixture.