Issue 6 May 2017
THE EDITOR
T
wenty years ago Brighton & Hove Albion played their last competitive fixture at the Goldstone Ground – then the bulldozers moved in.
Albion beat Doncaster Rovers in the penultimate match of a campaign that had seen protests, marches, pitch invasions, TV debates and some truly appalling football. There was still a chance the club could retain their Football League status the following week at Hereford despite being bottom of the basement division for over 200 days – and at one point 12 points adrift. The draw at Edgar Street retained Albion’s Football League status but we didn’t have a home. Two years at Gillingham, 12 at Withdean and now six at Falmer. I grew from a young boy to a man at the Goldstone. I initially attended games with my granddad, uncle, dad and cousins in the West Stand, inhaling stale cigar smoke wafting up from the directors’ box, watching in wonder at the commotion and energy emanating from the North Stand, and dreaming of being amongst myself one day. I’m in the West Upper now.
The Albion as we know it today couldn’t have been further away two decades ago… As much as I loved the Goldstone I wouldn’t swap it for the Amex in a million years. The old North Stand toilets were less than a metre from where ‘food’ was served. It was falling down, uncared for, crumbling, and a sad old relic of the past. But it was home. And it housed hundreds of memories for us all. After 34 years away, the Albion will host top-flight football again in August, in a top-class arena, with a top-notch manager. For two generations of fans it’ll be the first time they’ve seen their team compete with the ‘big boys’ in the League.
P3: Editorial P4/5: Nick Szczepanik P6/7: Albion Roar P9: We Are Brighton P12-15: AITC P19: Cain Suleyman P20/21: Brett Mendoza P22/23: AITC P24/25: Mike Ward P26/27: Steve Brewer P29: We Are Brighton P30/31: Sandra Murphy P32: Leon Cox P34/35: Brighton But Only at Home’s Classic Away Days P38/39: Cult heroes P41: Shoreham FC P42/43: Claire Byrd P44/45: Simon Levenson P46/47: Nic Outterside P50/51: The Great Seagull in the Sky P53: Joe McBride’s match reports P54/55: Joel Essex P56/57: Mark Brailsford P58/59: Goldstone Wrap P60/61: Ian Hine P63: Goldstone Stats P65: Dan Tester P66/67: Nic Outterside P69: Joel Essex P70: Anthony James
It is an incredible story. Enjoy the parade and be proud of your club. And, more important than anything else: never, ever forget the past.
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It makes the present that much sweeter. UTA. Dan Tester
P54 The Albion Mag is owned and produced by FFP, 6 Marlborough Place, Brighton BN1 1UB All content enquiries, please email: info@thealbionmag.com
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Fame at last
And the press box, unusually, was the centre of attention. We’re usually in the press seats looking out, but on this occasion everyone was looking in at our small domain, which is usually populated only by serious-looking people in layers of warm clothing. Serious, because there are deadlines and word counts and they’re both pretty inflexible. There could be ten goals – or none – in a game so you’ve somehow got to make a lot out of a little or cram it all in, and you don’t know which until the end. And, don’t get me started on extra time and penalties. Layers of clothing, because it usually gets colder as a game goes on and you’re not jumping to your feet as fans do. The extreme example in
Britain is the micro-climate that is the press box at Stoke City’s ground, or Ice Station Zebra as it’s known to regulars. I’m not sure why the bet365 Stadium press area is so cold, but it could be that the stadium is on a hill, and the press seats are in the shade, high up in a stand with two open ends so that the wind can whistle through. You can tell first-time media visitors because they turn up in August dressed for summer instead of the Arctic winter that prevails there. On Easter Monday at about 4.55 we suddenly had guests in the Amex press box, who were casually and unconcernedly breaking the unwritten code that says Strictly No Cheering and No Football Shirts. But since the guilty men were Anthony
The dressing room post-match
Knockaert, Bruno, Lewis Dunk and the rest, we gladly made an exception. Come to think of it, there weren’t even that many football shirts in evidence. Knockaert and Beram Kayal were barechested as they led the singing and others were also in various stages of undress. Thank goodness Dunk had found some tracksuit bottoms after leaving the field in only his pants. Actually, where else would the players have been? The geography of the stadium means that they would have had to mount quite an expedition to get up to the directors’ box in order to wave to the crowds on the pitch from alongside the chairman and chief executive. But, from the tunnel, you just go through
(Image: Daily Mail)
I
was on the front page of the Brighton & Hove Albion Independent. I was there along with hundreds of other people, of course, all celebrating promotion in a photograph of the West Stand at the Amex about five minutes after the final whistle at the Wigan game.
Nick Szczepanik is a football and NFL writer whose byline has appeared in every national daily paper (yes, even that one) but mostly in The Times and The Independent. An Albion fan since the 1960s, his ambition is to report on the club in Europe.
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(Image: The Jewish Chronicle)
The view from the press box
a door and up a few stairs and you’re among Her Majesty’s Press just above the tunnel entrance. In fact, Tony Bloom and Paul Barber turned up among us so quickly that I think they must have abseiled down from the expensive seats. Being so close to the players meant that I was accidentally in several shots in various media outlets but in all of them I look worried. Wondering whether to try to get some player quotes now or wait for later, perhaps, or pondering whether Lewis Dunk was planning to pour more beer over his own head and drown my laptop. Maybe even thinking about next season. But, however I looked just at that moment, I wasn’t worried at all, just ecstatic and unconsciously hiding it. I hadn’t been able to get to Newcastle to see the only comparable occasion in the
club’s history so this was long overdue. They say it’s the little details that matter and I’d spotted Tony Bloom wiping away a little tear just before the cheers were directed in his direction and he was handed that scarf and let all that pent-up emotion out, whirling it above his head and going bonkers like everyone on the pitch. And I saw Iñigo Calderón lean out of the crowd to shake Uwe Hünemeier’s hand, and then jump down into the tunnel to go and rejoice with his former team-mates. Down in the tunnel, Jamie Murphy paused in his celebrations to shake Tony’s hand and say: “Congratulations, Mr Chairman.”
In the first edition of this august publication I wrote of seeing Calde in tears in that tunnel after the play-off semi-final second leg against Sheffield Wednesday. Now I spoke to him and asked him about that evening and he said… No, sorry, I’m keeping that back for my book. With a bit of luck it’ll be out for the new season so that it sells as many as possible before we lose a few games. The title has yet to be finalised, but the publisher wanted to call it Rollercoaster. No good, I said – you go up a rollercoaster and then come down. This is the opposite. We’ve had the down part and now we’re on the up. @NickSzczepanik
Nick has a book out, Pulp Football. Football is about goals, great players and glory. But it’s also about own goals, goats and the game gone wrong. The book looks at the comedy rather than the beauty of the world’s favourite sport.
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(Image: Mark Raven)
AND WE’LL BURN THE FLIPPING LOT
Mark Brailsford
Join Ady and Al on the Albion Roar, a Brighton & Hove Albion fans’ independent radio show, on Radio Reverb 97.2FM every Saturday from 12-1pm. You can listen in on FM, via www.radioreverb.com, and on DAB. Alternatively, catch the podcast at www.albionroar.co.uk.
S
eptember 2016, my phone rang. “Hi Al, Steve North here. I’ve a question for you, I don’t know if you can help. We’ve got some copies of We Want Falmer! we need to store. Do you know anywhere that would be a good place?” I couldn’t help him, but during that conversation, my mind blurred from We Want Falmer! to Build A Bonfire; both co-authored by Steve and Paul Hodson. “Do you realise that come the end of this season, it will be 20 years since the last game at the Goldstone?” It was a known stat, but one which, at that time, most people didn’t
give a second thought towards. “Why don’t we put on a show celebrating the fans’ efforts from then and the two decades in between. Steve thought it a good idea, and talked to Paul about it.
“ We made the noise that brought the boys from Hereford to here…” There is a famous quote from legendary rock promoter Harvey Goldsmith after Live Aid was done and dusted in 1985 which went “next time Bob [Geldof] calls me, I’m going on holiday…” I’m wondering if Paul Hodson felt like that. We sat on the idea until January before finally deciding to get ourselves into gear. We’d had a couple of early meetings, discussing ideas – and left it at that. Meanwhile, Komedia, where Build A Bonfire was going to be held, wanted publicity
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material and descriptive words for their website and programme. Then, in early February, a post appeared on North Stand Chat stating the poster had bought two tickets for the show on April 26th.
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Ahh. “I suppose we ought to put this show together then…” What’s clear is the Brighton & Hove Albion fans are a fairly sentimental bunch – understandable considering the turmoil we’ve been through and the pride all those who took part in saving the club ultimately feel. Tickets sold very quickly, and in between two meetings ten days apart, we’d sold out. Alright, it wasn’t exactly Live Aid, but to a packed house of 270 in Komedia, an array of
Attila kicked off the evening with a poem written especially for the occasion – From Hereford To Here – chronicling the past 20 years’ journey for every Albion fan. ‘We made the noise that brought the boys from Hereford to here…’ We did. And then some. Stephen Grant set the evening alight with an Albion-based whirlwind 15-minute set of fast-paced, slick comedy. This set the tone for the rest of the evening as Steve North, Mark Brailsford, Beth Fitzgerald and Jem Wall read passages from Build A Bonfire, bringing to life, for the first time, the story as contemporarily told in 1997. Ady Packham and myself were next up interviewing
three heroes who were such a huge part in the fall and demise of Archer, Bellotti and Stanley – Ian Hart, Paul Samrah and Paul Camillin. Most of their stories are unrepeatable in The Albion Mag and The Albion Roar, but seeing as they involve crank phone calls, drunken louche debauchery, criminal behaviour and low-level skullduggery, you ought to get the picture. Mark Brailsford’s genteel ukulele-driven Seagulls Over The Rainbow/We’re On Our Way mash-up was something to behold, and after more readings and more interviews (with Liz Costa and Dick Knight, who received a standing ovation – but of course), 19-year-old Albion Powerchair captain Matt Francis spoke of his gratitude to all of the previous generation of fans who’d helped to save the club, and in so doing offering him the opportunity
www.albionroar.co.uk/recent-shows.php
(Image: Mark Raven)
(Image: Dan Tester)
(Image: Mark Raven) (Image: Mark Raven)
Albion fans took to the stage to tell poems, perform comedy, tell stories and interview those who were there during the club’s war years.
L to r: Paul Camillin, Paul Samrah, Ian Hart, Alan Wares, Ady Packham
to play for Brighton & Hove Albion and England. By this time, it wasn’t clear who it was in the room chopping the onions, but whoever it was needed to stop. After a final set of readings about Doncaster and Hereford, Attila closed the show with an emotional rendition of Goldstone Ghosts, and the crowd went home happy; a perfect curtain-raiser to the Albion’s title-winning weekend in the city. So, in the grand scheme of things, the first intention of the entire event turned out to be an unmitigated disaster – the selling off of old copies of We Want Falmer! Five were sold on the night. About 300 remain. But the truth is, us sentimental Albion fans were happy to take one last trip down Goldstone Lane – sorry, Memory Lane – before opening a new chapter in the club’s history. TAM. Alan Wares @albionroar
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ALBION ON THEIR WELL-DESERVED PROMOTION TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE FROM EVERYONE AT 1BRIGHTONFM.
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ON THE PITCH, ON THE PITCH, ON THE PITCH Y
es, we are all very excited about being a Premier League club from next season. The best players at some of the biggest clubs in the world strutting their stuff against the Albion.
But, perhaps the best thing to come out of all this is the return of the Art of the Pitch Invasion. Thousands of people pouring onto a pitch in joyous celebration is one of the best sights in football. Not even the half-hearted efforts of Paul Barber’s threats of bans could stop the terraces of the Amex emptying onto that beautiful green playing surface. Players and fans coming together (or should that be #Together) as one to
celebrate the culmination of a very long 20-year journey‌ And it makes you appreciate that at Brighton, we have a long history of high-quality pitch invasions. From wet and windy nights at Withdean, to crossbars being snapped at the Goldstone, here are five other Albion invasions that stand tall in comparison to those great scenes of unbridled, Premier-Leaguehere-we-come joy.
Swindon Town home, League One pla-offs 2004 From the moment Adam Virgo scored that goal in the 119th minute to take the play-off semi-final with Swindon Town to penalties, there was only one team going to win the shoot-out. Mark McGhee certainly knew it and he knew what would happen when a final spot at Cardiff was booked. As soon as that decisive spot kick from Swindon crashed into the post, McGhee was off, tearing from the dugouts across to the north-east corner like a Scottish Usain Bolt, waving his arms in the air as the South Stand swamped all around him. Manchester City home, League Cup 2008 Dubbed the richest club in world football just a few continued on page 29 >
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ALBION IN THE COMMUNITY
Andy retires after 17 years One of Albion in the Community’s longest serving players has retired after 17 years playing at the charity’s disability football sessions.
progressed to Portslade at the Sunday Adults session and then to Lancing at the club’s American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.”
Andy Ralph first attended one of AITC’s sessions at the King Alfred Centre back in 1999 and it is fair to say he has never looked back.
And what impact does he think his near two decades playing with AITC has had on him? “At school they told me I wasn’t going to achieve
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The knowledge I had scored the first goal for Brighton was a special experience. It’s an achievement people can never take away from me.
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His mum Teresa helped support (as a volunteer) the hugely-popular Seagulls Specials session that eventually developed into the award-winning disability programme AITC now runs. The charity delivers more than 25 regular football sessions for people with a disability, has 17 teams competing in the Sussex Disability Football League and another four in national competitions. It’s unlikely a single player has attended as many sessions as Andy.
anything in sport,” revealed Andy. “But AITC has supported me so much I honestly struggle to put it into words. The coaches I have met have made
He explained: “I was initially going along to support my brother who went to the sessions but I joined in shortly after. From there the coach asked if I wanted to play with the team and take part in the league. I
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me so much more confident in who I am. Every coach I’ve come into contact with has been so hard-working and brought something different to encourage me to play football. I’ve also got a friend who I met at my first session and 17 years later he is still my
best mate. If it wasn’t for AITC I wouldn’t have made that special friendship.” Does he have any special memories of his time with AITC? Two immediately spring to mind – for different reasons. “Scoring the first goal in the Special Olympics,” he explained. “The knowledge I had scored the first goal for Brighton was a special experience. It’s an achievement people can never take away from me. My brother was also a mascot for the last game of the season one year. Captain Paul Rogers came over and let our friend, who was in a wheelchair, hold the trophy during his lap of honour. For me that’s what football is all about, special moments like those.” Despite retiring from the sport, Andy has insisted football is a big part of his future. He said: “I’m going to take some
time out but I want to return and help the charity with some coaching to give something back because it has done so much for me over the years. Helping to develop new players would really be an honour for me.” Paul Brackley, AITC’s disability manager, thanked Andy for all the time he had contributed to AITC. He said: “Andy, and both his mum and brother Matt, have been key figures in our disability programme for many years and we remain grateful for their support and participation. Although Andy retiring marks the end of his playing days with us, we look forward to having him involved in our programmes for many years to come.” To find out more about AITC’s disability football sessions email: disability@ albioninthecommunity.com.
disability@albioninthecommunity.org.uk
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Coming up at AITC… We have a number of events coming up this summer. There’s something for everyone. Keep your copy of TAM6 handy so you don’t miss out. Monday 22 May: Shape Up at the Stadium A free, ten-week physical activity and health and nutrition course for men that live or work in Brighton and Hove: healthyweight@bhfood.org.uk. Saturday 27 May: AITC Play on the Pitch Fans will be given the chance to play a game on the American Express Community Stadium pitch wearing this season’s first team kit. Look out for AITC’s online auction in early May, or email: fundraising@albioninthecommunity.org.uk. Saturday 27 May: FirmBalls’ exclusive corporate seven-a-side charity tournament Enter a team in the tournament taking place at the Amex. 9am until 3pm: sam@firmballs.com, or kim@firmballs.com. Tuesday 30 May onwards: Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools AITC coaches will be delivering schools during May half-term in towns across Sussex, including Brighton, Eastbourne, Hassocks, Worthing, Steyning, Newhaven and Billingshurst: www.albioninthecommunity. org.uk to find out more and to book online.
Wednesday 14 June: Albion Games Team up with your colleagues or a group of friends and compete in the first-ever Albion Games at the University of Brighton Sports Centre. Featuring five adaptive sports, the event harnesses the thrill of competition and celebrates all that can be achieved through disability sport. 1pm until 5pm: fundraising@albioninthecommunity.org.uk for more details. Thursday 15 June: Albion to Ajax Cycle Challenge AITC’s annual European cycle challenge departs the evening of Thursday 15 June, returns Sunday 18 June: fundraising@albioninthecommunity.org.uk for more information, or to sign-up. Thursday 29 June: Brighton & Hove Albion Golf Day 2017 Raising funds for AITC at East Sussex National Resort. 18-holes, breakfast and three-course lunch: fundraising@albioninthecommunity.org.uk. Thursday 13 July: Footgolf Enjoy an evening of footgolf fun at Mid Sussex Golf Club near Ditchling and raise money for AITC: fundraising@albioninthecommunity.org.uk for details. Thursday 3 August and Thursday 31 August: Free girls football AITC is running two soccer schools for girls aged 6 to 13-years-old at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing: development@albioninthecommunity.org.uk for more details. For more information, visit: www.albioninthecommunity.org.uk, or follow us on Twitter at @AlbionintheComm.
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www.albioninthecommunity.org.uk
Meet Albion in the Community Name: Hayley Templeman Role: Development officer disability and girls
When did you start working for AITC? September 2012, but I have always worked within the area of disability or education. My first experience with disability sport came while working at the YMCA. Thanks to some external funding I was able to start running a disability holiday programme. My experiences since have taught me that regardless of someone’s ability everyone wants to engage, play sport and develop as a person.
Describe an average week within your role? My working week can include facilitating or delivering football sessions in schools with a focus on girls and disability football. I also deliver disability awareness training to local businesses, schools, colleges and universities. These help to educate people about not only disability sport, but also what it can be like to have a disability. They also help to break down barriers and tackle misconceptions by allowing people to experience a range of different impairments – even if only for an afternoon.
a lot of people telling us the training they received was incredibly helpful. Often we find some of the people who attend our awareness training have the best intentions but have not necessarily had much experience around people with different disabilities. My colleague Jadey Yesilada joins me at our training and talks about his experiences and the challenges he has faced, as someone with cerebral palsy, and how he has overcome them. We also provide practical support to participants, such as teaching them basic sign language and blind guiding, while also giving them the chance to experience what it is like to have a visual impairment, or need to use a wheelchair.
Do you have any special qualifications for your role? I have a British Level 2 Sign Language qualification which helps with communication at a number of our sessions. Also, my FA Level 2 coaching badge, PE in School Sport Level 3 and my PGCE teaching qualification are all crucial in allowing me to deliver the projects I do at Albion in the Community.
What is the best thing about working with Albion in the Community? I am a huge football fan so for me using the power of the game to help educate and teach others is a really special thing to do. Through working in schools and clubs for the last five years I have seen the students I have been working with develop new skills, discover a passion for football and grow in confidence.
If someone reading this was thinking about fundraising for Albion in the Community, what would you say to them? The work we do is a really important part of people’s lives and their education. The disability department is incredibly grateful for any money people donate to the charity and the money people raise by fundraising is vital in making sure we can continue to deliver the number of sessions we do – and in some cases expand our provision into new areas, not just in the disability department, but across all of AITC’s work.
continued on page 22 >
Do you feel that disability awareness training is having an impact on the way people view disability sport and people who have a disability? Yes definitely! The feedback has been very positive, with
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Happy Faces Alongside being an avid Albion supporter, I have a keen interest in portrait photography and have actively developed my portfolio for a number of years. When people ask me about my photographic influences, assuming I will name a successful photographer, I answer simply by saying “people influence my photography”. I knew I wanted to take portraits of people as I am fascinated by the vast amount of characters I see on a daily basis. I always like my projects to mean something to me, as it enables me to connect with my work, and therefore take stronger images. So far, in my photography, I haven’t integrated my love for football in any of my projects thus far.
So, the idea was simple. I’d locate myself in a packed pub full of Albion fans watching an away game. I wanted to develop a series of images on how people change throughout the game. My aim for the project was to have a collection of images that represent the physical and emotional changes throughout a game. And, there is no better time to do this than the tail-end of a nail-biting season that has seen our club finally reach the Premier League. Here are some images of how much it means to our fans. TAM.
Cain Suleyman, 18, is a student at the BRIT School, London, studying Musical Theatre and Photography
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A dream come true
T
he Brighton & Hove Albion way of life can be summed up perfectly by the great phrase and title of a tremendous Albion related book, More Than 90 Minutes. For those who don’t understand, it’s hard to explain the complex story that’s happened since the book was released. A proper rags-to-riches tale – and a bloody emotional journey!
Promotion to the Premier League means so much to myself and so many as it completes an almost impossible and unimaginable journey. Twenty years ago we were one game away from going out of the Football League through the Division Four trap door. Now we are leaving it through the ceiling that even Gus, the man who set us in the right direction, couldn’t even envisage. Brighton & Hove Albion is a top-flight club for the first time since football was invented in 1992. The Premier League riches are ours. This is what the national media picked up on anyway. It’s a sad state
of affairs, but money is what everyone talks about. For me it’s so much more. The honour of seeing Brighton play at English football’s top table. Being on Match of the Day. Seeing the players look like themselves on FIFA 18 and best of all, seeing the likes Ozil, Hazard, Aguero, Kane, Lukaku testing our defence whilst Guardiola, Klopp and Conte patrol the Amex dugout. I have a plan of watching every game home and away, but work and life in general will probably mean I can’t. But if I do, I could say I have watched Brighton play every game home and away in all four divisions. That would be nuts. Just seeing them play in all four divisions is enough for me. It still hasn’t sunk in that we’ve gone up. I’m not going to lie, when March’s goal went in against Wigan, I was crying with happiness. The realisation we had done it was too much for me to cope with. So many near misses in the last four years, now it was job done! The result of the Huddersfield game directly confirmed our
promotion and sparked a city-wide party! Footage of the players partying with the fans just shows the unity this club has. There aren’t many clubs with a bond like that. What a day. What a night! The unity was the biggest factor in our promotion. The bond between the players fighting for each other stood out. Top of the league against teams with way more money than us, parachute payments and on paper, much better players than us! Little old Brighton beat the odds and got themselves promoted. We only made two real changes to the squad that missed out on goal difference last year. This year, with Murray and Duffy added, we finished ten points clear of third and a goal difference
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(Images: Paul Hazlewood BHAFC)
“I’m not going to lie, when March’s goal went in against Wigan, I was crying with happiness. The realisation we had done it was too much for me to cope with.” over 30 better! Emphatic to say the least. There’s so many turning pivotal moments in the season to try and cover. Stockdale’s double penalty save against Sheffield Wednesday. Hemed’s equaliser at Brentford. Winning at Hillsborough for the first time ever, those two goals in three minutes at Fulham, and my favourite, Murray’s late winner away at Birmingham! It all ended in promotion and that unforgettable night after Wigan. Being the manager of a pub, I was lucky enough to have a venue to host a Promotion Party. A hundred or so people from my closest friends, to those at TAM, We Are Brighton, Albion Roar, and AITC all together packed into my pub,
drinking and dancing away to a playlist I put together based on chants sung at games. So much happiness in one room. It was a joy to behold. It’s friends that make my Albion supporting life so good. I was 18 when I met most of the group I go with now. They’ve had kids who’ve grown up, become grandparents. Some have had kids, got married or divorced. And some have stayed exactly the same. Having female friends that go to football seems unusual to most. I’m lucky enough to have some as my closest friends and loads I go to games with. I also have friends in their sixties and some only just legally old enough to drink. It is such an eclectic mix that works so well. It’s a
great group to be part of, even when we don’t agree on loads about our beloved team! I wouldn’t have it any other way. To you lot, I can only say thank you! We have a motto that ‘Brighton is a great day out with mates spoiled by 90 minutes of football’ which has rung so true on so many occasions down the years. Years of hopeless expectations and all for what? Those moments of pure joy. We are in one of those moments now and enjoying a great achievement and a fantastic season. Don’t you ever forget it! TAM. Brett Mendoza
@BrettMendoza
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ALBION IN THE COMMUNITY
Shape Up at the Stadium Albion fans are being invited to sign-up for a free ten-week exercise and nutrition programme. Shape Up at the Stadium is a free weekly health and nutrition course based at the Amex and aimed at men who live in Brighton and Hove. While there are many mixed weight-loss sessions across the city, male attendance is traditionally low – indeed they are almost always overwhelmingly attended by women.
For the group to lose an average of seven pounds per person is brilliant and it shows the attendees made some significant and positive lifestyle changes.
This is why AITC and the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership originally teamed up to launch Shape Up at the Stadium in an effort to encourage more local men to make healthy lifestyle changes. Participants on the ten-week course are given advice on healthy eating, portion sizes, reading food labels and creating a balanced diet as well as weekly exercise classes. AITC has been
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More than a dozen people took part – losing a combined 45kgs, or average loss of around half a stone each. The group also lost a combined 77cms from their waist measurements – that’s at least one trouser size smaller each. They also lost a total of 18% of their combined original body weight and
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running successful Shape Up at the Stadium courses for a number of years now and the latest intake completed the course at the end of March.
their total body fat went down by two per cent. Hannah Pearman, runs the course for AITC, was full of praise for the fans that made up the latest intake. She said: “Everyone involved in our recent Shape Up course should be very proud of themselves. For the group to lose an average of seven pounds per person is brilliant and it shows the attendees made some significant and
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positive lifestyle changes. This latest group is also planning to keep meeting up on a regular basis and it is that sort of peer support that helps make Shape Up so successful. “If there is anyone reading this who thinks they could benefit from some guidance in terms of improving their health – please do get in touch.” The next Shape Up at the Stadium course starts on 22 May and will run each Monday evening for ten weeks. To sign-up email: healthyweight@bhfood.org.uk or call 01273 431703. While the next Shape Up at the Stadium is currently men-only, there are similar mixed and women-only courses being run across Brighton and Hove. Any female fans who would like more information should email the above address. There is also a six-week Family Shape Up at the Stadium course running from Tuesday 25th April until Wednesday 31st May, for parents and their children. Any families who would like more information should email: shapeup@ albioninthecommunity.org.uk.
shapeup@albioninthecommunity.org.uk
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Do we take our football too seriously? Something truly shocking happened in the dying minutes of that game against Newcastle a few weeks back. I don’t mean United’s freak equaliser. I don’t even mean their winner. No, I mean the fact that, with five minutes left on the clock, with the score still at a nail-biting 1-1, the people behind me got up and left. Yep, the old “let’s leave early and miss the traffic” thing. Unbelievable.
Worthington Milk Carling Capital One Coca-Cola Littlewoods Cup, or whatever they’re calling it this week. I seem to recall we were something like 12-0 down by that stage. It certainly felt like it. But that’s hardly the same as leaving in the crucial final moments of arguably our biggest league match of the season, with the
Good question. But perhaps not the one we should really be asking ourselves here. Perhaps the question we should really be asking is: do we take our football too seriously? Or, alternatively, do we not take it seriously enough? Those early leavers at that Newcastle game clearly don’t take it as seriously as I do. And nor, I think it’s fair to
Now, I appreciate this is an issue people have banged on about for years. One that’s always divided opinion. And, “ But that’s hardly the same as leaving in I’ll admit I no longer take the crucial final moments of arguably an entirely zero-tolerance stance towards early-leavers our biggest league match of the season, as a breed, at least on with the result still on a knife edge” occasions when the final moments of a match are result still on a knife edge, assume, do the bunch clearly of no consequence. perched a few seats in front with all three vital points Truth be told, I’ve even left a game early myself. Just the once, mind. It was against Reading, earlier this season, in the Rumbelows
still to play for. Honestly, what in hell’s name makes anyone do that? If they’re that indifferent, why do they even bother coming?
of me at the same match, who for lengthy spells seemed indifferent to events on the pitch, straining instead for a glimpse of Ant and Dec.
Mike Ward Mike Ward is TV Critic of the Daily Star and TV Editor of the Daily Express Saturday magazine. Hear him on talkRADIO breakfast with Paul Ross, read him at www.mikeward.tv and download his podcast, Learnt Loved Loathed, from iTunes. His ancient Albion diary Gullhanger, about the title-winning 2001/02 season at Withdean, costs next to nothing these days on Amazon.
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But then, of course, some fans go to the other scary extreme. Not naming names, but a dear friend of mine took Newcastle’s equaliser so badly that those of us sitting around him genuinely feared for his health. When their winner went in, I thought we’d need to summon a St John’s Ambulance. So, am I suggesting there’s some sort of happy medium we should be striving for as fans: a half-way point between lame indifference and self-destructive obsession, a point where the amount of passion we feel for our football club – and the way we cope with its inevitable ups and downs – can be considered healthy and well balanced? I guess that’s exactly what I’m suggesting. And no doubt most of us like to think we’ve got that balance right ourselves, that our own attitude towards our club is the ‘correct’ one. But that’s nonsense, really, isn’t it? We may or may not respect the
degree to which others allow their emotional wellbeing to be determined by the Albion’s fortunes, but clearly there’s no right or wrong here. My own default mode, I have to confess, is to get way too upset when things don’t go our way. Don’t get me started on how I broke my toe. What I’ve tried to do in recent seasons is develop a coping mechanism – telling myself, if a season ends in frustration yet again, that there’s a lot to be said for staying in the Championship, such as winning most weeks and rarely being far from the top of the table. Trouble is, if you take that attitude to its logical conclusion – consoling yourself with the thought life in the next flight up wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable – it defeats the point of supporting a football club in the first place. Frankly, that’s not going to work, is it? Some years ago I wrote a feature for FourFourTwo
magazine, all about people who leave five minutes before the end of the match. Seems bonkers now, but I painstakingly pored over every result from the previous season, across all four divisions, plus Scotland, to calculate whether or not, over the course of that campaign, the early leavers had actually missed anything life-changing. If every match had finished after 85 minutes, i.e. at the moment they’d left, rather than after the usual 90 plus injury time, would the final tables have actually looked significantly different, promotion and relegation-wise? And guess what? In all but a couple of cases the answer was no. So maybe they’re the ones with the right approach: turn up, watch most of the game, miss how it ends but be home in time for Saturday Night Takeaway. God, how depressing. TAM. Mike Ward
@MikeWardOnTV
@TheAlbionMagUTA
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Happier times
(www.whoateallthepies.tv)
more interesting thing is the principle behind the decision, and the wider ramifications it may have for how fans and players should behave towards each other at games.
Where’s the line? In a previous edition of this column, I focused on Justin Fashanu and the impact his struggles with his sexuality had on his footballing career and, ultimately, his life. To start with this time, I’d like to take a look at another former Albion player, namely Colin Kazim-Richards, and the aftermath of an incident involving him when he played for Blackburn Rovers against us at the Amex.
F
or those who may not be aware of the incident in question, CKR was convicted of making a homophobic gesture towards Brighton fans (which I won’t describe in detail here), which he claimed was
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‘banter’ in response to taunts and chants he had received from fans earlier in the game. The conviction itself resulted in a fine of £750, plus costs, so not likely to have put much of a dent in CKR’s bank balance, but for me the
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To be clear, I am of course not condoning what CKR did and I firmly believe the magistrates were correct to find him guilty of the charge, but where should the line be drawn when it comes to banter? Of course, as Brighton fans we’re all familiar with the opposition claiming they can see us holding hands, or questioning whether our boyfriends are aware of our presence at the game, and generally speaking we give back as good as we get, perhaps by casting aspersions on their looks or, particularly in the case of Northern visitors, the marital status of their parents at the time of their birth (particularly if their team is playing in a dirty manner). Ask any fan of any team, and they’ll probably be able to tell you about a particular song or chant that’s aimed at them, and also what their usual retort is. Generally speaking, those chants fall firmly into the category of banter and are fairly harmless although, of course, you do hear less savoury chants from time to time, such as Leeds fans singing about the Munich air disaster or similar, but
Where it starts to become more of a grey area is when chants or abuse are aimed specifically at a player, with the obvious intent being to provoke a response of some kind either in terms of their performance in the game, or a more direct reaction. How far, then, should a player be allowed to go in responding to this kind of thing before finding himself in court? In an ideal world, we’d say players should just be able to block out everything coming from the stands and just concentrate on the game, but footballers are as human as the rest of us and if someone was shouting abuse at you, or I while we were at work, odds are we’d respond too. In CKR’s case, he claimed most of the abuse he received from fans before the incident in question was around his weight (perhaps stick to Diet Coke, Colin?), but does that justify the gesture he made in response? Playing Devil’s Advocate for a second, if those chants had been of a personal nature to him, something about his family
“ To be clear, I am of course not condoning what CKR did and I firmly believe the magistrates were correct to find him guilty of the charge, but where should the line be drawn when it comes to banter?” perhaps, then you could make a very, very tenuous justification for him snapping and making a homophobic gesture in a heat-of-themoment response. In reality though, the chants were nothing of the kind, weren’t even accurate (compared to most of us, there are very few professional footballers you could accurately describe as fat) and he admitted he wasn’t offended by them, which makes his response both unprofessional and incomprehensible, to say the least. To me, it seems most likely he knew precisely what he was doing and what he
Steve talks about life as an Albion fan from the perspective of a member of the LGBTQ community. As we all know, both the Albion and the LGBTQ community are big parts of life in the Brighton & Hove area, and he will be giving a voice on Albion, and football, related issues.
(image: FourFourTwo)
the less publicity given to those the better.
intended when he made the gesture – it wasn’t in the heat of the moment, it was calculated to cause offence in response to something he claimed he wasn’t offended by. As I said earlier, it’s a natural instinct to respond when we’re abused, but this case shows there are limits, particularly when you’re in the public eye. I’m glad the magistrates took the situation seriously and sent a message that there are consequences for stepping outside those limits – the more often this happens, both within football and in the wider world, the louder the message becomes that behaviour like will not be tolerated, and surely this can only be a good thing. TAM. Steve Brewer
@SteveJB84
@TheAlbionMag
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Stockport County home, League One 2009 From Steve Gritt to Bruno, there is a proud history of Albion fans loving bald men. Russell Slade remains one of the more popular shiny bonces in the club’s history for masterminding the Great Escape of 2009. Brighton stayed up on the final day of the season, just a handful of games after the players had been serenaded with choruses of ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ by 3,000
away supporters after a 2-0 defeat at MK Dons looked destined to have condemned the Albion to League Two. Slade’s reward was to be carried around the Withdean pitch with everyone trying to get a rub of his lovely bald head. Dagenham and Redbridge, League One 2011 After five seasons in League One, Gus Poyet led the Albion back into the Championship just in time for the first season at Falmer. Promotion was secured after a topsy-turvy 4-3 win against Dagenham & Redbridge, after which the pitch was invaded leaving Paul Samrah to go apoplectic with rage bellowing over the tannoy for supporters to return to the stands as the players would now no longer be returning for a lap of honour. They, of course, did and what made this even better was the sight of Paul himself on the pitch at Walsall four days later when the title was secured.
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(Image: bournemouthfootball.net)
days earlier, City turned up to play a side who less than a week previously had managed to lose at home to nine-man Walsall. After 120 minutes, the Albion had pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the club’s history, knocking Mark Hughes’ side out on penalties to spark another invasion under the Withdean lights. Included among the invaders was a supporter in a wheelchair, slowly making his way onto the pitch from the disabled section in the south-east corner. The video probably still exists somewhere on YouTube.
York City, League One 1996 One of the most pivotal moments in the battle to save Brighton & Hove Albion came in the final home game of the 1995/96 season. Just after 15 minutes into York City’s visit to the Goldstone, the pitch was invaded and the crossbars of both goals snapped in two. The newspapers were full of stories of rioting fans and how the dark days of hooliganism were back just in time for Euro 96. Some even said it was organised trouble caused by Combat 18. What it was Brighton fans doing what had to be done. It garnered national attention to the attempted murder of the Albion and really did help turn the tide. And 21 years on, here we are. Premier League. TAM. Scott McCarthy
@wearebrighton
@TheAlbionMag
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The educational ability of football By way of a change I was at the Amex recently. For once, it wasn’t for a match so I hadn’t donned multiple layers to defend myself against the cold, I didn’t shout at anyone, I didn’t sing and I didn’t have the teen with me. I was there for an event organised by the amazing Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce. Paul Barber was there too talking about how he’d come to be CEO of the Albion. Which got me thinking, how do we talk to our kids about what to do when school’s done and dusted?
up blessed doing work you love. But often that’s more luck than judgement. Most of us are lucky, really lucky. We don’t live in a famine or war zone; we’re not discriminated against because of our gender, nationality or religion. This means our kids are lucky too; they are fed, clothed, housed, educated and loved. And, the exceptionally lucky ones get to see the Albion play! Of course, they take this completely for granted. And, why wouldn’t they? These are, for the greater part, fundamental rights in a first world society.
turn up on time day in day out, week in week out because if you don’t you might just get sacked. Then there’s being judged – sometimes very publicly – on performance. Think Claudio Ranieri on one side of the see-saw, and our own wonderful Chris Hughton providing the balance. How do we work with our kids to help them identify what it is that will keep them happy in their working lives? Bizarrely, in our household, it came from a recurrent and probably familiar parental whinge.
“ Then there’s being judged – sometimes very publicly – on performance. Think Claudio Ranieri on one side of the see-saw, and our own wonderful Chris Hughton providing the balance.”
The teen was, by way of a change, playing FIFA 17 with a friend. They were busy building the perfect football team. This comprised selling players who weren’t performing, identifying areas of weakness in the squad and buying new talent.
If you’re of the same generation as me – born in the 1960s – careers guidance at school probably went along the lines of: “What does your mum/dad do? Why don’t you do that too?” And – if you’re like me – you end
I was about to launch into my usual, “How much time have you spent on screen?” “Why don’t you get out and get some fresh air?” routine. But it was a miserable day outside so I decided against ranting and instead listened in to their conversation.
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So, for our teens, going out into the workplace can be a bit of a reality check. Sure they’ve spent at least 12 years in education and, at times, worked terribly hard – usually in the fortnight before exams. But, it’s not quite the same as ‘proper’ work; having to
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(Image: www.bunatetu.com)
The friend clearly spends much less time on FIFA 17 than the teen who, it transpired, was providing a lesson in supply and demand to his mate. “Don’t sell Sanchez yet, there’s too many on the market, best to wait and we’ll get a better price. Buy Sturridge, he’s only just back from injury, that’s a bargain of a deal.” And it struck me – they were market trading. After the friend had gone we settled down for one of our usual ‘chat about football and chill’ sessions, this time with my (hidden) agenda of careers guidance. As always the teen was one step ahead of me. I’d talked to him about the event I’d been to and because it had been at the Amex and loosely related to football he’d been really interested. But I hadn’t fully appreciated how useful it would be in helping me understand what he wants from life.
Now the teen really does lead a privileged life and was at the Allianz to see Bayern v Arsenal. He’d returned home disappointed not just by the result but also by the response of the team who, in his view, took little time to acknowledge the travelling fans and the management who seem, again in his view, to pay scant regard to what success on the pitch means to club supporters. He’d compared this to the recent pics of Tony Bloom at Brentford. Which in turn helped the teen recognise what he wants to do with his life: he’s decided he wants to run a football club. Not as
a Chris Hughton but as a Tony Bloom or Paul Barber. We spent the rest of the evening comparing the merits of big clubs versus small clubs, the English league structure versus the German league structure and what A levels he might need to help him achieve this goal. Whoever thought football could open up so many avenues of parent/ teen communication? Mr Barber, if you’re looking for an assistant – if only for a week in the summer – I’ve got the perfect man for the job. TAM. Sandra Murphy
@BizDocSxCoast
Sandra Murphy Sandra loves living in Brighton where she works as a Business Doctor. This is her first year as an Albion season ticket holder and she’s optimistic that the success she brings to local businesses, helping them to grow and thrive, will be replicated on the pitch!
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It’s Good To Talk
I
suffer with Generalised Anxiety Disorder. That is worrying, intensely. About everything. All. The. Time. Having been referred for various courses of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness to help me function with this debilitating condition, I’ve learned to recognise what are referred to as ‘catastrophic thinking styles’. This is where one focuses on a small inconvenience or minor setback and follows it down a rapid and inexorable spiral to the worst case scenario. When an Anxiety sufferer has a mild headache it is most definitely a brain tumour, and when a loved one is late home they are absolutely lying dead in a ditch somewhere. The basis of Anxiety is our need to prepare for trauma, but for chronic sufferers it is out of control and deeply unhelpful, often leading to clinical depression. What’s this self-diagnosis got to do with the Albion? Well, I am writing this off the back of the defeat at Leeds. As usual, after even such a defeat of fine margins away at a hugely in-form and well-equipped side, and with three quarters of our first choice defence out, many
caneandrinse.com
fans on social media, forums and phone-ins are treating this as the Albion apocalypse. It was worse after the Forest defeat, when some were suggesting we were now doomed to not even make the play-offs, despite all the evidence to the contrary. After the City Ground drubbing we professionally saw off hapless Rotherham before returning to the Amex
Newcastle. Not too shabby after a supposed ‘wobble’. Please remember before spouting invective that the players probably see these outpourings. Many of the squad is on Twitter and you can bet they look at the #bhafc hashtag. We’re up now and by the time this is published, we may even be champions.
“ Under Hughton’s measured management, we have been probably the most consistent professional team in the entire country over a two-year period.” and imperiously beating Derby and so once again ‘we’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen’. Under Hughton’s measured management, we have been probably the most consistent professional team in the entire country over a two-year period. But football teams lose matches, sometimes those they are not expected to – especially in the crazy old Championship. Going into the Leeds game we were third in the form table, ahead of Huddersfield and ten places ahead of
At the time, do you really think it’s helpful to the cause for them to read they’ve blown it, that the bubble’s burst and the wheels are off and they’re a load of bottle-jobs? Do try to keep cool and think of Kipling’s oft-quoted words about meeting triumph and disaster and treating them just the same. Or to put it another way, keep the faith. My mental wellbeing thanks you for it. TAM Leon Cox @ratsoalbion
@TheAlbionMag
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(image: Eastern Daily Press)
Albion fans at Carrow Road
BRIGHTON BUT ONLY AT HOME’S Classic Away Days
I
’m pretty sure this particular game doesn’t count as classic at all but, as my regular reader will attest (thank you madam, I hope they let you out soon), that’s not the point. However, I have taken it to another level this time. This is a game that many Brighton fans will not have realised took place at all. Moving to the Amex has seen a natural fan hierarchy appear on social media, though perhaps not in reality. Uber fans, top super fans, who top regular fans. All of these feel slightly more smug than the JCBs (Johnny Came Back), who in turn lord it over JCLs (Johnny Come Lately, of course) and JLEs (Johnny Leaves Early), while DFLs (Down From London) are the lowest form of pond life going. Allegedly. I don’t know where I fit. I just
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No.5 Norwich City, November 1989
know that in November 1989 I was one of fewer than 50 fans who went to Norwich for a Zenith Data Systems Cup match. It’s memorable to me for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was just after my 18th birthday and I used proper ID to buy alcohol legally for the first time before a game. Secondly, I quite liked Norwich as a place. Even as an 18-yearold it looked OK. That was until their fans greeted us with a chant of “town full of faggots”. Eighties terrace humour, eh? Thirdly, we were AWFUL. I mean it was the worst I had seen us play that season. The man in front of me had been to their club shop and bought some Norwich City knickers and we spent the second half doing the conga round the terraces, taking it in turns to wear
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the knickers on our heads. We lost 5-0. I’ve had an irrational dislike of Norwich ever since, more of which in a minute. Fourthly, we had an adventure on the way home. In those days a late, overnight train ran back to London. From there, we walked through the night from Liverpool Street to Victoria, seeing the sights and an awful lot of tramps. We got a couple of hours’ kip at Gatwick and I was home for breakfast. I called in sick for sixth form. I went to a lot of games that season, which probably explains my pathetic A Level results. I’ve harboured this dislike of Norwich ever since: 5-0 defeats smart, they burn their way inside of you, knicker-enhanced conga or no knickerenhanced conga. This irrational dislike reached
(image: BBC)
Unlucky Stockdale
You can, perhaps, see where this is ending up: Saturday 29 October 2016 at the Amex and the first HUGE home game of the season. Now we’d see what Brighton were made of, and Norwich for that matter. Would Pritchard rub salt in to the wound? Would we find ourselves
“It’s memorable to me for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was just after my 18th birthday and I used proper ID to buy alcohol legally for the first time before a game.” Pritchard. I waited and waited and, eventually, he signed for Norwich. Them. AGAIN! Argh. With the season not yet started Norwich were one of the favourites to go up and here they were nicking the final piece of our jigsaw.
massively off the pace? No, he wouldn’t and no, we wouldn’t. It became one of my favourite Albion games ever. Then, in April, we went back to Norwich. It could have been a massively important game and therefore Sky have moved
brightononlyathome.wordpress.com/
it to a time when Brighton fans could not get home at all by train, privatisation having long ago done for that late night train to Liverpool Street. It’s only a matter of time before Sky announce a partnership with Travelodge. We returned as a Premier League side but also with (image: PicClick UK)
a peak in France in the summer of 2016. We were over visiting my family and the season was about to start. Our transfer business had been OK (in fact getting Glenn Murray has proven pivotal) and I had wangled five minutes to check Twitter, which said we were about to sign Alex
The matchday programme
a hangover. Pritchard had an element of revenge but couldn’t quite hit the target. So now, Norwich is ‘that place where our keeper scored two own goals and the team’s blood alcohol level were the same as the fans’. TAM. Jason Thackeray
@TheAlbionMag
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M
y next Cult Hero is a true gentleman and a proper fan favourite: Íñigo Calderón Zapatería. In an era where footballers are accused of being on another planet, completely disconnected from the fans and not caring about the clubs they play for, Calde is the complete opposite. Rarely would you see as much passion for the cause as was shown by the Basque defender during his six-year spell at the club.
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Cult # heroes Íñigo Calderón
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Calde came through the youth ranks at his home town side Alavés, turning out for their C and B sides before moving south to Alicante, where he began his professional career in Spain’s Segunda División B – the third tier of Spanish football. After missing out on promotion, Calde returned to Alavés, who were then in the Segunda División. He occasionally captained the side but was unable to prevent them from being relegated in his final year, leading to his release from the club. He was then a free agent. He travelled to England and spent some time training with his friend, and future Albion Cult Hero (spoiler alert), Andrea Orlandi who, at the time, was at Swansea. He also had an unsuccessful trial at Gillingham before
becoming Gus Poyet’s first signing for Brighton.
(All images: Paul Hazlewood - BHAFC)
Poyet had begun turning things around at Withdean Stadium but needed some more quality at the back to improve a leaky defence. He turned to Calderón who, despite having not played competitive football for around six months, was already one of the fittest players in the squad. He slotted in at right-back, displacing Andy Whing who had been voted fans Player of the Season the previous year. It became apparent he was a class act and was an integral part of the side that cantered to the League One title in 2011. One minor blemish on his record was the brief flirtation with Southampton where it appeared he was on the verge of a move. However, he had a change of heart and decided to stay in Sussex, much to the delight of Brighton fans everywhere. He adapted well to life in the Championship. What he lacked in guile and (increasingly) pace, he more than made up for in spirit, work ethic and passion. Perhaps the highlight of his Championship years was his incredible goal against Bristol City, a 25-yard screamer beyond the reach of former England goalkeeper David James. Meanwhile, Calderón was also impressing off the pitch. He had become increasingly
involved with Albion in the Community and was awarded PFA Player in the Community at the Football League awards in 2013. Calderon had a degree in Sport Psychology and had been using his spare time to deliver courses to jobseekers, apprentices and school children. In many ways, he had become the face of the club’s charitable work and was an excellent example of how football can be used for Bas Savage good in the community.
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Cult # heroes
Calderon remained an important part of the squad that made the Championship play-offs under Poyet and Oscar Garcia, but had begun to find first-team opportunities slightly limited after the arrival of fellow Spaniard Bruno. However, off the pitch he was once more proving what a thoroughly decent chap he is by taking it upon himself to welcome new foreign players to the club and guiding them through any teething problems they may face. He struck up particular friendships with fellow Spaniards Andrea Orlandi, David Lopez, Bruno, Vicente and Argentine Leo Ulloa. Calde became an important player during Sami Hyypia’s dreadful reign as manager. Under the Finn he was deployed as an attacking full-back – a tough ask for a man his age. Once Chris Hughton took over he was often used as a right midfielder and that year
he was voted Player of the Season.
He once more found first-team opportunities hard to come by the following campaign as Hughton’s side pushed for automatic promotion, but was still a vital part of the squad. He and the club decided to part ways at the end of 2015/16 after almost 200 appearances and he made his way to Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta, where he remains to this day. He is still a vocal supporter of the Albion and made a welcome return for the club’s promotion party against Wigan Athletic. You could see how popular he is with the current players and was treated like one of the team. Calderón is a huge part of the club’s journey to the Premier League, despite not being part of the season the club eventually got there. His passion for the club, charisma – plus his work both on and off the pitch – has endeared him to Albion fans since day one and he will always be an undeniable hero at the club. TAM. Tom Stewart
@OfficialTStew
@TheAlbionMagUTA
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Keeping it in the community Sussex has a rich football history, across all levels of the game. Each issue we’ll be focusing on one of the county’s other clubs. This month, it’s Shoreham…
S
horeham Football Club – aka The Musselmen – has been at the heart of the Shoreham-by-Sea community since 1892. The club has recently seen an upturn in fortunes when it was purchased by current co-chairman Stuart Slaney in 2013. Ralph Prodger is the other co-chairman. The combined resources have enabled the club to grow its youth section to more than 18 teams, not forgetting the three senior teams. In a short period of time, Shoreham have become one of the largest clubs in the area and, with the senior side looking to win promotion to the Ryman League, the club is going from strength to strength. The highlight of this season was receiving E Ground Grading from the FA which
means they can officially be promoted to the next step if they win the County Premier League (at the time of writing it’s looking pretty good!). It has taken over three months of hard work to bring the stadium up to FA standards to enable promotion. The Middle Road ground now boasts two seated covered stands, an extended covered standing area, new spectator toilet facilities, and an all-round upgrade of facilities and maintenance. With promotion comes a higher profile for the club, benefitting the youth side, and the wider community. Every county club’s goal is the Ryman League, and beyond, and Shoreham are within touching distance of achieving that goal.
with around 100 members, which brings local companies together. Monthly networking events are held at the club where anyone is welcome to connect with other business in order to grow their client base. The plan is to win promotion and to consolidate as a Ryman outfit and concentrate on the youth so the club can, hopefully, bring little Musselmen through the ranks to the first team. TAM. @ShorehamFC
Want your Sussex nonleague club to feature in TAM? Drop us a line: info@thealbionmag.com
Shoreham also has its own business networking group
www.www.pitchero.com/clubs/shorehamfc/news/
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We’re all putting our money where our heart is
A
s a journalist, running a campaign is flipping hard work.
It’s a bit like taking part in a marathon. You start off full of nervous excitement and good intentions. You’ll be over the moon if you make it past the finish line. But keeping going, and keeping things interesting – between the start and the finish – can be really testing. So when a report (supported by campaign supremo and financial guru Paul Samrah) suggested building the stadium we now know and love as the Amex could bring 500 jobs, and as much as £5m a year to the local economy, it was campaign gold. Who, in their right mind, could argue against such a
Joe McBride’s match reports NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3 -0 ALBION ROTHERHAM 0-2 ALBION 42
significant positive impact? We just wanted to have our football team playing back in a stadium fitting of our name – imagine if the impact could be as positive as that… Fast forward, and that figure has been revised several times – first to a staggering 750 jobs and £8m for the local economy, and now to a platinum-plated 1,000 jobs and £38m per year (for now anyway). The figure for 2017/18 will be significantly higher, that’s for sure! Then there’s the one-off extras. I’m not sure if my hubby will ever get over having to attend his FA coaching course while I was at the Japan v South Africa Rugby World Cup match, but the games we hosted are
NOTTM FOREST 3-0 ALBION 04/03/17
City Ground slump Forest won as two late goals further stuttered Brighton’s promotion ambitions. The home side opened the scoring after half-time in controversial fashion, as Assombalonga appeared to deflect the ball into
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estimated to have delivered in excess of £47m for the city in tourism and publicity. These are all staggering sums but, if you think about it, it’s the average fans, like you and me, that make it happen. After keeping a roof over our heads, football is probably my family’s biggest financial outlay. We have two adult – and three child – season tickets in the family stand. Yes, we’re in the cheaper seats, but that’s still a commitment of £1,200 a year. Throw in a few away trips (Fulham alone cost us £220) and you’re easily nudging the £2,000 a year mark. Add to that programmes, food and drink at games, not to mention the birthday and Christmas present lists our kids compile every year in the
the net from an offside position. This setback appeared to spark the Albion into life. They went close through Dunk, March, and Knockaert but a rare Stockdale blunder allowed Ben Osborn to wrap up the contest. Forest delivered a further blow, converting a penalty with the last kick of the game.
But who, in their right mind, could give it up? Sure, we’ve had a few blips along the way, and we’ll have a few more ahead, but anyone who was at the Wigan game – and witnessed the joyous scenes thereafter – will have seen the greatest Amex moment… thus far. We might be living in tough financial times but the Albion has had more sell-outs this season than ever before and the club has just seen a record 98% renewal rate from existing season ticket holders. There were those who tried to discredit that £5m per year financial boost figure when it was first put together by the Falmer For All
ROTHERHAM 0-2 ALBION 07/03/17
Albion back on track The Albion bounced back by beating the Championship’s bottom side in a must-win game. David Stockdale made up for his blunder at the City Ground by denying Adeyemi and Yates in a tight first
campaign, but, like the team we’re all paying to watch at the moment, we are all completely committed to the success of the club we love.
And I’m sure we’ll all continue to put our money where our heart is. TAM. Claire Byrd
@clairebyrdcoms
(Image: Roz Bassford-South)
club shop, and you’re talking a seriously expensive habit.
Claire was a was a journalist at The Argus throughout the 1990s and wrote a football column, alongside her main role in news. She was part of the team who helped expose the sale of the Goldstone and subsequently led the paper’s support of the Bring Home the Albion campaign. She later married campaign co-founder Adrian Newnham. They introduced their first child to home games at just seven-weeksold and all three of their children are season ticket holders.
period. An early second-half goal from Anthony Knockaert cut the tension and Brighton relaxed. They started to attack with confidence and substitute Solly March shone after he came on. His class was rewarded with a brilliant goal and Brighton were back to winning ways.
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THE AGONY and the ecstasy
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’m writing this in praise of – depending on your perspective – the most joyous or the most agonising of footballing moments: the injury-time goal. I’m not talking about the late consolation in an otherwise depressing defeat, of course, but the crushing, dagger-tothe-heart impact of a meaningful goal in the dying seconds. Can anything else in the game truly compete? Last season seemed to be a case in point for the Albion. Ourselves, Burnley and Boro, locked in an ongoing battle for supremacy. We were glued to their every game, fully anticipating they’d scrape a lucky late point or even three. And so it often proved.
Joe McBride’s match reports ALBION 3-0 DERBY LEEDS 2-0 ALBION
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Because a late winner is always, always viewed as ‘lucky’, isn’t it? I’ve always found that a touch bizarre: why should a goal scored in the 95th minute be any more fortunate than one scored in the third? And yet, if you’re on the receiving end, that’s exactly how it feels. Robbed. Mugged.
D’Avray. I was bereft: stunned at this unexpected, unjust theft of points, the name of the robber still seared upon my consciousness 30 or so years later. A late equaliser conceded feels like a defeat: one scored feels curiously like a winner. Bolton stealing a draw at the Amex ruined an entire weekend for me. Contrast that with the reaction at Griffin Park in February, when Tomer Hemed cancelled out Brentford’s 94th-minute goal with an
“I’ve always found that a touch bizarre: why should a goal scored in the 95th minute be any more fortunate than one scored in the third?” If only that useless ref hadn’t added so much time. I still remember the first time I ever saw the Albion go down to just such a late winner. It was against Ipswich Town at the Goldstone, and scored by journeyman Mich
even more improbably late one of his own, instantly making a mockery of their incessant timewasting.
ALBION 3-0 DERBY 10/03/17
outside the area and Baldock slotted home just before the break. Vydra hit the post in the second half, which was Derby’s only real effort and shortly after Glenn Murray tapped in to round off a comfortable win.
Out-of-form Derby outclassed Brighton overpowered County and looked a class above the rest at the Amex. Knockaert set the tone after just five minutes as he fired early on from
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The footage of Glenn Murray running the length of the St Andrew’s pitch just before
(Image: The Telegraph)
split second which led to scenes of unparalleled limbs-all-over-the-shop chaos amongst Albion fans, not to mention hilarious scenes at the Madejski Stadium. So good, we’ve almost forgotten the subsequent play-off hammering… TAM. Simon Levenson
@sasta68 (Image: The Goldstone Wrap)
Christmas will never get tiring. Who could forget “The ninety minutes are up. But you’re not there yet, Swindon fans” seconds before Adam Virgo’s greatest moment as an Albion player? Or Steve Sidwell’s toe-poke at the City Ground last year? If I have to pick, though, it’s got to be Leo Ulloa’s effort at the same ground, hasn’t it? A
Simon Levenson @sasta68 Simon formerly worked for BBC Sussex Sport as a producer and when he’s not following football he writes for Brighton’s satirical Treason Show. His new show, Southern Fail the Musical, directed by Mark Brailsford, hits town in June. For more info check out: www.southernfailthemusical.co.uk
LEEDS 2-0 ALBION 18/03/17
Leeds the better side at Elland Road A Chris Wood brace strengthened United’s promotion hopes as they were too strong for Brighton. A dull first half was contrasted with a
highly entertaining second period and Wood looped in a header from Taylor’s cross to open the scoring. He doubled his and Leeds’s tally from the spot after Doukara was tripped in the area with five minutes left. Brighton had chances during the game but Rob Green never looked like
Dean Wilkins scored one of Albion’s greatest last-gasp goals in 1991
being beaten after he bundled an effort off the line and Murray fired a well-hit volley straight at the Englishman.
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T
his is our most successful league season since 1979, with some memorable goals, star performers, three stunning penalty saves… And now we’ve been promoted to the Premier League. One of the highlights of the campaign was undoubtedly the 2-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday in October – the first time we’d won at Hillsborough in more than a century. The return 2-1 win against the Owls at the Amex in January was equally as tasty. But, it was the triumph at Hillsborough which got Albion fans searching their record books; after all Wednesday were our bogey team… weren’t they? And following our 2-0 defeat to Preston North
Joe McBride’s match reports ALBION 1-0 BLACKBURN ALBION 3-1 BIRMINGHAM 46
End in January, the same opinions were viewed. We had not won at Deepdale in 109 years! Another bogey team eh! And, the lucky last-minute draw against Brentford a month later once again had fans using the ‘bogey’ word… “We never win at Griffin Park,” some fans opined. Well, in reality, the answer to all assertions is that none of these three teams are genuine bogeys for the Albion. Let’s look at the raw statistics… Sure, the win against Wednesday in October was our first at Hillsborough since 1914, but in 35 games overall against the Owls we have only lost 14, and five of those were at home. And in reply, we have won seven games against the ‘massive’ Wednesday while
ALBION 1-0 BLACKBURN 01/04/17
Magnificent Murray the difference A close-range finish from Glenn Murray, 20 minutes from time was enough to give the Albion all three points against relegation threatened Blackburn. After a cagey first
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(Image: The Scratching Shed)
Dispelling a few myths
When Leeds were(n’t) the champions of Europe
a further 14 games have been drawn. The record against Preston is similar. Although we have yet to win at Deepdale, since 1908 we have beaten PNE seven times at home and drawn 13 games overall in all fixtures. The Lilywhites have NEVER beaten us at home in a league fixture... ever! In 74 games against Brentford, since our first meeting in Division Three (South) in 1920, we have won 32 and drawn 14, compared to 28 losses.
half, Brighton came out in the second period on the front foot and started to be more creative on the attack. They had chances to increase the lead through Lewis Dunk and Jiri Skalak but Brighton’s strong defence insured the one goal was enough to see out an important victory.
These so-called bogey teams are simply myth and legend. But, if fellow Albion fans want to search for real bogey teams this season, then sadly look no further than Reading and Ipswich Town. Although our lifetime record in 100 games against Reading, since 1920, reads quite well: Won 31, Drawn 33 and Lost 36; since we started playing each other in the Championship the record is quite dire. Despite February’s 3-0 win against the Royals, we have played them 13 times and
ALBION 3-1 BIRMINGHAM 04/04/17
Birmingham left feeling blue Brighton overpowered a frustrated Blues side as Murray netted his 20th of the season. He took the lead after just two minutes after a quick break caught out the
beaten them only twice. We have lost seven of those games, conceding 23 goals along the way. The record against Ipswich isn’t much better. Despite that thrilling 3-2 victory at Portman Road last season, we have failed to win in 11 out of 16 Championship games against the Tractor Boys and conceded 20 goals in the process. But, if you want some positives from this trip into the record books, then look no further than the ‘Mighty’ Leeds United... they really are our whipping boys!
Despite the 2-0 reverse at Elland Road in March, in the 16 Championship matches since 2004, we have won ten and only lost twice, while scoring a truly mighty 30 goals! And for a bit more comfort, take pity on poor Blackburn Rovers – in nine Championship fixtures they have NEVER beaten us and have lost six of those games! History and statistics don’t lie. UTA. TAM. Nic Outterside
@seagullnic
away side. The away side were much the better team for the remainder of the half but failed to score before the break. Brighton came out flying, scoring two more early goals at the start of the second half through Hemed and Hunemeier.Blues netted a late consolation goal.
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(Image: Sky Sports)
Liam Bridcutt in happier times – when he wasn’t playing for Leeds
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10/05/2017 20:59
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Homeless to Premier League!
Danny Ager, as a young boy surrounded by four nurses and being presented with the match ball by three Albion Legends after breaking his leg and missing that vital game in 1983! Look how far we have come since having a home of our own. No more standing around in the pouring rain, travelling for hours for a home game or the uncertainty of a permanent place to call our own. Brighton and Hove now has the largest number of rough sleepers in the UK outside of London. You would have to be walking about with your eyes shut to miss the people begging and sleeping rough in doorways and alleys on any one night in the city. The chance of a home for many of these people seems as far off as it did for the Albion some 20
years ago when they were evicted from the Goldstone. Kozia, a new Brighton and Hove community charity, is to convert buses into sleeping, eating and well-being spaces for rough sleepers. Kozia will invite some of the most impoverished in our community into a safe, warm, nurturing environment with support and sign-posting to other services that help with the underlying issues of addiction, mental health and self-worth, often brought about by personal trauma. To celebrate the club’s amazing success, lifelong fan and internationally
Winners will be notified by email and phone. Competition ends 12 noon June 30th 2017
acclaimed artist Danny Ager was commissioned to create an iconic piece of art. Entitled ‘The Great Seagull in the Sky’ (left). All profits from sales of Certified Limited Editions are going towards the lifechanging works of Kozia. Success and greatness begins with a home of your own for everyone. Name the three Albion Legends in this picture to win one of three Certified Limited Editions of ‘The Great Seagull in the Sky’. FREE to enter... Try your luck at www.kozia.org/ seagullcomp To buy a print, visit: www.kozia.org/seagull
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49_The Fat Greek Ad.indd 1
18/03/2017 11:19
Joe McBride’s match reports QPR 1-2 ALBION: 07/04/2017
ALBION 2-1 WIGAN: 17/04/17
ALBION 0-1 BRISTOL CITY: 29/04/17
Three in three for Murray
Brighton are promoted to the Premier League
Brownhill blocks Brighton
Brighton recorded their third victory in six days, grinding out a nervous win at Loftus Road. Despite having the ball in the net twice, the game was goalless at half time. Murray broke the deadlock on the hour mark, shortly followed by a beautiful free kick from loanee Sebastien Pocognoli to double Albion’s lead. A header 15 minutes from time by Matt Smith made for a scrappy finish, but Brighton held on for all three points. WOLVES 0-2 ALBION: 14/04/17
Knockaert the cutting edge A brace from Championship Player of the Year, Anthony Knockaert, put Brighton within touching distance of the Premier League. In an even contest, the Frenchman proved the difference. On the stroke of half time, the winger found the near post with a low strike after an excellent run. With ten minutes left to play, he capitalised on a mistake from Ivan Cavaleiro and ensured Brighton would be travelling back to Sussex with all three points.
Brighton ended a 34-year absence from the top flight after they defeated Wigan, and chasing Huddersfield failed to win at Derby. Murray opened the scoring on 30 minutes with a sweet strike and after the break, Solly March doubled the lead to spark joyous scenes. A late Nick Powell header made for a tense final five minutes. On the whistle, a wild pitch invasion ensued and the celebrations could finally begin for the fans, players and chairman, Tony Bloom. NORWICH 2-0 ALBION: 21/04/17
Made to wait Two extraordinary own goals prevented Brighton from securing the title at Carrow Road. Both strikes resulted from shots by Alex Pritchard, who snubbed a move to Brighton in the summer and was jeered by the away crowd for the entire match. His shots both clattered the woodwork and bizarrely bounced off the back of goalkeeper David Stockdale. The Albion were far from their best and now had a chance to win the title at home to Bristol City.
Albion missed the chance to clinch the Championship title as an unlikely City win guaranteed the visitors survival in the division. Albion were far from their best in front of a record attendance at the Amex and the visitors deservedly found themselves ahead just before the break through a Brownhill header. Brighton had chances through Murray and Dunk but the physical prowess of Bristol’s centre halves proved too much. The result means Albion must at least equal Newcastle’s final day result to clinch the title… ASTON VILLA 1-1 ALBION: 07/05/17
Agonising late blow loses the title A last-minute equaliser from Jack Grealish prevented a perfect end to an unbelievable season for the Albion. After a cagey first half, Brighton began to create more chances and won a penalty after Nathan Baker fouled Sam Baldock to receive a red card. Murray converted and Albion looked on their way. However, with the game heading into injury time, a hopeful strike from Grealish found its way past Stockdale to hand the title to Newcastle, who beat Barnsley 3-0 on the day. It was an unfortunate end, but a fantastic season has resulted in Brighton & Hove Albion gaining promotion to the Premier League!
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LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE (BALL) BOYS
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’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this, but I don’t know an Albion fan – or for that matter any football fan – who, once the stark realisation the chance of appearing for their beloved team might have passed them by, doesn’t desperately hanker after some way of being involved on a matchday. On occasion, I’ve been lucky enough, in a professional capacity, to sit in the odd press box and be pitchside to get a glimpse of what it’s like to be part of that exclusive club. But no matchday gig can quite beat the magical combination of young, starry-eyed excitement. Plus, there’s the potential to influence what happens on the pitch. I give you… the humble ball boy.
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My solitary experience came over 25 years ago when I, along with the rest of my under 14s team, were invited to be ball boys at Cardiff Arms Park, now the Millennium Stadium, as Wales took on Belgium in a European Championship qualifier.
rather patronisingly, describe fans. Where usually we could only goad linesmen and opposing players from the stand, now we were now able to do this from a metre or two away. And time waste? You bet we
However, the experience of being a ball boy, much like all other aspects of a matchday at the Goldstone, was a million miles away from those at the more salubrious surroundings of the Amex. Let me say this straight away: we were absolutely rotten ball boys! We treated our status on the night as a privileged extension of our fandom. We were (or so our cocky 14-year-old selves thought) more than just the 12th man that managers and players sometimes,
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did. I quite vividly recall my own personal battle with Belgium’s coiffured stopper Michel Prued’homme over the 90 minutes, where I would bust an absolute gut to retrieve the ball for goal kicks with Wales chasing a winner and then do so with all the urgency of Sunday
morning stroll after the second and third Welsh goals had gone past him. And how did we complete our ‘duties’ that night? With a legitimate pitch invasion of course, power drunk on our newfound but shortlived status. And, yes, that did entitle me to jump on Ian Rush, ruffle his hair and slap his bare, sweat drenched back amongst the jubilatory melee that followed the final whistle. You’ve probably guessed by now but we weren’t asked back to do it all again at the next home qualifier. By the time of my one and only appearance as a ball
boy, Richard Jeffery was well into his third and final season in the role at the Goldstone – his longevity suggesting he took a rather more professional approach than my colleagues and I did. Those three seasons (1988/89 to 1991/92) saw some some notable highs, amongst them an unexpected run to the play-offs, secured by a memorable last-minute Dean Wilkins winner on the last day of the 1990/91 season, and a classic FA Cup encounters with Liverpool. However, the experience of being a ball boy, much like all other aspects of a matchday at the Goldstone, was a million miles away from those at
the more salubrious surroundings of the Amex. His ‘beat’ was in front of the East Terrace, which by the time of his last season, had crumbled sufficiently for most of it to be shut down, which, as he recalled, made ball boy duties slightly hazardous: “The spectacle of me having to retrieve the ball from an empty, disused terrace became a source of much amusement to the North Stand regulars, particularly if the ball had managed to lodge itself towards the back of it, or behind a crush barrier.” “This was before the ‘multi-ball’ system that continued on page 67 >
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WHAT IF…? Watching the recent BBC series SSGB got me thinking, the alternative reality genre has become rather popular of late, partly perhaps because it’s quite attractive to imagine something different from the current state of the world. For those who don’t watch the visual wireless, SSGB is about what England would be like if Germany had won World War II. For those lucky ones with Amazon Prime, you may have seen the excellent The Man in the High Castle, based on a dystopian Phillip K Dick story where the eastern
United States is controlled by Nazi Germany and the west coast by the Japanese Empire. If you get a chance, it’s worth a look, all brutalist oppression and retro fascism, so not much different from today really. What would have happened had Smith scored? We’ve all had that conversation in the pub. In Brighton ‘Til I Die (by Paul Hodson and David Blake) one of my favourite parts is when Southy describes how sad it was to see Man United go out of business after losing to the Albion in the 1983 final. Southy retells the alternative legend of how United fell through the leagues as Brighton go on to play in Europe, leading to Mancunians walking around Manchester in Brighton shirts.
Going further back, ‘what if’ fiction leads to some interesting alternative futures for our beloved Albion. What if Southampton and Spurs hadn’t stitched us up with that 0-0 draw in 1977/78, denying us back-to-back promotions? Again, one for the pub, perhaps. Try it with your mates next time, there are a myriad number of possible scenarios and it gets funnier as the pints go down. To take the SSGB/Man in the High Castle route, what would have happened to the people who shaped the Albion’s future if the Germans had won the war? A nation controlled by the Nazis would have given the likes of Archer and Bellotti an interesting alternative career path, not to mention a cushy ministerial post for the likes of Nigel Farage. Corporal Bellotti of the 9th Sussex Panzer division would have been peeling the spuds for sure. Probably on a reprimand for showing the plans for a new tank made of porridge to Adolf. One could imagine Bill Archer, flanked by Greg Stanley in dog collar and gimp mask, in a collaborationist uniform flogging the local populace for mocking his monocled single eye. Somehow, one
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can’t escape the unsettling feeling that Nazi Britain may well have been a suitable milieu for the likes of Archer and Bellotti. To flip this the other way: what of the future? To illustrate the point, we have to actually go back in time to 2008. Here at the Treason Show, way back when in the zeros, once decided to consult our crystal ball for our News 2024 sketch to see what a possible Albion future would look like. At the time, Falmer looked a distant dream as the plans were beset by planning enquiries and a bunch of utter bankers crashed the economy. The future did not look blue and white. This is what we saw. As the mists cleared a match report hoved into view: European Cup Final, 2018 Real Madrid suffered a 10-2 defeat to four-times Champions League winners Brighton & Hove Albion at the Bernabéu. Albion, down
to eight men after having the goalkeeper and two strikers sent off for being too good, came back from 2-0 down at half-time to win with a double hat-trick from the evergreen Mark Farrington, two goals from Charlie ‘Bionic’ Oatway and two off the backside of Danny Cullip. Interviewed after the match, playermanager Sir Guy Butters reiterated that he had turned down the England manager’s job (again) and could he have a bite of the interviewer’s pie? With their fifth Champions League trophy in the bag, the club get to keep the trophy on display atop the Peter Ward i360 in perpetuity. “It’s a great achievement,” said Sir Guy,
“but imagine what we can achieve if we get Falmer!” To me, the above mad fantasy is no stranger than where we are now. Sat in our plush new stadium, watching one of the finest teams to grace the mighty stripes, in front of 29,000 fans every other Saturday – and in the Premier League! Even Bobby came back and scored. Almost unimaginable. It could have all been so different... “Storrrrrerrrrrrr… oh no… he’s missed… is that the end for Brighton & Hove Albion?” What if…? TAM. Mark Brailsford
@Treason_Show
Mark Brailsford Mark is the founder and head honcho of The Treason Show, Brighton’s favourite satirical show. For details of forthcoming shows, please visit: www.treasonshow.co.uk
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Brighton & Hove Albion 1979/80 Back row: Glen Wilson.
Middle row: Ken Craggs.
Former left-half who was caretaker manager for two games after Pat Saward’s sacking in 1973.
Served as Alan Mullery’s right-hand man, after being on Fulham’s coaching staff.
Equipment manager.
Teddy Maybank. Forward. 22. Scored Albion’s first ever top-flight goal, at Villa Park, but was sold to Fulham in December.
Malcolm Poskett. Forward.
26. Made three Division One appearances, getting a goal at West Bromwich Albion. Moved to Watford in January.
Mark Lawrenson.
Defender/Midfielder.
22. Overcame early season injuries to enjoy an outstanding campaign, mostly in midfield.
Martin Chivers. Forward.
34. Veteran ex-Spurs and England striker who made three appearances before retiring.
Giles Stille. Midfielder.
20. Made his debut as substitute in the 4-1 win over Manchester City in December.
Mike Yaxley. Physio.
Joined the Albion staff in 1968/69. A fully qualified FA coach.
Assistant Manager.
Steve Foster. Defender.
21. Voted ‘Player of the Season’ for 1979/80 by supporters.
Andy Rollings. Defender.
24. Had his nose broken and was sent off in an infamous clash with Justin Fashanu in a 4-2 home defeat to Norwich City in October.
Graham Moseley. Goalkeeper. 25. Made 33 League appearances, seeing off the challenge from Eric Steele for the number one jersey.
Eric Steele. Goalkeeper.
25. Sold shortly after trading blows with Gary Williams at Old Trafford in October.
Gary Williams. Defender.
25. Scored a late winner against European champions Nottingham Forest in March.
John Gregory. Defender.
25. Added much needed steel to the defence following his record £250,000 transfer from Aston Villa.
Gerry Ryan. Midfielder/Winger. 23. Got the winner in the 1-0 shock win at Nottingham Forest and then scored after a dazzling 70-yard run against Manchester City a month later.
George Aitken. Coach.
Originally arrived in Hove as trainer/coach for Peter Taylor in the summer of 1976.
Front row: Paul Clark. Midfielder.
20. Wholehearted player who lost his place in the side in December.
Peter Sayer. Midfielder.
24. ‘Leo’ played the first 14 league matches before being dropped. Sold to Preston in August 1980.
Brian Horton. Midfielder.
30. Highly influential captain who was ever-present in 1979/80.
Alan Mullery. Manager.
Having taken Albion from the Third Division to the First, he successfully steered the club to top-flight safety.
Peter O’Sullivan. Midfielder.
28. Enjoyed a benefit match against Southampton in April.
Peter Ward. Forward.
24. Top scorer with 16 goals, developing a great strike partnership with Ray Clarke.
Mike Kerslake. Defender. Other players who made appearances for the Albion in 1979/80 were Chris Cattlin, Ray Clarke, Glen Geard, Neil McNab, Gary Stevens and Peter Suddaby. Ages correct on 1st August 1979.
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21. Former Fulham full-back. Did not feature in 1979/80. @GoldstoneRapper
thegoldstonewrap.com
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THE MUSINGS OF BILLY LANE
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hen manager Don Welsh left Albion in March 1951, assistant Billy Lane took up the reins as caretaker until the end of the season. As a player, Billy was a prolific goalscorer, netting an incredible 177 times in 317 League appearances for seven clubs. This included 84 goals in 113 games for Brentford, and 70 in 125 for Watford.
Albion’s programme around this time was brilliant, made even more readable by Mr Lane’s fantastic notes. As a devout churchgoer and sometime lay preacher, you would have thought his notes would be very dry, offerings. Not a bit of it. His very ‘correct’ style of writing actually increases the joy of reading these gems from an age gone by – a glorious snapshot of life in 1950s’ Brighton. His first notes after taking charge came for the match on 23rd March 1951, against Northampton Town. His column, entitled ‘Club Chatter’, starts by thanking Don Welsh for his ‘untiring efforts and devotion to the Albion during
his time of office’. He moves on to talk about the previous week’s ‘most pleasing’ 4-1 win over Exeter City, evidence of the additional flair he had asked from his players. We start to see a glimpse of his very upright style when he says; “It would be invidious of me to select anyone for special praise and I say “WELL DONE LADS””. Later in the piece he reinforces his commitment to attack, with the motto, “A shot at goal and miss, is better than no shot at all!” The supporters were already beginning to love Mr Lane! In May 1951, he was confirmed as full-time manager, and the following season was to be our best since the war. In those days, professional football was played on
(image: Goldstone Wrap)
After time as manager of Guildford City after World War II, he came to the Goldstone in April 1950. After taking charge, Albion developed a much more attacking style through the decade.
Billy Lane (right) and his team
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Celebrating promotion to the old Division Two
Christmas Day. In 1951, this took us to Selhurst Park. The following day, we hosted the return fixture. In a forerunner to some memorable Boxing Day games over two decades later, we beat Palace in a seven-goal thriller. His notes for that game were vintage Billy. Ever the gentleman, he says: “The Palace lads, although in desperate need of points, will entertain us all with a good, clean and sporty game this afternoon.” He also talks of a ‘grand opportunity of consolidating our position as leaders. Despite dropping a point against Port Vale the previous week, Mr Lane refuses to criticise the players, preferring instead to call them “unlucky”. He also declines to take to task the reporters who bemoaned Albion’s “poor finishing”.
The game against Shrewsbury Town in February 1956 came after two successive 5-0 home wins and Mr Lane’s notes, spread across three closely typed pages, paid tribute to his players. In a reflection of Billy’s philosophy on life, he praises his team ‘as pioneers of good, clean, entertaining football’ in conceding only five free kicks the previous week. We also see the beginnings of a mini-crusade by Mr Lane, as he talks about the matter of players’ contracts. In light of a couple of high-profile players elsewhere in the League having a dispute with their club, he says: “I am sure that many of the arguments would not arise if some players realised they are one of a team of sportsmen who are entertaining the public, and are NOT temperamental artists.”
Already a hugely popular manager, Mr Lane’s team were edging ever closer to the second division. In 1955/56, we came heartbreakingly close to promotion, missing out by one point to Leyton Orient. In an almost total vindication of his philosophy, Albion scored 112 League goals that season, a record that will almost certainly stand for eternity.
After a couple of near misses, the whole club was determined to go one better in 1957/58. In his time with Albion, Billy had come to realise the importance of the supporters and in particular, the distinctive ‘Albion Roar’. As the season progressed, he urged the fans on, saying “the Albion Roar will get a grand response from the players”.
This was never more evident than in the final, incredible, game of that season against Watford. Knowing his team had their destiny in their own hands, he again calls on the fans to “prove their support for the boys by a resounding ROAR and so play a part in giving Albion promotion”. The response was immediate as we were 5-0 up at half time! With promotion assured, the roar could he heard all over Hove in a joyful outpouring of emotion at the final whistle. Life in Division Two was harder. At the end of the 1960/61 season, Billy Lane again showed what a great man he was, by tendering his resignation. A man of pride, he believed he had come to the end of his time at the Albion, and preferred the honourable way out. In his time as manager, churchman Billy Lane preached attack from his pitchside pulpit. He was respected by players and staff alike and, for taking us into the second division, also by the fans. In a golden age for Albion programmes, he was also a joy to read. Thanks Billy. TAM. Ian Hine
@Hiney2708
Ian Hine Ian Hine is a self-confessed Albion anorak now living in Southampton. His first game was in August 1968 and he’s been collecting programmes ever since. In a moment of madness eight years ago, he thought it would be a good idea to digitise his whole collection. He’s still scanning!
www.seagullsprogrammes.co.uk
@TheAlbionMag
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he Goldstone Ground in Hove was the Albion’s home from 1902 to Saturday 27th April 1997. Quite a lot happened during that time. Here are a few landmarks… Biggest wins: 14-2 v Brighton Amateurs: FA Cup Qualifying Round 1, Sat 4th October 1902 10-1 v Wisbech Town: FA Cup First Round, Sat 13th November 1965 9-1 v Newport County: Division Three (South), Weds 18th April 1951 9-1 v Southend United: Division Three, Sat 27th November 1965
Stuart Storer scores the last Goldstone goal
Biggest crowd: 36,747 v Fulham, Division Two, Saturday 27th December 1958
Total attendance (Football League): 18,282,045 average: 11,918
Biggest average crowd: 25,264, Division Two, 1977/78: (27,995 this season)
All first-team games: circa 22.9 million: average: 10,500
First floodlit game: Monday 10th April 1961, friendly v Frem (Copenhagen) Football League record: Played 1,534: W 846 D 374 L 314 F 2,866 A 1,625 All first-team games: Played 2,175: W 1,195 D 506 L 474 F 4,262 A 2,481
(image: seagulls.co.uk)
Goldstone facts and figures
With all the other matches – abandoned games, friendlies, around 1,500 reserve fixtures, ‘A’ team matches, juniors, Hove FC matches, local cup finals, representative matches, Brighton Boys, etc – the total number of games comes to around 4,200 at the Goldstone Ground in its 95 years.TAM.
Promotion headlines DAILY MIRROR – History boys DAILY STAR – Seagulls Fly High
The whistle blows for the last time (image: Simon Dack)
THE GUARDIAN – All things Brighton and beautiful THE TIMES – Brighton’s promotion joy DAILY EXPRESS – Seagulls soar into top flight THE ARGUS – It’s party time!
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(image: The Telegraph)
Robbie Reinelt After scoring the most important goal in Albion’s history, at Hereford.
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B
righton & Hove Albion is a truly amazing football club, of which we should all be rightly proud. From the absolute depths of despair, we’ve risen to the promised land. An incredible journey, it’s at momentous times like these that we collectively need to reflect on how we got here – and on those who made it happen. Tragically, we’ve lost three true Albion legends in recent times. Make no mistake, without the contributions of the following people none of us would have a club to support today.
Roy Chuter A vociferous and humorous campaigner throughout the war years, we lost Roy in July 2013, aged 51. A regular writer for Gull’s Eye during the 1990s, he is perhaps best remembered for his scathing – and entirely accurate – dissection of a solicitor’s letter from the former despised regime who sold the Goldstone. Using his first in linguistics to hilarious effect, Roy marked up the myriad of
Sarah Watts
mistakes, which was then published in Gull’s Eye. Landlord of the Duke of Wellington in Shoreham for many years, Roy loved ale, writing, and the Albion. A lovely bloke who is still missed by his many, many friends.
Sarah Watts In January 2015, cancer took Sarah just a few weeks before her 50th birthday. She was well known for her relentless campaigning with the Brighton & Hove Supporters’ Club, and the Gay Football Supporters’ Network to change the law regarding homophobia in football. An ever-present face at Albion games, Sarah had been involved with the supporters’ club since 1983. Along with hundreds of others, she played a vital role in ensuring the Amex was built with her work in the Falmer For All campaign. Her ceaseless dedication to the cause must never be forgotten.
(Image: The Argus)
A trio of heroes
(Image: Brighton & Hove Albion Supporters’ Club)
(Image: The Argus)
Paul Whelch
Roy Chuter
removal – by ArcherStanley-Bellotti – of the ‘no-profit’ clause from the club’s articles of association which meant the Goldstone could be sold for profit. As part of the three Pauls – the others being Samrah and Bracchi – he alerted the Football Association to this illegal act. The beginning of the end for the hated former regime… Paul founded Seagulls Over London in 1994 and remained chairman until his passing in April this year, at the age of 57. He was a crucial part of the Save the Albion initiative, the Bring Home the Albion campaign, and managed the fan-led ‘litter-picking’ team – dubbed the Wombles of Withdean – who cleared up rubbish after each home fixture. In order to enjoy and embrace the future, you must respect and understand the past.
Paul Whelch
You’ll never be forgotten.
Paul played a significant in one of the most important discoveries in this history of Brighton & Hove Albion: the
Thank you. May you all rest in peace. TAM. Dan Tester
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Half a century following the Albion This year Nic is celebrating 50 years supporting the Albion. Now with promotion to the Premier League secured, he picks ten of his personal highs and lows following the club over that half century. 2 September 1967, Goldstone Ground Division Three BHA 1-0 Bury My first Albion game. I witnessed in boyish awe a 1-0 home win against Bury in front of a bustling 13,413 crowd with Kit Napier scoring the only goal. Two weeks later I was back to watch us lose by the same score to Torquay United. I was hooked!
13 August 1969, Goldstone Ground League Cup Second Round BHA 1-0 Portsmouth My first night game, against fierce rivals Pompey. Standing in the middle of a packed North Stand I sucked in the pungent air of cigarette smoke and testosterone. On the pitch, Alex Dawson scored our winner and Kit Napier had his shirt ripped off his back by Pompey full-back Eoin Hand as he raced towards their goal. 1 December 1973, Goldstone Ground Division Three BHA 2-8 Bristol Rovers Brian Clough had just been appointed manager and
Albion euphoria was at a new height… but it didn’t last long! Hot on the heels of a 4-0 defeat against Walton & Hersham in the FA Cup, we faced high-flying Bristol Rovers. Smash and Grab strikers Bruce Bannister and Alan Warboys did the damage; and 44 years later I have not witnessed such an Albion humiliation since. 5 May 1979, St James’ Park Division Two Newcastle United 1-3 BHA I wrote about this game extensively in TAM4. What else is there to say, except I was there, and prior to the promotion-clinching win against Wigan Athletic last month, this was my most exciting moment, supporting the Albion. 29 November 1980, Elland Road Division One Leeds United 1-0 BHA
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BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
KIT NAPIER
ALEX DAWSON
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I hate Leeds United, and I hate Elland Road. I have so many bad memories of the place, including almost being maimed for life as Leeds thugs hurled house bricks at me and friends after a Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers League
Cup replay in 1976. This game was little different as we were huddled in caged open terracing and spent the whole game trying to dodge coins and other metal objects being thrown at us by Leeds supporters. 10 November 1981, Oakwell League Cup Third Round Barnsley 4-1 BHA I was teaching in Barnsley and my fifth form class persuaded me to go to the game, and stand with the home supporters. Gatting scored for us in the second minute and I jumped around like a demented monkey. I was soon put in my place by the surrounding Barnsley supporters and the four goals which followed. I had to put up with ridicule from my pupils until well after Christmas! 3 May 1997, Edgar Street Division Four Hereford United 1-1 BHA I had lived near Hereford for seven years during the 1980s and knew the town and the Edgar Street ground well; so by hook and crook I managed to get a ticket. At half time we were staring oblivion fully in the face. And, we Brian Horton scores
all know what happened next. My defining moment as an Albion supporter. 21 April 2001, Brunton Park Division Four Carlisle United 0-0 BHA The first and only game I ever took my two daughters to. Basking in sunshine and with hundreds of blue and white balloons we watched and ate crisps as the Albion held out for a drab, goalless draw – and promotion out
John Prescott’s office in Hull as part of the Falmer for All campaign. I then drove across the Humber Bridge for a routine league game against Grimsby Town. It was cold and wet and with no parking close to the ground I was already soaked to the skin by the time I had walked five streets and bought my first Bovril. We lost thanks to two goalkeeping howlers by our young third-choice keeper Stuart Jones. This was the match where I came closest to dying of hypothermia! 7 January 2012, The Amex FA Cup Third Round BHA 1-1 Wrexham
John Prescott
of the bottom division for the first time since before Bellotti and Archer! 14 February 2004, Blundell Park Division Two Grimsby Town 2-1 BHA This was the day we delivered a huge Valentine’s card to
This game – and the replay at the Racecourse – will always stay with me. I developed a close bond with Wrexham during their battle against their asset stripping owners in 2004/05 and as a result ended up living in the town for eight years. The love and bond between the two clubs endured, and after our promotion was secured last month, I was showered with ‘well-done’ and ‘thanks’ messages from Wrexham supporters. TAM. Nic Outterside
@seagullnic
@TheAlbionMag
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any divots in time for the start of the second half. I rarely abused my position, but on one occasion the overwhelming desire to pocket a divot was too much to resist. In my excitement I went straight to my Mum’s after the game to plant it in her back garden. It is still there today!”
clubs use today so replacing the matchball during a game was quite a rare thing. It only really happened if the original one got a puncture, or had been booted over a stand. A ball boy struggling to retrieve it from a derelict terrace never seemed to justify the introduction of a new one.” It is probably fair to say the pitch at the Goldstone was not quite the carpeted green baize we’ve become accustomed to at Falmer which, as he recounts, made more work for the ball boys. “The pitch always used to cut up quite badly so as soon as half time came we were straight on it to replace
Looking back at my own experience, it is the memory of being in and amongst the players and schoolboy idols during those crucial minutes before kick-off that sticks with me today. And so it appears it was for our Goldstone ball boy: “The tunnel before kick-off was a great place to be at that age, especially for the big games. You could sometimes get caught up in it all. I remember Bruce Grobbelaar trying to nick my Albion bobble hat as
the teams waited to come out before that FA Cup replay against Liverpool. But, backed by several Albion players who were having none of it, I grabbed it back off him!” So did he, as I had, ever get caught up in the game and feel the urge to do his bit for the home team? “Yes, sometimes. It can easily happen. I remember scurrying as if my life depended on it to get the ball back to the Albion players when we were desperately chasing a winner against Ipswich that would sneak us into the play-offs. After the players, I think I was first person to jump on top of Dean Wilkins’ back as he was bundled on the floor celebrating that last-ditch free kick.” TAM. Joel Essex @Jsussex
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(image: Paul Hazlewood, BHAFC)
We’re there. As I write this, Brighton & Hove Albion have taken their place in the Premier League. WOW. We won when we played fantastically. We won when we played questionably. It was quintessential promotion form With that being said, this summer will bring some interesting decisions for Chris Hughton to make. Our squad is fantastic. It oozes character, spirit and desire. But is it a squad capable of top-flight survival? I’d love to believe so but I think
if we were brutally honest we know investment is needed to ensure we don’t do what the bookmakers will have us as favourites for – relegation. This is my own personal opinion on a selection of our current squad and what we need to do. Please feel free to tweet me and other members of the TAM team with your own. GOALKEEPERS David Stockdale will prove himself at Premier League level. His work ethic is clearly second to none and you can tell this, both with each attempt saved and goals conceded… if he signs that new contract… Niki Mäenpää has had limited opportunities to showcase his talent this season, due to our slightly disappointing (again, my opinion) cup campaigns. I think he may well be loaned out to a Championship club, with a more experienced secondchoice keeper joining our ranks. Christian Walton will continue the development of his promising future away from the club. The obvious bet being another reunion with Nathan Jones at Luton Town.
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Albion faithful and I’m so excited to see how he’d cope with some of the game’s top players coming at him. Lewis Dunk is one of our own: I believe it’s his dream to walk out at Old Trafford, Emirates and Stamford Bridge in those famous blue and white stripes. Shane Duffy was bought in with promotion in-mind. Enough said. He’ll be there. Every Albion fan is so grateful that Connor Goldson’s condition has been rectified before it was found in the most horrific way and I’m already excited to give him a tremendous round of applause when he walks out for us during pre-season. I do feel that due to his young age he may well venture out on loan. Liam Rosenior is the consummate professional. He has the experience, which could prove invaluable to other members of the squad. Uwe Hünemeier hit superb form after such a long time out, and will surely be in contention for a spot at the back alongside Duffy or Dunk.
DEFENDERS
To Be Continued in TAM7…
Bruno deserves his chance. The news he’d signed a new one-year contract was met with huge enthusiasm from the
UTA!
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Anthony James
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