The Albion Mag - Issue 3 by The Albion Mag

Issue 3 December 2016

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e’ve joined the 21st-century and set up social media accounts. Follow us on Twitter, @TheAlbionMagUTA, and on Facebook at TheAlbionMag.

On the pitch, Chris Hughton’s men continue to do the business, grabbing at the coattails of Rafa Benítez’s expensively assembled squad. Alongside our fantastic, regular contributors, we feature a couple of special guests in TAM 3. Matt Bozeat, six-time author and huge Leicester City fan, details his club’s breath-taking 2015/16 season, while Joel Essex explores what it feels like to cheat on your first love. At the end of November, the world was stunned by the tragic plane crash in Columbia which claimed the lives of over 70 people, including many players from Chapecoense FC. The Brazilian club, who had risen from non-league to the top flight in just six seasons, were en route to a Copa Sudamericana final with Medellin-based Colombian team Atletico Nacional when disaster struck.

Attempting to comprehend what the people of Chapecó must be going through at this horrendous time would be totally futile. Nothing – except perhaps music – unites people like football. Irrespective of religion, politics, race, sexual orientation or social status, the game brings folk together who wouldn’t normally socialise by providing a common focus; experiencing the highest highs and, sometimes, the lowest lows. Can you imagine walking up to the Amex only to discover virtually all of our players and backroom staff, plus local journalists, had been tragically killed?

P3: Editorial P4/5: Nick Szczepanik P9: FA act after horse bolts P10/11: Albion Roar P12-15: AITC P16/17: The Love I Lost… P19: Cain Suleyman P20/21: The all-important number two P22/23: Stopping the wrecking ball at Wrexham P24: Destination Falmer P26/27: Steve Brewer P28: Paddy’s Three Points P29: We Are Brighton P31: There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert P32: Joe McBride’s match reports P34/35: Brighton But Only at Home’s Classic Away Days P36: BHACHS P39: Cult heroes # 2: Federico Turienzo P40: NSC P41: Giving hope to football fans everywhere P42: Never Go Back?

P34

P36

P12 P21

It really doesn’t bear thinking about. TAM. RIP. Força Chape. UTA Dan Tester

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The Top Table

here aren’t many advantages to getting old, but at least you still have your memories. Well, most of them. And for a Brighton fan of a certain age, they include seeing the Albion play in the top flight for four glorious years.

Those of you under 40 may still be able to remember what you came into the kitchen for, but you’re too young to remember Michael Robinson’s winner at White Hart Lane, or Andy Ritchie scoring the only goal at Anfield. Over those four seasons, we beat all the big clubs at least once: Arsenal, Everton, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United. We beat reigning European champions Nottingham Forest home and away in the 1979/80 season. We beat Crystal Palace three times in four meetings (3-0, 3-2 and 3-0 again) and drew the other. We beat Aston Villa

the season they won the title. We beat 1980 League Cup winners Wolves six times out of six, and our 1-0 victory at Molineux on September 22nd 1981 put us in fifth place, our highest-ever league position. Chelsea? We didn’t beat them for the simple reason that they were in the second division at the time. If I remember correctly, the only

with other new faces including John Gregory, Giles Stille, Terry Connor, Gary Howlett and Neil Smillie. But already, I notice memory playing tricks. Did I say ‘four glorious years’? Well, they weren’t always glorious. The last one was downright frustrating as the team sleepwalked to relegation, distracted by the FA Cup

“ Some fans were dissatisfied because they had become accustomed over several seasons to attacking football and plenty of big wins” clubs we shared the top flight with in all four seasons but failed to beat were Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion. Top players who became club legends made their debuts, including Steve Foster, Gary Stevens, Gordon Smith, Steve Gatting, Jimmy Case, Tony Grealish and the aforementioned Robinson,

run that ended in defeat in a Wembley final replay. But even before that, there were disappointments. The Goldstone was never full to capacity for a league game. The crowd for the first home match of the second season was under 20,000, which was partly blamed on the fact the North Stand roof had had to

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.

(All images: thegoldstonewrap.com)

be demolished as unsafe over the summer. Perhaps fans were afraid of sunstroke on a blazing August day. Attendances in the fourth season were downright embarrassing. Only 9,994 saw goals from Case, Ritchie and Robinson beat Norwich 3-0 on December 11th 1982, the first game under new manager Jimmy Melia. That’s almost 20,000 fewer than the 29,469 who attended the game against the Canaries at the Amex this season. What was the problem? Some fans were dissatisfied because they had become accustomed over several seasons to attacking football and plenty of big wins, with Peter Ward and the rest knocking in hatfuls of goals. Most games in the top flight were, naturally, more of a struggle. We had come too far, too fast. The fans had been spoilt, and some did not seem to see that a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion was as much of an achievement as a 6-0 victory over Colchester United in the third division. True, some of the games weren’t classics. Mike Bailey, who succeeded Alan Mullery

as manager in summer 1981, played pragmatic rather than romantic football, with results more important than entertainment. And it was on his watch that Micky Thomas, surely one of the most-ill-judged signings in the club’s history, rolled up. But, not only did we achieve our best league finish under Bailey – 13th in 1982 – he was also in charge for one of the best games ever seen at the Goldstone, when Albion came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Liverpool. And, even some of our top-division defeats were worth watching, such as the masterclass that Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa put on in Spurs’ 2-0 win over Mullery’s men in 1980. However, there was no pleasing some people. If you think there are moaners at the Amex, you should have stood near me on the south-west terrace. One man was such

a permanently dispiriting presence that I picture him still spending every other Saturday afternoon in Toys R Us, or whatever big shed now occupies that part of the Goldstone site, occasionally muttering ‘You’re a disgrace, Gregory’ to keep himself unamused. You might think the joy of reaching the top flight after so many years of messing about in the third tier – not to mention the disappointment of missing out by the narrowest of margins in the 1977/78 season – would have given everyone a sense of perspective. But, perhaps we simply hadn’t suffered enough. Somehow I imagine that three potentially crushing play-off defeats in four seasons will ensure that a place among the elite will be properly valued next time we get there.TAM. @NickSzczepanik

Nick has a new 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.

FRESH on Brighton’s restaurant scene

64 King’s Rd, Brighton, BN1 1NA www.thejetty-brighton.co.uk @JettyBrighton TheJettyBrighton

FA ACT AFTER HORSE BOLTS

We live in a world where players at the top level are scrutinised to the nth degree and thanks to social media it is almost impossible for them to do anything without the tabloid press vilifying them within hours, should they step out of line. I’m not suggesting they are all little angels, but these are young men earning more money than they can ever dream of spending, having a night out on their day off. Rewind 50 years to the England dressing room at Wembley at half-time during the World Cup Final. As Alf Ramsey gave his team talk, Bobby Charlton unwound by smoking a cigarette. Oh, and Zinedine Zidane, Franck Leboeuf and Fabien Barthez also enjoyed a puff and they

won the 1998 World Cup. Osvaldo Ardiles had a two packet a day habit and watching he and Ricky Villa destroy the Albion at the Goldstone back in the day, it didn’t seem to be doing him too much harm. And, they BRIGHTON were smoking every & HOVE ALBION day of the week. FRANK WOR THINGTON

Ardiles and Villa

asking – despite all his recordbreaking feats against footballing nonentities, but he should not have to sit in his hotel room on his night off worrying whether or not he figures in Jose Mourinho’s plans for Manchester United. (pinterest)

Congratulations are due to the FA for shutting the stable door so rapidly after this reprehensible behaviour.

(Hotspur HQ)

o, players are to be banned from drinking whilst on England duty after Wayne Rooney attended a wedding and ten other players were reported to be partying until the early hours?

Of course times have changed and in general the current generation of players wouldn’t be seen dead with a cigarette in their mouth. But, while the money they earn is obscene, they are entitled to enjoy their riches without a stewards’ inquiry every time they buy a beer after midnight. Yes, I know Wayne Rooney hasn’t been the player he was for a long time now – the 2004 Euros since you were

Simon Levenson @kampervan Simon used to work for BBC Sussex as a producer on home matchdays and previously presented the non-League round-up on Saturday evenings. He has been following the Albion since watching his first game in 1962 and rates winning promotion to the old First Division at Newcastle United as his favourite Albion moment. And Hereford, the most stressful. When he’s not following football, Simon writes for Brighton’s satirical Treason Show.

Goodness knows what today’s tabloids and social media would have made of George Best or even our own Frank Worthington. Back in those days there was a drinking culture in most clubs and this in an era when English club teams were the most feared opponents in Europe. The players of today are far fitter than their counterparts of the 1970s and one late night 72 hours before a game isn’t going to hurt – only in the eyes of a media obsessed with sensationalising their celebrity lifestyles. It’s not the England players’ lifestyles we should be worrying about. Perhaps it’s time that an England manager got the tactics right. TAM. Simon Levenson

@Kampervan

ALBION ROAR 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.

e’d been after Liam Rosenior as a studio guest on the Albion Roar for a few weeks. It’s no coincidence that one of the main reasons Hull City fans were so distraught when they realised he’d been released was his genuine warmth, his ability to reach out to the fans, and go the extra mile. He was their equivalent of Iñigo Calderón, and was, and still is, that popular. Having asked the club a few times for Liam he was finally able to come in on a cold November night (in any other context, the standard unit of measurement of mental toughness for a footballer) to record an episode. I was running a bit late, getting the studio ready; I’d kept Liam waiting outside for about five minutes, but he wasn’t worried – he was coolness and charm, in one. What was clear from meeting him for the first time is just how relaxed, friendly and confident he is. We were utter strangers, but he greets you like he’s a friend you haven’t met, and this puts the interviewer at ease. It was pretty clear I wasn’t going to be interviewing someone impossible like Joey Barton or

Roy Keane. Or Katie Hopkins. So before I’d even hit the record button, I knew I was in for an hour of pure football pleasure in Liam’s company. Unlike many footballers, he’s no statto. I had a bank of figures to hand – appearances, goals, debut dates and so on – and he had no idea about any of them. So considering many of our listeners do like a good stat, I reeled them off anyway. He seemed genuinely surprised when I told him he’d already played 138 Premier League matches, though. I didn’t tell him about his goalscoring record – one whole goal in the top division, and six in total in his career. Nor about his five red cards. Tut, tut. But, the main story which comes across, as said by so many people who have listened in, is the fact Liam ‘gets it’. In an age of cynicism and perceived apathy between fans and players, the distance between the two is often seen as an unbridgeable divide. People like Liam – and Calde before him – fully understand and appreciate their role within the club and the community, and do so in an eloquent manner. Even if, in the case of Calde, English isn’t their

first language. That bridge has yet to be burned down, thankfully. In fact, it looks pretty strong and robust. Other news and social media outlets have picked up on another aspect of this particular episode of the Albion Roar; Liam’s total immersion into the society he feels the city of Brighton & Hove is. He has picked up a vibe, something he feels many of the people of the city represent. It’s one of tolerance, openness and welcoming – no matter your skin colour or sexual preference. Liam and his family are happy here, and the culture of the city is one of the reasons why. That he was able to explain this in terms of personality, identity and infrastructure – using the club as a microcosm of the city – in such a clear, concise manner was like a breath of fresh air. Liam Rosenior has many talents – the most obvious one, off-pitch, being his advanced skills in verbal communication. He has already done his UEFA coaching badges and wants to go into management once he has hung up his boots. This may well be as soon as his contract expires at Brighton &

(image: Sky Sports)

Hove Albion in June 2018, and few would doubt he would be a big success. However, if that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come off, for whatever reason, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear he has the skill set to adapt to any number of other things; a teacher, a commentator, a lecturer, a motivator. People would listen. We should consider ourselves fortunate that a very good footballer at our favourite football club is such an intelligent, articulate person. But this is no coincidence; no clumsy happenstance. Chris Hughton and Paul Winstanley have clearly sought to bring in players who are team men, socially adept, clear of intent and not loners, miscreants and disruptors. There are no passengers on this flight to the top division, and the likes of Liam makes us realise that this is clearly the case. He is 100% confident we can go up this season. Who am I to argue?

(image: The Argus)

But for me, the pleasure of being in the same room, and listening to Liam Rosenior talking with such openness, honesty and clarity about his life, love and sport were all mine. TAM. Alan Wares @albionroar

ALBION IN THE COMMUNITY

Danny Hemsley earns international call-up One of AITC’s amputee football team has been called up to the Great Britain squad. Danny Hemsley only took up the sport in the summer but has already become a key figure in the AITC Brighton & Hove Albion Amputee FC (BHAAFC) side. He was part of the team that played their first-ever game against Arsenal on the pitch at the American Express Community Stadium and took part in a pre-season tournament at Manchester City’s multimillion pound training ground. The 39-year-old has now been named in the provisional 22-man Great Britain squad ahead of next year’s European Championships – quite an achievement considering he hasn’t even completed his first season playing the sport. Danny lost his leg just over 12 months ago when he tripped and fell through a glass table while helping a friend move furniture. He very nearly lost his life. “The table shattered and a large piece of glass went through my right leg and severed my main artery,” he explained. “I was losing blood fast and if it wasn’t for my friend’s quick thinking in putting a tourniquet on my leg I wouldn’t be here today.” Surgeons spent five days trying to save his leg but ended up having to amputate above the knee. For Danny, waking up to discover the severity of his situation was understandably hard to take in.

He said: “From being so fit and active all my life to suddenly being in a wheelchair with one leg was a real shock. I had amazing support from my friends and family and don’t think I could have got through it without them. “Out of all the things I thought I would miss, the most was going to be playing football. My son was eight and we were always outside having a kickabout. He was really getting into his football. To not be able to play with him anymore was heart-breaking.” Fast-forward just over a year and Danny is on the verge of completing his first season as a Brighton player and is relishing the prospect of training with the national team. “Being part of AITC has given me a new lease of life,” he said. “Being on the pitch makes you forget all of your problems and worries. I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to be part of the GB squad – I just hope I can do the Albion proud.” Paul Brackley, AITC disability manager, added: “We are all really proud of Danny’s international call-up. It is not only a great personal achievement but also fantastic recognition for the brilliant progress made by our amputee side since they started in April.”.

disability@albioninthecommunity.org.uk

“

AITC and Patcham High link up for new role AITC has teamed up with a local school for a pioneering new partnership aimed at helping improve pupils’ resilience.

recent history, such as the on-going battle to win promotion to the Premier League or the Albion’s fight to find a permanent home in the city.

Albion in the Community currently works with more than 100 schools across Sussex, providing after-school sport sessions, PE support, healthy eating clubs and football-themed numeracy and literacy lessons.

The school will pay for the role by using the money it receives in Pupil Premium funding – a grant designed to be used to help raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities and to close the gaps between them and their peers.

Now the charity is expanding his work by pairing up with Patcham High School to provide a full-time member of staff who will be based at the Ladies Mile Road school. The Grit and Resilience Co-ordinator will help some of the school’s most disadvantaged pupils and should the pilot programme prove successful, AITC will look to deliver a similar arrangement at schools elsewhere in the county. Many of Patcham High’s pupils are keen Albion fans and AITC will look to use that passion to bring out the best in students by highlighting real-life examples of grit and resilience from the club’s

Paul Williams, AITC schools manager, said: “The school’s ambitious plans to improve the grit and resilience of their students strongly match the ethos of our charity – to engage and inspire pupils and help them reach their sporting and academic potential.” (All images: Paul Hazlewood, BHAFC)

Being on the pitch makes you forget all of your problems and worries. I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to be part of the GB squad – I just hope I can do the Albion proud.

John McKee, Patcham High’s head teacher, was equally enthusiastic about the partnership, saying: “It’s an exciting time for the school. This partnership is going to have a hugely positive impact on our students.” For more information on current roles with AITC, visit: www.seagulls.co.uk/club/jobs

www.seagulls.co.uk/club/jobs

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ALBION IN THE COMMUNITY

Campaign success In issue two of the Albion Mag, we included details of AITC’s latest fundraising campaign – with the charity trying to raise £30,000 to fund a new wheelchairaccessible minibus. The good news is that thanks to the generosity of Albion fans the charity has reached its target. AITC’s ‘Get us to the Match’ campaign was timed to coincide with the charity’s takeover day against Norwich City and the matchday also included a focus on AITC’s disability football work. A bucket collection before and after the game – and a range of other fundraising activities, including a silent auction, a mascot place raffle and sales of matchday lottery tickets – helped push the overall total raised at the game to more than £17,000. A generous long-term supporter of the charity has offered to match funds raised by the campaign. The money raised at the game, together with the matchedfunding, means AITC can now go ahead and order the new minibus, which will be used to transport AITC’s teams to their

Matt Dorn, interim chief executive officer at AITC, was overwhelmed by the support Seagulls fans had shown the charity. He said: “We have always benefited hugely from the generosity of Albion supporters but to raise so much around one game is amazing. “Brighton fans are really proud of the work carried out by AITC and the money will make a genuine difference. “On behalf of everyone at Albion in the Community, I would like to thank all the Albion fans who donated – particularly the generous supporter who has match-funded the campaign, as well as the many visiting Norwich City fans who also contributed to our collection. “The work we do is only possible because of the continued support we receive. Raising in excess of £30,000 will have a hugely-beneficial impact on the many participants who attend our sessions.”

Brighton fans are really proud of the work carried out by AITC and the money will make a genuine difference.

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matches as well as helping fans who have a disability travel to Albion away games.

Bike ride launch AITC is once again running a European cycle challenge and this year’s destination is the Amsterdam Arena – home of the world-famous Dutch side Ajax. The trip departs from the American Express Community Stadium on Friday 16th June, 2017, with cyclists returning to the UK by plane on Sunday 18th June. Registration is now open and the cost is just £299 per person, which includes: • Overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland • Flights back to the UK and transport back to the American Express Community Stadium •F ull ride support with mechanic • Meals (excluding lunch and dinner on day three)

• Water stops – two per day with drinks and refreshments • Cycle jersey • Invitation to training rides – a great way to get to know the other riders ahead of the event • Fundraising support • Accommodation The cycling takes place over the first two days and is broken down into approximately 65 miles on the first day and 55 miles on the second. On day three riders will have the morning to spend enjoying Amsterdam before meeting for transfers back to the UK. Money raised from the event will help fund AITC’s award-winning disability football work and other projects throughout Sussex. Emma Brockhurst, who organises the event for AITC, said she hoped as many fans as possible would sign-up. She said: “Our annual cycle challenge has become a popular part of AITC’s calendar of events and is always well-attended. Last year we went to Brussels and not only was it a fantastic trip but – most importantly – it also raised a significant amount of money for the charity.

(Image: Paul Hazlewood, BHAFC)

“Having been to Paris twice and Brussels once we wanted to go somewhere different. Amsterdam is a wonderful city and the route is incredibly picturesque – not to mention nice and flat.” For more information on the Albion to Ajax Cycle Challenge, or to book a place, email: fundraising@ albioninthecommunity.org.uk or call 01273 878246.

fundraising@albioninthecommunity.org.uk

(mage: wsc.co.uk)

(image: telegraph.co.uk)

Vincent Tan

The Love I Lost… It never used to be this difficult. You supported the club where you were born, where your dad took you to, where your mates went. Easy. How could anyone possibly compete for your footballing affections?

explain themselves to bemused friends, family and colleagues. If you haven’t guessed it by now this is mine, and how I lost the love for my team – Cardiff City. Sure, you need to suffer the disillusionment with your childhood sweetheart but second-team syndrome requires a temptress, a club to slowly pull at your heart strings and vie for your affections. So who was to be my paramour? The Albion, of course!

Despite this rather enjoyable introduction, I never really gave the Albion a passing thought until I pitched up at university myself in Birmingham two years later and shared a house with two Albion fans.

But what happens when you With our respective clubs both move away, or your club moves scrambling around in football’s from the ground responsible for gutter a mutual admiration was your childhood and adolescent formed resulting in the odd football memories? What Cardiff away trip for them, and happens when your club, on the the taste of an Albion excursion whim of a basketcase owner, decides to change the home colours and badge that have “ Anyone who is afflicted by second-team syndrome forged its identity for 104 years has their own backstory – one they quite rightly and ‘rebrand’ (how I hate that word applied to football) in have to draw upon to explain themselves to order to explore ‘new, emerging bemused friends, family and colleagues.” global football markets’? And, what happens when an apparent majority of your fellow fans, the ones you thought you knew, the ones who you thought shared a sense of what it meant to support your club, think this is kind of OK, or a fair trade off, for a chance to reach the ‘promised land’ (top-flight football to you and I)? Anyone who is afflicted by second-team syndrome has their own backstory – one they quite rightly have to draw upon to

In truth, we’d been ‘just good friends’ for a while. I remember my first trip to the Goldstone with my Dad in 1992 during a visit to my sister at Sussex University. We stood on the south-west terrace to see a 2-0 Albion win against Stockport County and a man-of-thematch performance from Clive ‘Flash’ Walker, a man for whom the description ‘swashbuckling winger’ was surely invented.

or two for me, but as the 1996/97 season drew to a close, concern for their side was probably more a topic of boozy conversation than Cardiff’s play-off push. So, yes, I was there at Hereford and looking back that is probably where the seed was sown. It would have taken a colder heart than mine not to have formed some bond with the club after witnessing first-hand the events at Edgar Street that day.

In the numerous encounters between our two clubs since, I’d remained steadfast in my support for City over what was rapidly becoming my second team. A sell-out top-of-the-table League Two clash at Withdean in February 2001 was an early test, which thanks to my friend’s intimate knowledge of the Withdean woods, I was able to ‘attend’ via a vantage point in the trees above the South Stand, with a Welsh flag to clearly highlight my allegiance. But, then came the summer of 2011 and the ‘rebrand’. It was Cardiff’s games against the Albion that season which made me realise things were never going to be quite the same again between me and the club I’d first stood supporting as a six-year-old at the beautifully antiquated Ninian Park. Despite my anger at our ‘new’ colours and badge I had, as usual, got myself a ticket for the away end when Cardiff came to town for an early season clash. I’d rather naively thought at least our away following won’t have bought into this crass change of identity. I was mistaken. As I sauntered to the away end, I was met with a wall of red shirted Cardiff fans. My heart sank. It was too much to take and I turned back and got the next train out

(mage: walesonline.co.uk)

Red above blue

of Falmer station. I simply couldn’t be amongst them. When the return fixture took place in February with Cardiff leading the Championship and Albion chasing a play-off place, news of 20,000 red scarves being handed out to Cardiff fans again turned my stomach. It performed a bad somersault when I later heard of how the majority of our fans had not, as I had hoped, politely refused them but instead wore them with no apparent shame.

A year later the fans finally united and successfully campaigned to return the club’s colours to blue, so things between us are a little better these days. Somehow though, permanent damage had been done to our relationship. And, what of the Albion and I? Are we still ‘just good friends’? It is probably a little bit more these days. Moving to Brighton and working for AITC as the club transitioned from Withdean Stadium to its

No face paint available on this day

shiny new home – and forging friendships with colleagues who’d battled for the club’s survival – probably didn’t help. But, and this is a little tip to anyone else suffering from second-team syndrome, I’ve come to think of a goal celebration as the acid test of whether a second love can ever match the first. Will I ever have the same out-of-body experience celebrating an Albion goal as I did when Nathan Blake scored ‘that’ winner against Manchester City in the FA Cup at Ninian Park, or when Ben Turner scrambled home an unlikely extra-time equaliser against Liverpool in the Carling Cup Final? Hand on heart I have to say ‘no’. I head to Cardiff City Stadium on December 3rd with my Albion supporting mates for my first Bluebirds game since that forgetful balmy Amex evening in 2011. As we plan the weekend, one of them emails me with the million dollar question: “I’m about to get the tickets for Cardiff mate, which end are you going in?” With a momentary pause for thought, I respond, “I’ll be going in the home end mate, in the home end with my old man.” TAM. Joel Essex @Jsussex

Surrounded by characters Having supported the Albion from a young age, I’ve got used to the wide range of faces and characters who attend the games. This is something I have loved since I first started going to the Amex as there is this incredible sense of unity around the stadium. Everyone is at the game because they all share the passion and love for the club, which creates a community-like atmosphere which is hard to replicate anywhere else.

me something different when it comes up building a character. However, none of that matters when we score a goal because we all turn into passionate football supporters who cheer, hug one another and may even cry. This is also a common factor amongst many of the away supporters across the country.

This is something that has fascinated me because, as an actor, it is always important to build up a bank of characters for future jobs and shows. Attending football games is a great way to do this because I am constantly surrounded by different people. Sitting to my left is a casual and humorous businessman, and to my right is a boisterous builder who is my father. Both offer

My football supporting actor friends from the BRIT School ask me what it’s like to follow Brighton & Hove Albion. My answer has always remained the same. The Albion is a club where you have a community of people that hold strong values so there is a level of respect to all – whatever your

Cain Suleyman, 17, is a student at the BRIT School, London, studying Musical Theatre and Photography

background. Even though I believe there is still work to do to end bigoted banter and chanting, the Albion is a club that really cares about bringing this to an end. This is particularly evident in AITC’s involvement with charities such as, Kick It Out and Football Vs Homophobia. As a young person growing up around the club, and watching people to develop characters for my acting, I can certainly say that I am proud to be part of the Albion family.

The all-important number two

ast your minds back to February 2015. Chris Hughton has been in charge for just six weeks, Brighton sit just one place and two points above the relegation zone, having spent the season about as useful as Southern Rail on a match day! We’ve won just nine of 29 games played and were on the brink of a disastrous relegation to League One. That seems a bleak and distant memory away now doesn’t it?

This is when Colin Calderwood was appointed as assistant manager. He brought his own pedigree, experience and knowledge, having been a gaffer

After that, the ship kind of steadied. In the remaining 14 games, we conceded just 11 goals, in the process avoiding the unthinkable relegation. It gave us something to build on going forward. Calderwood and Hughton, both defenders in their playing careers, knew we had to become solid at the back, so in came Bong, Rosenior, Goldson and Huenemeier. With Calderwood – a commanding centre back in his day – came something of a huge turnaround in our defence. I think this is more than just coincidence. Although the season ultimately ended in heartbreak, we became one of

“It was a pairing which brought success to previous clubs and we were in a world of trouble” himself. He had also worked with Hughton twice before. It was a pairing which brought success to previous clubs and we were in a world of trouble. The duo’s first game didn’t go too well, losing 3-2 to Forest at the Amex. It meant we had conceded an alarming 41 goals in 30 games. After this came back-to-back 0-0s away at Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City before we then edged a 4-3 thriller at the Amex against Birmingham City.

the best teams in the division. We had become a unit, but why? I put it down to the huge influence of the big Scot. If you want to see his desire to win, look at that slo-mo vid from MK Dons away! Lewis Dunk handed in his transfer request, changed his mind and signed a new long-term deal. Since then he has become a rock at the back, even cutting out his all too frequent goal conceding mistakes. He has

(All images: Paul Hazlewood, BHAFC)

gained a maturity I’ve not seen before – it’s great! Then there’s the emergence of Connor Goldson. With Greer out, our replacement was a youngster from Shrewsbury Town. After an unlucky own goal on his first start, Goldson became a huge player for us. He and Dunk forged a formidable partnership in their 23 games together. Subsequently, Goldson was named our Young Player of the Year. Bruno flourished too! He looks like an actual defender, not just a cavalier going forward! Just months after some hapless comedyfending and a 20th-place finish, we finished last season with 17 clean sheets and the fourth-best defence in the division. The only weakness at the back was our physicality, we sometimes got bullied. Look at the Burnley home game, the eventual champions picked up on this flaw and scored two goals as a result. Hughton and Calderwood took note: we needed a man mountain at the back, so in came Shane Duffy for a club-record fee. He has been an absolute

towering monster since! Under the guidance of Calderwood, Duffy and Dunk have become almost impenetrable, keeping 11 clean sheets from 17 games with an insatiable hunger to win games too. I love watching them play. Sheffield Wednesday away is a good example. 2-0 up in injury time, we conceded a consolation goal. Stockdale and Duffy in particular went absolutely mental. They were incandescent with rage, even though we won. I love that hunger! It is why we have the best defence in the entire country. On a personal level, Calderwood was a top bloke. We did the first day of the AITC ride together. We also chatted over drinks in my pub as he lived close by. He regaled in funny stories of being a young pro at Mansfield Town and Jiri Skalak’s dangerous addiction to catching Pokemon. Moving on, the Albion have announced 44-year-old Paul Trollope as the new assistant manager. Trollope brings nine years’ experience as a coach, assistant and a manager.

Anyone that can help Wales get to a semi-final of a major tournament has to be decent in my eyes, although you will catch him in the videos of the Welsh squad doing that Icelandic clap thing, so I have my reservations about him already! Trollope had worked with Hughton twice before, so his appointment came as no surprise and he missed out on the job when Calderwood was first appointed. Having been a midfielder in his playing career, part of me thinks there will be less focus on the defence that Calderwood brought together – but maybe that is a good thing. Trollope has gone on record saying working with Jean Tigana at Fulham was the greatest influence on his own coaching philosophies. He likes playing progressive, passing football. This is quite a contrast from the perceptions of cautious Chris Hughton, so we could be in for an exciting mix and more expansive football with this new managerial duo! TAM. Brett Mendoza

@BrettMendoza

Stopping the wrecking ball at Wrexham Since my first game in 1967, I have witnessed many highs and lows following my beloved Albion. And, like most clubs we have had our share of heroes and villains. Kit Napier was the first of many heroes – far too many to name. But the true villains in our club number just three: former club owners Bill Archer and Greg Stanley, along with chief executive David Bellotti. And, as most readers will know, the 1996/97 season became one of football’s great displays of non-violent direct action, as we staged a desperate fight against these three men, who were stealing our club from under our noses. That season included the first Fans United Day, when on Saturday 8th February 1997 supporters of clubs across the UK and Europe shared the Goldstone terraces in solidarity with the Albion fans. We eventually succeeded in our battle to save our club. But the victory came too late to save the Goldstone Ground. A race for the Racecourse Over the ensuing years the story of asset stripping football club owners was replicated far

too many times for comfort. By the time I became involved in a similar battle, seven years had passed. I was living 300 miles away on Tyneside and by a quirk of fate was unexpectedly thrust the mantle of Fans United organiser for Wrexham FC. The supporters were battling their club owner Alex Hamilton, who had threatened

boards (this was before the days of Facebook and Twitter), and another Fans United Day arrived. Saturday 20th November 2004 was a football day I will never forget. Solidarity More than 1,000 supporters of other clubs descended on Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground that afternoon for a

‘I glanced at my good friend Ian. “Glad you’re here?” I asked. “Too right, I wouldn’t have missed this for anything,” he replied.’ to bulldoze their ground for a housing development. But, they were facing an uphill battle for anyone outside North Wales to recognise their plight. I guess with 20 years of PR and newspaper experience and family connections to North Wales, I had found a strange niche. Weeks of phone calls, radio and TV interviews and bombarding other football clubs’ message

routine third tier match against Bristol City. The weather was wintry and cold, but that did not dampen the shared spirit. As part of a small group of Brighton fans, I entered the famous old ground and made my way to seats on the left side of the home stand. Wrexham’s average home gate had been 4,500 that season and even at 2.50pm it was clear there were many more than average.

Everywhere we looked fans were filling the seats – even the Wrexham Kop terrace seemed full. Our small group was soon augmented by more friends. We stood 16 strong and knew other Brighton supporters were elsewhere in the ground. Around us we met fans from Sunderland, Cardiff City and Swansea City, Stoke City, Stockport County, Northampton Town, Everton, Wolves, Telford, Bury, Donny Rovers and even Chester City (Wrexham’s bitter rivals from ten miles up the road). Suddenly a chorus of ‘We love you Brighton’ echoed from our left. A group of Wrexham fans were looking in our direction, singing and smiling broadly. A chill ran down my spine; I looked around as thousands of people rose to their feet and applauded. More choruses of ‘We love you Brighton’ rang from all sides of the ground. I glanced at my good friend Ian. “Glad you’re here?” I asked. “Too right, I wouldn’t have missed this for anything,” he replied. The ground was full as the first half passed in repeated choruses of singing and chanting. Then a few minutes before half-time a senior steward told us: “You can carry your banner around the pitch at half-time.” Dazed by the offer, a handful of us followed the steward down the steps as people stood and began applauding. This was unreal.

‘We love you Brighton’ Our collective hands were freezing but the adrenaline was rushing as we began a procession along the touchline – our Save the Racecourse banner held aloft to the crowd. Spontaneous ‘We love you Brighton’ chants echoed again in our ears. Fans leant over the hoardings to shake our hands. As we reached the Kop there was gathered on the pitch about 200 Wrexham fans holding their own Save the Racecourse banner. We walked past, spontaneously shook hands, embraced and shared smiles that will last many lifetimes. I moved across to Ian and said: “This surpasses anything I have ever been to in football… only the last game at the Goldstone comes close.” Ian smiled broadly. “It is simply amazing,” he replied. We made our way back to our seats, shaking more hands along the way. But as we approached the entrance at the end of the main stand a hefty and serious looking man

in a red Wales shirt stood in our way. He looked menacing. I looked at him closely and there were tears in his eyes. “I just want to say thank you,” he said. He thrust his giant hand into mine and shook firmly, and proceeded to ensure he shook all our hands. On the way back to the seats we stopped to ask a steward about the attendance. She replied: “At least 10,000!” Wrexham lost the game 3-1, but that did not seem to matter to anyone. Sometimes the bigger picture is more important. Wrexham eventually won their battle, but not before the club was placed into administration and eventually relegated from the Football League. Twelve years later Wrexham FC are still languishing in non-league football, but the club is now owned by the fans as a community venture and never again will they be victim to a rogue or greedy asset stripper. TAM. Nic Otterside

@seagullnic

Around the pitch side we continued. The game was still in progress, but as we walked, each section of the ground rose to their feet and cheered and clapped – it was as if what was happening on the pitch was inconsequential.

(image: TheArgus) (www.seagulls.co.uk)

(www.seagulls.co.uk)

Destination Falmer

ith an average attendance of over 26,000 at each Championship home fixture, many fans make their way to the Amex by bus and coach. Seagull Travel, a sustainable travel network, is an official partner of Brighton & Hove Albion taking supporters to and from matches from a number of pick-up locations across Sussex and beyond. The company originated as the club needed additional transport options to bring fans to the Amex. They initially averaged around 90 pick-ups but this has now doubled to 180. With trains becoming increasingly unreliable, the buses and coaches allow fans to get to the ground in plenty of time, and also leave after the match promptly, departing 30 minutes after the final whistle. The half-hour

window also lets fans have a post-match drink. Before Seagull Travel became an official partner, they organised travel to the big games. This began with the famous play-off win over Bristol City in 2004 that saw Albion promoted to the second tier. Seagull Travel now drive 3,500 fans to every home match via 70 coaches. The majority of the 180 collection points are in Sussex but they also pick up as far afield as Maidstone, Kent and Emsworth in Hampshire. The biggest current area of growth is Worthing where Seagull Travel’s existing eight vehicles may soon not be enough to cater for demand. If the club were to be promoted to the Premier League, it’s realistic to say that more fans would want to attend matches at the Amex, although it’s pretty much at

0845 9011 442

capacity these days. Away coach travel will also be a more exciting proposition with potential trips to Anfield, Old Trafford and the Emirates, to name but a few. “The club have been up there for the last few years now,” said Seagull Travel director, Darren Gallis. “The infrastructure is in place, I feel, for us to go up. I think with the start we have had this season that this is our year. The fact we kept players like Lewis Dunk and Anthony Knockaert is really encouraging and we are not only looking like scoring every time we attack, but we’re not conceding many either. I’m really confident and there is a sense of belief and a real buzz around the ground at the moment. Long may it continue.” TAM. Joe McBride

@SeagullTravNews

eventtravel-hub.co.uk

FA Cup fifth-round tie versus West Ham United, Saturday 18th February, 1933

A full house at the Goldstone Ground - 32,310

(www.seagulls.co.uk)

(photo courtesy of the BHACHS collection)

Football for all “8% of football fans said they would stop watching their team if they signed an openly gay player”

hat was one of the findings from a recent BBC Radio 5 Live survey on attitudes to homophobia in football and sport in general, and when I first read it I have to say I was pretty shocked. Then, when I came to look into the issue further, I found myself doing what I feel we should all do when confronted with survey results of any kind, namely look beyond the headlinegrabbing sound bites and into what the results are actually telling us. On a basic mathematical level, the above statistic would suggest that the other 92% of those surveyed would have no such extreme reaction to supporting their club if they had an openly gay player in the squad. Now surely it’s that tolerance and acceptance, which I’m sure would not have been the case if the same survey had been conducted 20 or 30 years ago, that we should be focusing on as a positive example of how attitudes among football fans, and indeed the general public, are changing? Of course, there is still work to do, as

evidenced by the 8% at the extreme end of the spectrum, but in a world which has become so divided along numerous political fault lines over the last year, I don’t feel there’s anything to really be gained by giving any further publicity to views such as those within that percentage. The subject of openly gay players in football is one which seems to come up periodically in the media, especially in light of surveys like this, and inevitably the question is asked of how long it will be before an active top-level player comes out during their career. Of course, as an Albion fan it would be remiss of me to discuss this subject without talking about our own former player Justin Fashanu, with the club from 1985 to 1987, who came out publicly in 1990 and was able to continue his career at a lower-level in England and abroad until his tragic suicide in 1993. More recent examples of openly gay figures in football have tended to involve players making their sexualities public after their careers have

“ So far though, no current male Premier League player has taken the decision to come out publicly”

finished, such as former Leeds United winger Robbie Rogers and ex Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, with one notable exception being then-England women’s captain Casey Stoney who came out in 2014, and continues to play for the Arsenal Ladies team to this day. So far though, no current male Premier League player has taken the decision to come out publicly, although Hitzlsperger

Rogers

rumours circulate that in fact there are multiple players whose sexuality is well known to, and accepted by, their team-mates but they have chosen not to make a public statement about it. That, of course, is their right and if I were to put myself in their shoes I could certainly understand their reticence given the media focus and spotlight that will inevitably follow the first player who does choose to take that step. When that time comes, as it surely will, I can only hope it is a decision the player makes on their own terms and because they feel it is the right thing for them as a person at that time. While sadly you are always likely to get a minority of negative responses, the survey alone seems to show there is a general tolerance among football fans on this subject.

I’d like to finish with a hypothetical question: how would we, as Albion fans, react if either the Albion were to sign an openly gay player or if a player were to come out while playing for us? I’d like to think I’m in the majority with my view on this one, which is simply that as long as the aforementioned player is doing their job on the pitch, whether it’s scoring goals or keeping clean sheets, what they choose to get up to in their private lives is neither here nor there. That said though, I’d like to hear what our readers have to say on this subject, so please get in touch with me on Twitter – @SteveJB84 – and let me know what your view would be if such a situation were to occur. I’ll cover the feedback received in a future column.

On a similar note, if there is an issue of relevance to the LGBTQ community of Albion fans you’d like to see discussed or raised in this column, please do also feel free to contact me. I want this column to be representative, so outside input is always welcome. TAM. Steve Brewer

@SteveJB84

BRIGHTON GHTON BRI HOVE ALBION ION VE ALB & &HO JUSTIN FASHANU HA JUSTIN FAS NU

Paddy’s Three Points

t’s like we slip through some pan-dimensional portal as we traverse from the palms and parakeets of sunny south-east Spain to the pints and pies of Paddy’s Point. This pub’s logo is the name of the establishment in Gaelic script wrapped around Celtic’s famous Shamrock. Picture warm sunlight, dark wood, dim bulbs and 15 or more wall-mounted TVs showing a feed from the Premier League, plus a pair of projector screens showing Celtic v ICT and blocking out the day… While my partner and I were careful not to have our ‘winter sun’ break clash with home fixtures, we reckoned we could catch the Bristol City away game in a bar somewhere, and so it came to pass. We’d cased the joint during Celtic’s creditable 1-1 draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach the previous Tuesday. Celtic’s equaliser – giving them a lifeline to remain in the Europa League – was greeted with Glory Glory Glasgow Celtic played loud over the speaker system, and adults dancing with their children. One foolhardy young fella was even making his ‘conflicting affiliations’ known, and yet was being scrupulously ignored by the throng in their green and

white hooped replicas. We noticed that a few English folk were watching their teams on some of the smaller screens, so we figured that between Celtic’s Premiership match and Ireland versus the All-Blacks (imagine the scenes after the historic 40-29 victory), we could persuade the all-Irish staff to help us out. Saturday came and they were indeed accommodating, even putting the sound up – a courtesy we weren’t expecting with Chelsea’s 5-0 drubbing of Everton playing on the surrounding screens.

loud, if incoherent exclamation, I was looking around for acknowledgement, even to the point of considering announcing loudly that Beram Kayal would normally be playing for us in the hope of garnering some recognition. Jinky’s strike was hugely enjoyable too, but rather paled after that astonishing opener and subsequent emotional tribute to M. Knockaert Sr. As soon as the game was over we made our way back through the warp gate and into balmy holiday reality, three points better off and buoyed once again by

I was happy for us to remain anonymous in our little corner. That was until Steve Sidwell lobbed the keeper from inside the centre circle with his left foot. Deliciously hot cheesy chips were consumed, and Tanya even swears that the Guinness tasted better than back home, even though we were further from the black stuff’s natural source. I was happy for us to remain anonymous in our little corner. That was until Steve Sidwell lobbed the keeper from inside the centre circle with his left foot. However, after making a

the flair and spirit of this current Albion side. TAM Leon Cox caneandrinse.com @ratsoalbion

We Are Brighton

These untried and untested methods are guaranteed to be more reliable than Southern Rail. And, they won’t leave you stranded at Brighton station, having to face the horrors of drinking on West Street until 5am for the first morning train as happened to us after the Aston Villa game.

Donkey

Tardis

Flying Saucer

What is it? A domesticated

What is it? A machine

What is it? Mode of transport

member of the horse family.

capable of time travel used by a race called Time Lords from the Planet Gallifrey.

used by aliens when they visit Earth.

Pros? Good enough for Jesus of Nazareth and, by association, Iñigo Calderón.

Cons? If Glenn Murray leaves come the end of the season, the manager may try and sign it as a replacement striker. See Billy Paynter. Lift with Alex Pritchard’s agent

What is it? A car being driven

(image: metro.co.uk)

re you utterly fed up with Southern Rail’s matchday service? Bored to tears of train cancelations? Had enough of strikes being conveniently timed to fall when there is a game on? Then we have the answer Brighton & Hove Albion fans. It is our alternative guide to travel to the Amex.

So what are you waiting for?

Pros? Bigger on the inside than on the outside, so could in theory fit all 30,000 people attending an Albion game in it.

Cons? May end up mistakenly traveling back in time to 1998 and having to witness Michael Mahoney-Johnson in a Brighton shirt again.

Pros? Would afford fantastic views en route among the moon and the stars.

Cons? Once you’d seen Seven Stars, Paul Barber would probably try and get £250 out of you for the privilege. Bed from Bedknobs & Broomsticks

What is it? A bed enchanted

by the agent of Alex Pritchard.

The Gus Bus

Pros? The bloke is loaded

What is it? A bus we all used

so would presumably not charge petrol money.

to enjoy being on board.

by the witch Eglantine Price so that it can fly to any destination desired by the user.

Pros? One of the safest

Pros? Useful if Sami Hyypia

vehicles on the road due to its impenetrable glass ceiling.

got another crack at the job for taking mid-game naps.

Cons? Prone to going off the rails when it doesn’t get to go its own way. Recent examples include Sunderland and Seville.

Cons? Last football match it

Cons? Any hint of traffic on the M25 and you’ll end up at Carrow Road rather than the Amex.

www.wearebrighton.com

went to ended in a riot between the blue and yellow teams after a rhino popped the ball.

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There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert

There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert You, you, you, you Yeah, you can’t stop Knockaert Remember that time in the city of steel When the Wednesday hoodoo crashed Knocky mesmerised the full back And they knew that they’d been thrashed No one thought it would happen like this When Norwich came to town Murray helped himself in a game of bliss And Knocky chipped their clown

There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert You, you, you, you Yeah, you can’t stop Knockaert A low strike against Rotherham and Reading The winner against Huddersfield Just like a party at a wedding When Knocky made Forest yield Some say football is important More than your seat in the stand But that phrase is redundant As together we hold his hand There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert There’s no-one who can stop Knockaert You, you, you, you Yeah, you can’t stop Knockaert Nic Outterside

@seagullnic

(Image: Sky Sports)

The moon is rising like wildfire I feel the breath of a storm Something’s gonna happen tonight You go inside and stay warm Sidwell will score from 50 yards I can see it in his stare And they’ll raise his shirt above To show how much they care

BRISTOL CITY 0-2 ALBION ALBION 1-1 ASTON VILLA ALBION 2-1 FULHAM

Joe McBride’s match reports BRISTOL CITY 0-2 ALBION: 05/11/16

ALBION 1-1 ASTON VILLA: 18/11/16

ALBION 2-1 FULHAM: 26/11/16

Seagulls sit comfortably in second

Brighton resist second-half fightback

Stripes come from behind

Brighton extended their unbeaten run to ten games with two excellent goals at Ashton Gate. Sidwell pounced on Korey Smith’s error on the halfway line, spotted the keeper off his line and exquisitely lobbed O’Donnell from fifty yards to score his first goal since April. The whole team ran to the bench and held up the shirt of teammate Anthony Knockaert in a tribute after the recent death of his father. His replacement, Jamie Murphy, doubled the lead on 20 minute, cutting inside to see his deflected effort creep into the far corner.

Albion’s run without defeat continued as they fought hard for a point at the Amex. Villa, unbeaten in six, started on the back foot after a bright start from the home side. However, Nathan Baker headed an Albert Adomah free kick into the bottom corner after 20 minutes to give the visitors the lead. Just before the break, Glenn Murray superbly finished off a fine counter-attack as he smashed the ball low into the corner to score his tenth goal of the season. A rejuvenated Villa looked dangerous throughout the second half and Albion had Stockdale, and the woodwork, to thank, Albion’s keeper making two crucial saves.

Brighton survived a first-half Fulham onslaught to move within two points of Newcastle at the top of the Championship. The away side took the lead after Kevin McDonald took advantage of David Stockdale’s slip after just 18 minutes. The Cottagers created chances and carved Albion open but David Stockdale made impressive saves to deny Ayite and Malone. The visitors were left to rue their missed opportunities as Albion looked a rejuvenated side after the break as Sam Baldock thumped a fantastic volley low and hard into the bottom corner. Glenn Murray found space in the area to meet his strike partner’s cross with a cool, controlled finish to win the game. The victory proved even more important as Newcastle slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers, closing the gap at the top.

BRIGHTON BUT ONLY AT HOME Classic Away Days

No.2 Blackburn Rovers, Saturday 5th May, 1990

Shearer prepares for a night on the town

n December 13th we play Blackburn away. Not a classic destination you might think, but then again in the last issue I wrote about the joys of Rotherham. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. Yes, Blackburn is another place I have got monumentally drunk at while attempting to watch the Albion. In my defence, watching us in 1989/90 sober would have been an act of stupidity. We finished 18th suffering 22 – yes, twentytwo – defeats along the way. I saw all of them. So, by the time we arrived at a pub outside Mill Hill station in Lancashire, ready for the last away game of the season, and racked up the

pool balls at 11 in the morning, I needed a drink. Unfortunately, as we prepared the table, in came a group of locals and they weren’t exactly Morris Men. Encounters of this kind in those days normally had us heading for the back door in twos but these lads

I remember flat rooves and lovely looking old stone pubs and a lot of small glasses with big heads. I remember having chips and curry sauce and it tasting like the finest fillet steak, cooked by Marcus Waring. I remember not being able to go on. I remember a couple of the

“ I remember flat rooves and lovely looking old stone pubs and a lot of small glasses with big heads.” turned out to be friendlier than they looked. They explained that on the last home game of the season they crawled round every pub from Mill Hill to the ground, having a half in each, and invited us along. The ‘half’ should have been a warning. There are a lot of pubs in Blackburn.

Blackburn lads coming in to the away end with us. The score, apparently, was 1-1. I don’t remember that. A water fight on the train home. Lovely place, Blackburn. Soon after that season our two clubs were to go off on entirely different journeys. One thing I do remember from the ground that day

There isn’t room here to rake over the past. For that I recommend you read Build a Bonfire. Suffice to say, Sky effectively created the Premiership and Blackburn took it by the scruff of the neck. With Alan Shearer, of all people, now at the club they had a Walker-funded tilt at the title. In 1994/95 they managed it, winning the top-flight title. That same season we finished 16th in the third tier, just above Rotherham United. Worse was to come, as we all know: Bellotti, the ground sale, bottom of the whole league by 1996/97. In just six and a bit years our differing owners had taken the two clubs who’d met

And yet, here we are approaching the game in December with the Albion firm favourites and Blackburn fans protesting. Shane Duffy, our rock at the back, was purchased from them for a club record fee. Just the other week their fans arrived at the ground in the 18th minute and left on 75, symbolising the 1875 founding of the club to the new owners, some chicken farmers from India called Venky’s who apparently didn’t know you could be relegated from the Premier League.

Robbie Savage warms up at Ewood Park

Jack Walker, sadly for his family and Blackburn Rovers FC, passed away. The legacy of the club can, perhaps, be summed up by this quote from MP and Rovers fan Tim Farron, regarding Walker’s daughter Lynda; “I have to ask, did they really do due diligence on Venky’s? They’ve sold it to a bunch of clowns.”

brightononlyathome.wordpress.com/

(Image: The Argus)

Jack Walker took over full control of Blackburn Rovers in January 1991, seven months after my pub crawl, with the boast that he would make Manchester United look cheap. Sure, that season we actually managed to get to Wembley, but thereafter we nosedived in to the gory years while Blackburn created the glory years.

that drunken May afternoon to opposite ends of the football spectrum.

(Image: Pinterest)

(image: The Guardian)

is a stand covered in advertising for ‘Walker Steel’. Back then, even though I travelled everywhere with us, the North still felt like another country. “I wonder what that is?” I thought. The world was about to find out.

David Bellotti

Meanwhile, we have got rid of the Archerlotti. Dick Knight came in and saved the club and then Tony Bloom came in and bankrolled it. He is digging in to his pocket to the tune of ten or more million a season. He has built the Amex and we are most definitely coming to it. We have padded seats, Chris Hughton, Anthony Knockaert and, as I type, a comfortable cushion in second. The morals of the tale are clear; never drink with Blackburn’s lads and bad ownership kills football clubs. It will always be so. TAM. Jason Thackeray

BR IGHTON BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION & HOVE ALBION R KEVIN BREMNE R KEVIN BREMNER

Keeping history alive The Brighton & Hove Albion Collectors’ and Historians’ Society (BHACHS) is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the Albion.

ighteen years ago Albion were playing home games 75 miles away in Gillingham, Kent, in front of sub-2,000 crowds who endured bottom-ofthe-fourth-tier football.

Tony Hylands, who used to run the club’s lotteries and was responsible for the mobile shop seen at Priestfield and Withdean, decided to stage an exhibition on the Albion and its history to keep interest in the club alive in its home county. He roped in his old friend, Tim Carder, to assist with the historical content.

(All image: BHACHS)

On March 30th 1998, Tim gathered 11 other fans interested in Albion history to form the Brighton &

Hove Albion Collectors’ and Historians’ Society, the ‘society’ suffix was used to give it the feel of a learned institution – a repository of reliable information. Then they upped the ante. The council, looking to secure city status for Brighton & Hove, worked with community groups to stage exhibitions as part of its bid. In the autumn of 2000, ‘Brighton & Hove Albion: 99 Years of Entertainment and Passion’ welcomed punters at Hove Museum. Tim has fond memories of the opening night: “Martin Perry (then Albion director) said, “We must have something like this at the

new stadium.” The Albion Museum, as featured in our first edition and curated by BHACHS, opened in December 2013. The future for the society, which now has more than 100 members, looks bright and nearly 20 years on, Tim is happy with what he started. “I’m proud of what the club has achieved, and I’m proud of what BHACHS has done. BHACHS plays a small but important role in the life of the Albion, but I think it has helped to make our club one of the most community-orientated in the world of football.” TAM. Dan Tester

@TheAlbionMagUTA

(image: Alan_Budgen)

Brian Horton

EXTREMELY LIMITED AVAILABILITY

LAST CHANCE TO JOIN THE 1901 CLUB BEFORE 2021

CONTACT THE BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION COMMERCIAL TEAM ON

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(All images: Paul Hazlewood - BHAFC)

Cult # heroes F

Federico Turienzo

ederico Turienzo was my original cult hero, a Latino icon in an era of hard-working English journeymen, so why isn’t he still idolised by Albion fans? Quite simply, he was terrible.

he was clearly unfit and didn’t really look like he’d ever played football before in his life. Inexplicably, Mark McGhee decided to part with £150,000 (a huge sum for the club back then) for the ‘striker’.

Turienzo came fully equipped for English football: he was tall, strong, had a decent scoring record and came with a ludicrously good YouTube compilation video. What sealed the deal was a glowing recommendation from Polish legend Zbigniew Boniek, who had seen him play in Argentina.

He was given his chance as a 61st-minute substitute in a 2-0 loss at home to Reading. The Withdean crowd were full of excitement when Turienzo picked up the ball deep inside the Reading half, before unleashing an absolute thunderbolt which narrowly whistled over the crossbar.

We weren’t really used to foreign players at that time so when a mystical Argentinian striker with a cool name donned the stripes in a pre-season friendly against Lewes in 2005, excitement levels were high. Unfortunately,

Had the Albion unearthed an absolute diamond? Alas, no. Aside from a ridiculous dive later on in the same game, he achieved next to nothing in an Albion shirt. He played just three more games (including being part of the poorest striking partnership in Albion history, alongside Mark McCammon against Luton Town), with the Albion losing all four of the games he

featured in. The club agreed to terminate his contact and he moved to Italy before heading back to Argentina where he still plays to this day. Several years down the line he admitted in an interview that he struggled with the intensity of the English game and was very much lacking in fitness. So why am I banging on about a striker that played just four games for the club? Well, he was my original cult hero. There was an air of mystique about him; the lack of information, the constant injuries, the YouTube prowess. He is a throwback to a bygone era when the club were forced to take low budget gambles on players with the hope of unearthing occasional diamonds. The Latino stallion Federico Turienzo was, unfortunately, simply a lump of coal. TAM. Tom Stewart

@OfficialTStew

(image: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football)

FOOTBALL FOCUSED I’m being sucked in again.

rom around February I was completely absorbed in the Albion and our plight to reach the promised land. From March, with nothing particularly meaningful to do with my time, I spent almost every waking minute reading about the Albion, watching the Albion (and our competitors) and writing about the Albion on NSC’s pages. I would work through upcoming fixtures, forecast the results that might play out and calculate the subsequent league table. Doing it became a daily task. For the first time ever, I spent considerable periods of time on rival messageboards. Not posting you understand. None of that ‘Brighton fan in peace’ rubbish. Just reading. I was trying to gain insights as to how others were feeling and, maybe, discover signs of weakness that would give me further hope as to the chances of Albion success. For the last few weeks of the season, Ashes by Embrace was pretty much on repeat;

on my phone when out, blaring out at home and in my head. For those that don’t recall, it was the music which accompanied the club’s end-of-season montage. A magnificent piece of work by the Albion’s videographer chaps. The football break that the summer represents was very much needed. Last season was incredible but I was completely drained by the end of it. Immensely proud, but also so disappointed the likes of Bruno didn’t get what I feel they deserved. Not what I deserved, what they deserved. This season started slowly. I missed the first few weeks on a family holiday and then international breaks made the opening months annoyingly stop-start. But it’s dawned on me – I’m getting sucked in again. The trigger wasn’t

the incredible win over Norwich, but looking at the table after and noticing we already had a significant buffer on the teams placed seventh and below. We have since stretched the advantage even further. After the whole club gave so much last year, it felt like a nearly impossible task to go again and reach the same heights, but it looks like we may be able to do just that. I’m now properly back in Albion obsessed mode. It’s a frame of mind when a mid-December Tuesday night trip to Blackburn becomes something to try and do. I mean, why would anyone miss it? I’m sucked in again. Massively. Anyone else? TAM. Join the debate: cgul.co/footballfocused

(image: Sky Sports)

Giving hope to football fans everywhere

ong before they were the nation’s favourite football club, Leicester City were my favourite football club. I waited 35 years – or thereabouts – to see them finish on top of the top division in English football. Except, I hadn’t. I gave up on ‘Cit-eh’ ever doing such a thing way back in 1981. Then-manager Jock Wallace predicted Leicester would win Division One in the afterglow of victory over champions Liverpool at Filbert Street. We were relegated instead. Growing up, City were either fighting to stay in the top flight – or trying to get in it. And our best players always seemed to join Everton. The Martin O’Neill era – four-top ten finishes and a couple of League Cups – was surely as good as it was going to get… The bookmakers reckoned there was as much chance of City winning the Premier League for the first time in their history as there was of Elvis Presley reappearing. That’s the Elvis Presley

who died in 1977. It was a 5,000-1 shot. This was a team capable of miracles, however. The previous season, they had stayed up with a late surge that brought 19 points from their last eight games. But in the weeks that followed, City lost both their manager, Nigel Pearson, and their best player, Esteban Cambiasso. Without Pearson and Cambiasso, City were sure to struggle. Especially after Claudio Ranieri – ‘an uninspired choice’, according to Gary Lineker on Twitter – was appointed manager. ‘The Tinkerman’ was known for a successfulish spell at Chelsea, but more recently, his CV showed he had been sacked by Greece after a defeat against the Faroe Islands. To the surprise of just about everyone, the eccentric Italian went on to become only the fourth manager to take City to the summit of the top division in English football with a win at Newcastle United in November and unlike the others, he kept them there.

City were top at Christmas – they had been bottom 12 months earlier – following a 3-2 win at Everton and though that was followed by a run of only two points from a possible nine, victory at Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the bubble hadn’t burst. The 3-1 win at Manchester City – Leicester were 3-0 up after an hour – put them five points clear of Tottenham and Arsenal, but eight days later, on Valentine’s Day, the gap was slashed to two after a last-gasp defeat at Arsenal. The experts nodded. The history books showed Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United or Manchester City usually win the Premier League and surely, this was the moment plucky Leicester bowed out of the title race. But, this was a team that didn’t know its place. City stayed unbeaten until the end of the season and at 9.56pm on Monday, May 2, 2016, the 5,000-1 shot were crowned champions of England. TAM. Matt Bozeat

@Hotelender

(image: TheArgus) (image: BHASA)

Never Go Back?

ould you go back to the Albion’s Goldstone Ground days if you could? That was a question posed on North Stand Chat recently, and it really got me thinking. For those of us old enough to remember the old ground – where have twenty years gone? – it’s easy to look back with unadulterated fondness at the times we spent there. Our first footballing experiences, certain games which live long in the memory, and the friendships made, many of which last a lifetime. Give me a time machine, and the chance to zip back for a quick look around, and I’d bite your hand off. But, would I really want everything to be the same again? I’m far from enamoured with the Sky Sports version of 2016, where football was officially invented in 1992, and the biggest Championship game of the season is defined only by its monetary value, but if I’m completely honest, I’m not sure I’d swap my current Albion experience for any previous incarnations now.

We all tend to look back with rose-tinted spectacles at our early footballing recollections in the same way we’re prone to with other memories (chocolate bars were always bigger when we were kids, right?). Ask anybody over 35 or so and they’ll tell you the North Stand was always packed, the singing never stopped, and the atmosphere hasn’t been equalled since. That may hold some truth in the heady days of the 1970s, but watch any video from the late 1980s, and things look decidedly bleaker. From my regular spot, atop my trusty blue beer crate, the East Terrace seemed very high to the 10-year-old me. The pitch looked impossibly green and vast, and the roof over the North Stand made it appear thrillingly dark and atmospheric, especially for

evening games. In reality, of course, the place had long since started to crumble by then, and if you dropped me back there now, I suspect its flaws would be far more obvious. I’m no stadium snob (caveat: forgive me for what I consider to be a fair level of sneering at the decrepitude of Selhurst Park), but last season’s trip to Roots Hall was an eye-opening glimpse of how things used to be. The Amex isn’t perfect. I adored the Goldstone, as we all did, and for old times’ sake, I’d love to experience just one more game there. But finally – I think – I’ve moved on. Football has moved on. Or maybe I’ve just grown up… TAM. Victoria Lank

@ThickBlueLine

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