Goldstone Rapper

Feb 15 2014

Panini Football 81 – a Brighton watershed

Brighton fans may have initially balked at getting a sticker album with Crystal Palace’s Gerry Francis on the cover, but I’m sure they got over it!

Besides, Palace’s season was a disaster. They even had four different managers during the course of the 1980/81 season, none that could arrest their slump. Even Ray Wilkins’ side, Manchester United, sacked theirs, ex-Albion player Dave Sexton, at the end of their own disappointing campaign.

And Brighton? It was a watershed season for us too. Potentially Albion’s strongest squad had flattered to deceive. Peter Suddaby had played a major role in 1979/80 but injury meant he never did play in the new all-blue Adidas kit. Mullery resigned at the end of the 1980/81 season, and the reliable John Gregory was another departure, to QPR. While he stayed, Graham Moseley was deeply unsettled, rocked by a loss of form, the signing of Perry Digweed as well, as Mullery’s stinging criticism of the erstwhile number one keeper at the Goldstone:

Interesting to see Mark Lawrenson listed here as a midfielder. He had performed that role admirably in the second half of 1979/80. Would Albion fortunes have been different had he stayed there in 1980/81? He, alongside Ward and Horton, also departed the Goldstone not long after the publication of this album. We are also treated to a rare shot of Peter Sayer in our new fangled Adidas kit. Sayer was an unused sub on the opening day match against Wolves before leaving for Preston North End.

Notable absences here are Perry Digweed, Gary Stevens and Andy Ritchie, all of whom made a significant number of appearances during the course of the season.

This album is notable for the first appearance of team groups being made up of two stickers rather than one. Looking through the album, there are some alignment issues with some team groups, but happily, the Brighton one looks fine.

Second Division clubs were also given the half and half treatment, and it’s possible to clearly see Ray Clarke at his new club, Newcastle United. Even Third Division clubs were covered by Panini at the time, albeit with a single sticker team photo. 15mm tall in Charlton’s team sticker was Mike Bailey. Little did Albion fans know it in 1980/81, he would be man to bring forth a new era to the Goldstone, and a whole lot of new player stickers to collect!

Tagged alan mullery, brian horton, graham moseley, mark lawrenson, mike bailey, peter sayer, peter suddaby, ray clarke

Feb 14 2014

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Media Coverage

Love comes in Berts

From Goal Magazine:

A happy foursome. That’s the Murray family, whose healthy looks are obviously due to the Sussex sea air, the 25-year-old wife of Brighton utility player Bert, thoroughly enjoying the outdoor life. When she’s not looking after her young family, two-year-old Sue and four-year-old Bert junior, she spends her time gardening, swimming or knitting. Eileen also likes watching football – there’s no need to say which team!

Domestic bliss, indeed. However, it was love of the Albion on St Valentine’s Day 1971 that helped to bring Bert Murray to Brighton in the first place. More than 3,000 school children and other supporters from all over Sussex took part in a sponsored walk along Madeira Drive to raise money for Pat Saward’s Buy-a-Player Fund:

According to the book Seagulls! by Tim Carder and Roger Harris, the two top fundraising schools even contested the Pat Saward Cup at the Goldstone at Easter.

And now, from Football League Review in April 1971, some background on manager Pat Saward’s grand visions. Incredible to hear a professional football manager talking about autograph collecting competitions, fishing contests and international bowling competitions!

When Bert Murray moved from Birmingham City to Brighton last month, he became football’s number one fans’ player - the first signing to be completed with the help of a unique scheme introduced by the Third Division club, a buy-a-player fund.

It has given Brighton’s supporters a special interest in the new player at the Goldstone Ground. He’s their player and to prove it they wear ‘I bought Bert’ badges.

But the buy-a-player appeal is only part of an ambitious scheme launched by the club five months ago to raise money and involve the Brighton public in the affairs of their League club.

Manager Pat Saward who, with the seven-man appeal fund committee, is the driving force behind the scheme says: “The fund involves the public with the club. We have no specific target. If we can raise a million pounds we will.”

Saward has little sympathy for clubs who continually moan about their financial plight and do little about it. “Too many people spend too much time shouting about how hard up their club is, and too little time fighting to improve the situation”, he says.

“You never get success if you sit around. You must have courage, even audacity and work hard for survival”.

Already Brighton’s appeal fund has raised £1,000 from a sponsored walk and held numerous big-prize draws. Future projects include an international bowling competition, a fishing contest and a variety night when the Pat Saward appeal fund take over the first night of the summer show on Brighton’s Palace Pier.

“It is like a motor car”, says Mr. Saward.

“It will quicken up as it goes along. Each project will be bigger and more ambitious”.

At monthly meetings, those who have donated to the appeal fund are invited to talk to the Brighton manager, discuss club policy and meet officials and players.

“The whole business is aimed at involving the supporters with the club, building up a club-supporter relationship”, says the manager.

“But I must stress the support we have had from the club’s directors who have sanctioned everything the appeal fund have asked for.

“Subject to their approval, we hope that when the appeal fund reaches £15,000, a member of the committee will join the club board”.

The appeal fund’s committee meet weekly to discuss future projects and money-making ideas, “They are eminent people in the town with enthusiasm and concern for the club”, says the Brighton boss.

Pat Saward bubbles with enthusiasm when he talks about the overall project. “When we stage the variety night, we hope to produce a brochure which will certain a competition to find the top autograph hunter in the area.

“The brochure will include 12 pictures of some of the game’s leading players with room for their autographs. The first person to submit the sheet filled in with the pleyers’ signatures will earn that top collector title and to ensure there are no forgeries, I will have the authentic signatures to check with”.

Manager Saward believes that other clubs could and should follow Brighton’s example to boost interest in their club and raise funds. “We are perhaps fortunate in our location”, he admits, “it would not be so easy if we were situated in an area near to a First Division club. Here there is tremendous potential, but you must have the backing of a progressive board to succeed”.

Those I bought Bert badges are only the start of a ‘back Brighton’ campaign.

“Once you have got the initial impetus, who knows how far you can go…” says the manager whose ambition matches his enthusiasm.

Club officials and players lead the sponsored walk: Kit napier, Terry Williams, Mr Tom Whiting (Chairman), Peter Dinsdale, Pat Saward (Manager), Norman Gall, Alex Sheridan, Mr Len Stringer (Director).

Tagged bert murray, pat saward

Feb 13 2014

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Media Coverage

Mullery in V-sign storm

Image as featured in the excellent Not Worth That blog at https://notworththat.wordpress.com

In a ‘friendly’ match in August 1973, Albion beat Crystal Palace 2-1, with goals from Ken Beamish and John Templeman. Regrettably, there was crowd trouble at the Goldstone. Even so, cooling the potential for antagonism, the two clubs didn’t get to play each other in the League that season and, in any case, the respective managers Brian Clough (once Pat Saward got the boot) and Malcolm Allison were good friends.

By the time the 1974/75 season kicked off, though, Crystal Palace were slumming it in Division Three with Brighton. In an encounter on the opening day, there was an intensity to the game that hadn’t been seen before in a clash between the two clubs. Again, there was crowd trouble. Argus reports in 1975/76 certainly talked of a rivalry between the two sides. Reporting on Palace’s 1-0 home defeat to Brighton from Sept 1975, John Vinicombe explained that:

‘The exchanges were conducted in a cup-tie atmosphere, and the cut-and-thrust carried through with the zest of deadly rivals.’

However, it was the infamous FA Cup 1st Round second replay at Stamford Bridge on 6th December 1976 that turned the flickers of ill-feeling into a fire. Here is how it was reported in the Daily Express:

Brighton crashed out of the FA Cup last night… and manager Alan Mullery made it an undignified exit.

Mullery had to be restrained by police after striding on to the Stamford Bridge pitch for a face-to-face confrontation with referee Ron Challis, who had disallowed two second-half Brighton goals.

And as Palace fans jeered from their seats near the tunnel, Mullery waved two extravagant double-handed V-signs at them.

According to Palace Echo, ‘He flung down about a fiver’s worth of notes change into a puddle and screamed “You’re not worth that, Palace” whilst flicking the viccies.’

The Express continues:

Mullery was unrepentant afterwards. He explained: “I asked him [Challis] why he had disallowed the penalty which Brian Horton had scored for us.

“He said to me, ‘I can’t talk to you on the pitch.’ I said that I was only asking him a question. I wanted to know how he could turn an advantage he had awarded to us for the foul on Chris Cattlin and then make it a disadvantage because a Palace player had stepped into the penalty area.

“The referee waved me away. He said: ‘I’ve told you you can’t talk to me on the pitch. Get off.”

Challis, who needed a police escort to get him safely past a group of angry Brighton supporters, did not caution Mullery for his protest. And he refused to comment on the incident. But it seems certain Mullery will now face disciplinary action.

He raged: “How can you get beaten like that? There was only one team in it. We were in a different class and if it was a fight it would have been stopped in the second round.

The controversy began in the 73rd minute when Ian Mellor’s header from a corner went past Palace goalkeeper Paul Hammond – but Brighton’s celebrations came to an abrupt halt when referee Challis awarded Palace a free-kick for handball against Peter Ward.

Mullery said: “The ref was the only one out of 14,000 people who saw Ward handle. I’ve got better eyes than him – and I wear glasses.”

But the real drama unfolded 13 minutes from the end when Mr Challis pointed to the penalty spot after Cattlin had been fouled by Barry Silkman.

Brighton captain Brian Horton pushed the penalty out of Hammond’s reach and into the left hand corner of the net. But the referee ordered him to retake it after he had spotted players encroaching illegally inside the area.

The penalty that started the row… the ball’s in the net but the ref says ‘no goal’

The retaken penalty… this time Hammond blocks Brian Horton’s spot-kick

Horton elected to try for the opposite corner. Hammond guessed that he would and dived to his left to palm the ball to safety.

Brighton’s experienced defender Graham Cross complained: “The referee made Brian take it again because Palace’s Ian Evans had pushed me inside the box as he took the first penalty. It was a disgraceful decision.”

Hammond explained the secret of his successful guess when he said, “I almost reached the first penlty, and I thought he would try to hit the second one the other way. I ‘sussed’ him out, although the second shot was not the best penalty the lad’s taken.”

The one goal which did stand came from Palace’s diminutive midfield player Phil Holder in the 19th minute.

Holder, given a free transfer by Palace in the summer, showed great composure as he drove David Swindlehurst’s centre into the net to wipe out the memory of Palace’s FA Cup semi-final defeat against Southampton on this ground eight months ago.

Palace now have prospects of another healthy Cup run, beginning with a second round tie at home to Enfield on Saturday.

For his troubles, Alan Mullery was ordered by the Football Association to answer charges of bringing the game into disrepute:

He was fined £75 in 1977.

Referee Ron Challis was dubbed ‘Challis of the Palace’ by Brighton fans, becoming something of a hate figure. Was it really just a season before when Brighton’s matchday programme devoted a whole page to his photo?! Suffice to say, his image was now dartboard material:

Centre-spread of the Brighton v Palace programme from February 1976.

As for Brighton, who were without a win in seven matches following the FA Cup exit, the team responded with eight wins in the next twelve matches to regain momentum, as well as leadership in the Third Division.

Tagged alan mullery, brian horton, graham cross

Feb 12 2014

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Media Coverage

To Elland back with Michael Robinson

A season before, in 1980/81, Brighton bested mid-table Leeds to secure their Division One status. The following season, the positions were reversed as the sides faced each other in the penultimate fixture.

Injury had hampered Michael Robinson in the campaign. However, he was fit enough to give Brighton the lead at relegation-threatened Leeds in the fixture on 15th May 1982. It was his 30th goal for the Seagulls in the top flight:

Bravely, the Albion striker even had the cheek to give Leeds supporters the thumbs up. However, bolstered by Terry Connor up front, the home side did hit back in the final few minutes to come away with victory:

As El Presidente said on North Stand Chat:

The Leeds match in 81/2 was one of the most terrifying experiences of all time. When Robbo scored and gave the thumbs down sign to Leeds, if the score had remained the same they would have been relegated, as it was their last home game of the season.

Their fans went mental, and the nutters in the opposite end to their kop spent the next 20 minutes giving the 80 or so of us Albion fans in the away end cut throat signs. The police were genuinely worried about protecting us at the end of the match.

Fortunately Leeds scored twice in injury time, their relegation fight was still on, and all was forgotten in terms of kicking shit out of us.

Four days later they went to West Brom, lost, were relegated, and burned down part of one of the stands at The Hawthorns in a fit of wild and indiscriminate hooliganism.

Tagged michael robinson, terry connor

Feb 11 2014

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This Blog

Happy birthday to The Goldstone Wrap

Twelve months ago, I began The Goldstone Wrap blog to share with you lots of articles and photos I have gathered of Brighton & Hove Albion down the years. My ambitious goal was to post one article a day and see how much interest there was in a retro blog about the club’s history up to 1997.

I have been delighted that this blog has reached post number 366 today. Over that time, the number of readers has increased significantly. There have also been lots of positive feedback, particularly on Twitter and North Stand Chat. I’ve also met some remarkably generous people who have leant me bits and pieces to share with you, not to mention extensive video and photo collections.

So it seems apt to celebrate this blog being one. If money was no object I’d have a cake with marzipan like this one from 1983:

Over the next few weeks, you can expect posts on Mike Bamber the jazz musician, Peter O’Sullivan’s views on a children’s book about him, a spectacular Terry Connor own goal, plus lots of Albion memorabilia.

As far as being daily, I am also planning to bring this blog to an end in June, when it reaches 500 posts. The archives will live on, and I will still post to it, but it won’t be once a day any more. It just seems like a good place for me to stop. My love for all things Albion retro remains undiminished, and I will continue to be open to sharing it with you, I promise!

Tagged cake

Feb 10 2014

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Around The Goldstone, Club Colours, Media Coverage

United colours of football

This amazing photograph appeared in Total Football magazine in May 1997, showing fans all over the country uniting behind Brighton supporters on Fans United Day, from 8th February that year:

Click the image for a close up.

The match the fans watched turned into a 5-0 triumph over Hartlepool. As The Argus reported, the players were not slow to show their appreciation to the supporters:

Hat-trick hero Craig Maskell had a ball against Hartlepool, then showed the Albion fans just how much their support meant.

He grabbed hold of the match ball, kissed it and threw it into a packed North Stand after Saturday’s 5-0 victory at the Goldstone.

“I just wanted to give something back to the fans,” he said. “I’ve not had a brilliant time since coming here and it was nice to give them something to cheer about.”

Seagulls boss Steve Gritt declared: “It was a nice gesture by Craig. Perhaps he’s got so many match balls at home that he doesn’t want anymore!”

Maskell made it a perfect day for Albion. The Fans United show of strength organised by supporters produced a bumper gate of 8,412, the biggest of the season, and the players rewarded them with their biggest League win for 12 years.

Maskell gets his first

Tagged craig maskell, supporters

Feb 09 2014

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Media Coverage, Photo Opportunities

A day out with Dale Jasper

Croydon-born Dale Jasper was a Chelsea supporter who did not have a successful time as a first team player at Stamford Bridge. Nevertheless, he was once rated as an outstanding prospect in both defence and midfield. Kelvin Barker on the Sporting Heroes site notes:

Dale had a composed, elegant playing style which was pleasing to the eye and he was given an immediate opportunity to exhibit his skills at the highest level when the new season [1984/85] began.

Sadly, he turned Chelsea fans against him when he conceded two penalties after coming on as a substitute in the Milk Cup Semi-Final First Leg at Sunderland in 1985:

His Chelsea career never recovered. Seeking a fresh start, he joined Brighton on a free transfer in May 1986, before the end of the 1985/86 campaign.

Tony Norman wrote a splendid piece about Jasper for an Albion matchday programme in 1986/87. Could this ex-First Division player be the man to get the Seagulls back into the top flight?

When 23-year-old Dale Jasper signed for Albion a year ago. he couldn’t believe his luck.

Within three days, he was walking up the steps of a British Caledonian let and heading off for the trip of a lifetime to Hong Kong.

“That was quite a start to my days at the Goldstone,” said Dale as we sat in the sunshine in the deserted stadium. “I had been determined to get away from Chelsea, because I wanted regular first team football Quite a few clubs showed an interest in me, including Reading and Charlton, but when Brighton came in for me, that was it. I knew right away this was the club I wanted to play for.

“I signed on the Monday and three days later I flew out to Hong Kong with the team, so it wasn’t a bad week, was it? We played an exhibition match over there. I was a bit disappointed when a goal I scored was disallowed, but I was smiling by the end of the game, because we won 3-1.

“We were away for about a week and it was a very good way for me to meet the rest of the p!ayers and get to know them. It all seemed a bit unreal, because it had all come out of the blue, but it was very enjoyable.”

Dale had been linked with Chelsea Football Club from the tender age of eleven and when he decided to move on, he expected it to be a big wrench.

“I thought it would be a bit difficult to settle, but it was no problem at all,” he explained. “This is such a happy, family club. I love it here. I’ve never missed Chelsea. I still keep in touch with some of the players at Stamford Bridge, but I’ve never regretted leaving.”

Dale has his own home near East Croydon railway station which is just 40 minutes up the line from Brighton But he pops in to see his mum and dad every day.

“We’ve always been very close. They ve travelled all over the coumry to watch me play, and I don’t think I would be playing professional football today if it wasn’t for them. When I was younger, I had a wild streak in me, like a lot of kids do. But my parents kept me on the ‘right track’. They’ve always set a good example and I respect them for that.

Dale has a sister and two brothers. “Football’s always been a big thing in our family. My brother Tony plays in New Zealand and our younger brother Wayne has had offers to train with Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and various other clubs, so things are looking promising for him too,”

Dale likes to keep himself fit during the summer break with a few games of squash and he is planning to do some decorating in his Croydon home too. But there will be time to relax.

“I’m planning to have a couple of weeks in Corfu with some friends of I mine. I’ve been to Spain and those busy resorts are nothing but I aggravation. So, I fancy going somewhere reasonably quiet and taking it easy.”

Dale will be taking some famous musical friends with him too.

“Sitting back in the sun listening to tapes of my favourite bands like Simple Minds, UB40 and U2, that’s my idea of a great day out on holiday.” Then Dale will be fit and ready to play his part in a new season that will, we believe, see the Seagulls smiling again!

He played 32 League appearances plus two as substitute in the disastrous relegation season of 1986/87, scoring twice, including a 30 harder in the 4-1 defeat at Derby in October 1986. Clocking up his game time, he then amassed a further 12 League starts, plus two as sub, the following season as Barry Lloyd’s side unexpectedly achieved promotion from Division Three. One of his four goals that season was this equaliser at Bristol Rovers in October 1987:

Memories of his contribution to the Albion’s play are mostly negative, however. As Zeitgeist on North Stand Chat remarked in 2004:

Dale Jasper was generally pants. Coming from Chelsea you’d expect him to have a bit of pedigree about him. Afraid not, Charlie. The Chelsea of that era were a piss poor apology of the moneybags superstars of today. They didn’t have a pot to piss in and were on the verge of dropping into the second division. Dale Jasper’s five minutes of fame was punching the ball into the net whilst lying on the ground for a late equaliser against Chesterfield. Fortunately, Stevie Wonder was the ref and we got away with it.

Interesting that as a joke, he lists winning the Sussex Senior Cup as the extent of his ambitions:

In May 1988, he featured in the reserve side that lifted the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time. A few weeks after this triumph, he was released, eventually playing for Crewe, Crawley and Kingstonian.

According a piece in the Football League Paper in early 2012, Jasper was ‘last known to be living above a pub in South London and working on the building industry.’

Tagged dale jasper

Feb 08 2014

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Media Coverage, Photo Opportunities

90 Minutes Live: Fans United, 1997

Seventeen years today, Fans United happened. It was a massive show of strength as supporters from all around the country, and the world, (including a young Richard Vaughan) came to the Goldstone Ground to support Brighton fans in their battle to save the club. From 90 Minutes magazine in February 1997:

Saturday 8 February will go down as the day the fans reclaimed the game. Against the backdrop of Brighton’s possible loss of league status and the threat of closure, over 8,000 fans from all over the country descended upon the Goldstone ground to show the money men who really runs things. 90 Minutes was on hand to witness the massive show of fan power in the fight to save Brighton and Hove Albion FC.

The Goldstone Ground was awash with shirts and scarves on supporters from all over the country. We asked some fans outside the Goldstone: “Your tea’s not playing today, so why are you here in Brighton?”

Ian Fennell supports Aldershot
Ian: “Aldershot went out of business which upset a lot of people, and I’d hate the same thing to happen to Brighton. Let’s hope today sends a statement that football fans from all clubs are standing together to stop, not only Brighton, but any other club from going out of business. We’ve simply all had enough of poor an untrustworthy management.”

Ros Constable & Sandra Jenner support Arsenal
Ros: “These people are buying into clubs cheaply in the lower Divisions and then, basically, raping them. These people at Brighton have to be stopped. If not, it’s like setting a legal precedent. If one bugger gets away with it, more will follow, and no club will be safe.”
Sandra: “These businessmen have looked to football clubs to make a fast buck. The fans should have a faster learning curve to outwit them and stop them in their tracks. We’ve come here today to support football and stop clubs in the lower Divisions being kicked out of existence.”

Graham Underwood & Steve Jones support Aston Villa
Graham: “I’m here today to show my support for the Brighton fans’ battle against some men who, thank God, are not in charge at Aston Vlla. It grieves me to say it, but, again, thank God we’ve got Doug Ellis, and not this lot down here, running our own club.”
Steve: “Who could sell a ground, before another one’s ever been found? The man’s a joke – it’s just a case of money before football. If one man gets control of a club, no one’s safe, not even Premiership sides.”

Miles Beecham supports Darlington
Miles: “I’m here today because Darlington football club are in a similar position to Brighton. We have directors who say one thing, do another, give promises and don’t deliver. It’s about time directors woke up to how fans feel, and respected them, because if the fans don’t turn up, there’s no club, no directors and no money for them.”

James Randall supports Derby & Richard Cole supports Liverpool
Graham: “Five years ago, Derby were playing Brighton. It could’ve been us that went down and down, and it’s important that these clubs continue to exist. Without them, there wouldn’t be any clubs anywhere in the long-term. We all rely on each other.”
Richard: “It’s about time the fans had a say in the running of clubs, not just the board and the business people. The game belongs to us, not to individuals with an eye to what the game can give them. It should be what they can do for the good of the game. Most of the top players are discovered by the smaller clubs (e.g. Keegan), so they must survive at all costs, or there is no long-term future for any club, big or small.”

Richard & Roger Vaughan support Plymouth
Roger: “There was a campaign page on the internet looking for ideas on how to protest about what’s going on at Brighton. There were loads of messages of support from supporters all over the country, even Europe, and it gave me the idea of organising a FANS UNITED day to help out Brighton. It shows football fans do care about other clubs. Richard put a message on the internet that started the ball rolling. The people organising Brighton Resistance thought it was a wonderful idea and put it into motion. We had to come today to see the end result and give our personal support. People are now coming from all over Europe and America to support the Brighton fans’ attempts to rescue their club. We’re here to show how people up and down the country are feeling about clubs that put money before fans. It’s a sport, not a money-making exercise.”

Trevor Hulstrop & Gaby Binstead support Southampton and Danny Blackmore supports Brighton
Trevor: “I’m protesting because I believe that if clubs like Brighton are allowed to go under, it’s the beginning of the end. Football clubs are part of the community and people shouldn’t be allowed to come in, buy the club, asset strip it, run it into the ground and then dump it. A club like Brighton belongs to the people that support it and made it what it is over the last 100 years. Not one or two individuals.”
Gaby: “If they get away with this, and clubs go out of business, who are we going to play? Football clubs are all inextricably linked, so when one’s in trouble, we all have to rally round to save it.”
Danny: “Today is a statement saying: Football will win. Football is a lot of people’s lives, and it’s great that fans from all over are here today to help us – so thanks to everyone who’s supported us.”

Toby Radenhurst supports Millwall, David Fordham supports Watford & Paul Chesworth supports Brighton
Toby: “With what’s going on at my club, Millwall, I’ve come here today to show solidarity with Brighton fans – to say enough is enough. Directors running clubs into the ground are not going to get away with it.”
David: “It’s critical that football clubs aren’t allowed to die because of the attitude of these directors who are only there to make money at the expense of football. What these people are doing is wrong and it has to be stopped.”
Paul: “Today is showing that people care about all football, not just their own club. It’s fantastic that fans from other clubs care about whether we continue or not.”

John Cotton & Paul Hilton support York City and Milena Radosavcjevic supports Red Star Belgrade
John: “Ot could happen to any club – to our club – if we let Brighton be destroyed. It could be the first of many. It has to be stopped so we’re here today to lend our support.”
Paul: “If someone tris to make a quick profit out of a club, he’s not only taking on the directors, but also the fans. If you’re fan of a club, you’re a fan of football and anyone destroying football has to be stopped. That’s why we’re here.”
Milena: “People need their football club because it’s part of the local community. Why should it be taken away from them, just so an individual can make a quick profit?”

Finally, to round off an excellent feature…

Gulls’ Eye view:
For the first time in living memory, Brighton, Chelsea and even Crystal Palace shirts stood united by one cause. Seagulls devotee Johnny Dee reflects on this event and the shock of seeing that ‘I’ll get me coat’ bloke off the Fast Show:

In the teary-eyed closing scene of It’s A Wonderful Life, hundreds of familiar faces save the fallen George Bailey from bankruptcy and giving him all their cash and joining in a rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne.

Last Saturday, every Brighton fan must have felt like old George. Under the banner Fans United, football supporters converged on the Goldstone Ground from Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle and beyond. They came to see Brighto play Hartlepool but, more significantly, to show solidarity with a group of supporters in their season of need. They swelled the gate to double the season’s average, learned the hosts’ songs, saw a pretty decent game and left, reminded of the true spirit of football. It was bloody ace.

The reason so many took part in Fasn united was simple: if it can happen at Brighton, it can happen to anyone. Bought for a pittance by chairman Bill Archer, Brighton have found their ground sold, their assets sold off and a ludicrous groundshare with Gillingham looming. Yet the FA still has no powers to legislate against such actions.

Albion fans have become expert protesters this season, ahtough, sadly it was only the ‘violence’ after the pitch invasion last season that received national media attention. Fans united remedied matters a little, but it still wasn’t enough.

Every fan should hope Brighto manager to oust the disgraced Archer, because if Brighton fall, then plenty will follow. Visit Goldstone while you can (it’ll be bulldozed in May), but check with Seagulls fans first – if Archer’s still in charge, chances are they’ll boycott the match.

Tagged Fans United, supporters

Feb 07 2014

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Media Coverage

Watching Forest at the Town Hall

From Football Handbook (part 25):

In a scintillating League Cup Quarter-Final, Alan Mullery’s men put on a great performance against the reigning English League champions and League Cup holders on 13th December 1978. The Seagulls succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against Clough’s side that retained the trophy and then also lifted the European Cup that season.

An estimated 5,000 Albion supporters cheered the Seagulls on at the City Ground. However, the support would have been even more if two of the three charter trains had not broken down en route.

In the Brighton v Stoke programme from 1978/79, there is a nice piece on how the club in January that season made it up to the supporters who missed this exciting cup tie:

With all the recent bad weather there has been a lot of work for the Promotions Office with re-arranging trains, etc. But one event that we had to work particularly hard on was the film showing of the Notts Forest Albion League Cup quarter-final. It was, of course, staged for the benefit of our unlucky supporters who were stranded on the two special trains which didn’t reach the City Ground.

Just under 1,000 people attended Hove Town Hall for the evening last Tuesday and several of the players came along to the delight of the supporters. The row shown in the picture shows the lads really enjoying some of their glory moments.

Some of the comments from the players made commentator Hugh Johns’ sound almost an amateur. Naturally everyone hopes we would never again have a similar situation but we hope supporters will agree that we’ve done our very best to make up for the disappointment.

Each one of the audience at Hove Town Hall was even issued with a black and white copy of the matchday programme:

Update 26/12/15: Two of the goals (from John McGovern and John Robertson) made it into the recent ‘I Believe in Miracles’ film:

Tagged andy rollings, brian horton, chris cattlin, eric steele, john ruggiero, mark lawrenson, peter ward, supporters

Feb 06 2014

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Media Coverage

With Wolves visiting, Cup fever grips Brighton

The League Cup captured the imagination of Sussex in the autumn 1969. In August, Freddie Goodwin’s side put one over south coast rivals Portsmouth, with Alex Dawson getting the only goal, Then the Albion toppled First Division side Birmingham City, 2-0, in front of 24,232 supporters to set up a mouth-watering third round tie with mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers on 24th September.

With Brighton going well in Division Three, the level of interest in the floodlit match was such that the Evening Argus produced a four page A3 colour supplement as a preview to the game:

Back row: Mike Yaxley (coach), Terry Stanley, George Dalton, Barrie Wright, Bobby Smith, Mike Everitt, Dave Armstrong, Ken Blackburn, Joe Wilson (trainer);
Middle row: Tom E. Whiting (chairman), Brian Powney, Andy marchant, Stewart Henderson, Dave Turner, John Napier, Norman, Gall, John Templeman, Paul Flood, Geoff Sidebottom, Harold Paris (vice-chairman);
Front row: Howard Wilkinson, Alex Dawson, Kit Napier, Eddie Spearritt, Freddie Goodwin (manager), Nobby Lawton, Willie Bell, Allan Gilliver, Brian Tawse.
Sitting: Martin Tew, Keith Watkins, Michael Stanley, Garry Parsons.

Rather generously, the back page was mainly devoted to a colour photo of the visitors:

As you can see, Wolves’ skipper was Mike Bailey, who would go on to lift the League Cup trophy four and half years later, in an entertaining 2-1 victory over Manchester City in 1974. Unfortunately, injury kept him out of this match. Had he travelled to the Goldstone, he would have seen a huge crowd of 32,539 supporters. What a contrast to the falling gates when he took over as Brighton boss in 1981.

In John Vinicombe’s match report, the Argus writer declared:

Albion should have beaten Wolves out of sight at the Goldstone last night. For close on 70 minutes they were Wolves’ masters and thoroughly deserved a 2-1 lead with Hugh Curran, the player Albion tried hardest to subdue, won the game with a two-goals-in-eight-minutes burst. So Wolves entered the fourth round of the Football League Cup when it looked for so long like a major upset before a 34,000 crowd that set up a floodlit ground record.

The 3-2 skin-of-the-teeth success was highly flattering to a side standing fourth in the First Division. But in the final analysis they displayed their class by twice coming back to steal a place in the last 16. They owed it all to Curran whose stealth stamped him as a superb turner of half-chances into goals.

Yet Wolves were given a tremendous fright by an inspired Albion, and were unable to find their bearings without Mike Bailey supplying the drive and Derek Dougan his own brand of inspiration.

Napier (left) and Gilliver rise to head…

Dawson holds his hands aloft as Gilliver tumbles between the defenders, with ball in the net

On nineteen minutes, Albion took the lead when Kit Napier’s inswinging corner was missed by Wolves keeper Parker, who seemed more worried by big Alex Dawson. He seemed to push Dawson, which may have warranted a penalty, but Allan Gilliver showed his goal touch to squeeze the ball home at the far post.

However, Wolves hit back twelve minutes later when Wagstaffe intercepted Nobby Lawton’s pass. The Wolves player ran on and on, and it became one on one with Geoff Sidebottom once John Napier slipped. He then fed Woodfield who slotted home the equaliser.

Eddie Spearritt plants his head onto the ball…

…which disappears in a mountain of toilet roll in the back of the net.

On the stroke of half-time, though, Brighton delighted the home crowd by retaking the lead. Kit Napier’s free-kick found Eddie Spearritt who guided a header just under the crossbar.

With Albion dominant, an upset was on the cards. But Wolves were not finished, and Hugh Curran raced on to a huge defence-spliting goal kick from Parkes to equalise with twenty minutes to spare. Curran then broke Albion hearts on 78 minutes, making the most of a mix-up at the far post. Sidebottom and Turner had left it for each other to deal with Wagstaffe’s harmless looking cross, allowing Curran to nip in.

Even so, Albion played stoutly during the evening, none more so than Stewart Henderson who had a storming match.

Henderson, a small and classy right-back, would go on to be voted by supporters as their Player of the Season.

Tagged allan gilliver, eddie spearritt, freddie goodwin, kit napier, mike bailey, stewart henderson

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With Wolves visiting, Cup fever grips Brighton