Brighton (A) - Sat 23 Oct 17:30 | Pre-Match Thread

[Eds]

If you are going to comment on Brighton stats at least get the facts right. In the Goldstone days we used to regularly get crowds of 25,000+ before getting into the old Division One. Attendances certainly dropped off in the 1980s but then so did all clubs.
When we eventually were given Withdean to play football in the ground capacity was initially 6,000 increasing to just over 7,000 - so basically oversubscribed for every game.
Yes, you’re right about Tony Bloom, not only is he Brighton’s saviour but also a die hard fan. His family have been involved with Brighton for generations. His contribution to the club has been generous but measured - he expects a return even though he’s playing the long game. Building blocks if you like to ensure everything is in place rather than demanding instant success like some owners.

With regard to attendances at the Amex they have exceeded all expectations. Season after season the crowds have been at or near capacity and with a waiting list of 8,000 for season tickets. So, in truth, no flash in the pan or one season glory hunters. To be fair Brighton have a huge catchment area - the whole of Sussex, and furthest away from any other League club - 45 miles - until Crawley turned up!

Brighton fans have been through an awful lot of shit, as City have, in the 1990s and 2000s and despite some on here saying that our fans’ first team is Liverpool or United (which is utter bollocks). One thing about Albion fans is that they always remember the hard times, take nothing for granted and now enjoy, for us, the success of being in the top flight - something that would have been unheard of ten plus years ago.

In 1980, your first season back in div 1 you averaged 24,745, no idea what the capacity was at the time. Ten years later and in div 2 you were down to 8,679. Ten years later in 2000 in div 4 you were down to 5,733 which was possibly your first season at the Withdean. When you left there your average crowd was 7,352 which was probably capacity but then your first season back crowds shot up to 20,028 a couple of thousand off capacity. However like most clubs including our own you count crowds as seats sold so even with thousands of empty seats you still quote a crowd as 30k+ despite it being more like 25k. But as I say we all do that.

You mention that Tony Bloom expects a return - is that via his betting syndicates?

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

It was the first game with a crowd, referee heavily swayed by them and Joao got sent off

The referee was so fucking biased against us in that game, allowing the Brighton players to kick fuck out of us and gave them every decision possible.

His performance bordered on corrupt.

We seriously owe them for that game and I hope we make the difference in quality pay this time round.

Their fans were absolutely pathetic on that night encouraged by the performance of the officials.

Even Potter who I think is a decent manager behaved like a twat .

 

[Mr.Teapot]

They are the posh folk

Oh no they’re not!!

 

[Bluemoon9909]

Never been brighton before, what pubs are the best?

 

[Mr.Teapot]

I always assumed they had crowds of 8,000 or so because that was the capacity of the Withdean Stadium.

Silly me. It was all because the money from Tony Bloom had not come in.

Mind you I can think of a certain team who struggled to get more than 30,000 to home matches twenty years back.

You’re not wrong about Tony Bloom! He came on board in 2008/9 when all the banks went tits up. Basically the club board would not have been able to get the £47m (I believe) because of that. He stepped in coughed up £93m for a state of the art stadium - all highest spec. possible. This was to be repaid interest free over 20 years - I think that’s right.

In 1980, your first season back in div 1 you averaged 24,745, no idea what the capacity was at the time. Ten years later and in div 2 you were down to 8,679. Ten years later in 2000 in div 4 you were down to 5,733 which was possibly your first season at the Withdean. When you left there your average crowd was 7,352 which was probably capacity but then your first season back crowds shot up to 20,028 a couple of thousand off capacity. However like most clubs including our own you count crowds as seats sold so even with thousands of empty seats you still quote a crowd as 30k+ despite it being more like 25k. But as I say we all do that.

You mention that Tony Bloom expects a return - is that via his betting syndicates?

Check out Starlizard re.Tony Bloom’s many ventures - algorithms and all that. As for expecting a return, well, maybe an invitation to join the European Super League!!
Seriously, football wise, a top ten finish is the current target, then who knows? We’re not going to compete with you and the other teams in red or Spuds and Chels.
I believe it was Alan Sugar who said that you never make money owning a football club.

 

[Pingu the Penguin]

The referee was so fucking biased against us in that game, allowing the Brighton players to kick fuck out of us and gave them every decision possible.

His performance bordered on corrupt.

We seriously owe them for that game and I hope we make the difference in quality pay this time round.

Their fans were absolutely pathetic on that night encouraged by the performance of the officials.

Even Potter who I think is a decent manager behaved like a twat .

Absolutely this.

 

[Mr.Teapot]

Never been brighton before, what pubs are the best?

See my post on Page 4.

 

[Mr.Teapot]

The referee was so fucking biased against us in that game, allowing the Brighton players to kick fuck out of us and gave them every decision possible.

His performance bordered on corrupt.

We seriously owe them for that game and I hope we make the difference in quality pay this time round.

Their fans were absolutely pathetic on that night encouraged by the performance of the officials.

Even Potter who I think is a decent manager behaved like a twat .

Can’t comment on what went on in the match as I didn’t see it. Graham Potter had the good grace to apologise on TV to Pep about his “ exuberance” in celebrating. Hardly the act of a twat.
On the subject of being hard done by, useless officials etc Brighton surely have got the official title for WTF when we played Man Utd last season. The game ended 2-2 at the Amex, the ref blew the final whistle, players were leaving the pitch and were called back so Utd could take a penalty to win 3-2. Choke on that one.

 

[Chris in London]

The referee was so fucking biased against us in that game, allowing the Brighton players to kick fuck out of us and gave them every decision possible.

His performance bordered on corrupt.

We seriously owe them for that game and I hope we make the difference in quality pay this time round.

Their fans were absolutely pathetic on that night encouraged by the performance of the officials.

Even Potter who I think is a decent manager behaved like a twat .

when someone shows you who they are, believe them

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Can’t comment on what went on in the match as I didn’t see it. Graham Potter had the good grace to apologise on TV to Pep about his “ exuberance” in celebrating. Hardly the act of a twat.
On the subject of being hard done by, useless officials etc Brighton surely have got the official title for WTF when we played Man Utd last season. The game ended 2-2 at the Amex, the ref blew the final whistle, players were leaving the pitch and were called back so Utd could take a penalty to win 3-2. Choke on that one.

Everybody gets fucked over in order to keep those twats relevent , and the world wide billions of SKY watching lemmings paying their subscriptions.

Try living in roughly the same locality ( ie not Manchester ) as the fucking vermin before complaining mate.

Invaded by total fucking knownowts ( with cameras , scarves and every other form of meaninless shite ) from every part of the bleeding universe every fortnight !

And now we have the Portugese Ponce being shoved down our throats at every opportunity.

Living in Brighton must be heaven in comparison compared to what we have to put up with.