Withdean Zoo

[kevo]

Came across this while searching for some Withdean pics. Didn't even realise it used to be a zoo! Quite appropriate really

http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__5479_path__0p115p191p972p.aspx

 

[severnside gull]

was that picture the away end? If so it's hardly changed at all

 

[Gazwag]

Withdean puzzler

 

[Bobby's Gull]

Don't know why, but I just find the fact that it used to be a Zoo a bit weird.

 

[Hiney]

Don't know why, but I just find the fact that it used to be a Zoo a bit weird.

You've obviously never been in J Block

 

[Bobby's Gull]

You've obviously never been in J Block

Well .... now you mention it, I see your point ...

I used to have a season ticket there many moons ago.

 

[Nobby's Betamax Video]

It also hosted a Davis Cup match & many years ago, apparently, there was a debate between whether Wimbledon or Withdean should be the home of English tennis (not sure how true that last bit is - could be an (sub)urban myth).

 

[kevo]

The Goldstone hosted a match for the 1948 London Olympics football tournament - between those two giants of the game, Luxembourg and Afghanistan. Luxembourg won 6-0. I wonder what the attendance was...?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

It's my fault that the Withdean tennis arena was demolished. When I was responsible for managing the shoppers' Monday to Saturday park and ride service, we needed more car parking spaces at Withdean to cope with the demand. So I persuaded Brighton Borough Council to demolish the tennis arena buildings and create a bigger parking area. In 1999, the football club were lucky that it had gone, because it would have had to be removed to create enough space for the South Stand turnstile area and the East Stand.

So much for heritage!

 

[glasfryn]

came across this while searching for some withdean pics. Didn't even realise it used to be a zoo! Quite appropriate really

http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__5479_path__0p115p191p972p.aspx

blimey i have just been on the site to add a comment and found two people i used to knock about with on there

 

[goldstone]

I remember going there a couple of times with my parents when I was a kid. More interested in the pedal cars ... they had a whole road layout for them and I had always dreamed of having one ... than the animals. I think they were located around where the west goal is now.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

With the Sportsman in the background

 

[Man of Harveys]

With the Sportsman in the background

Dan Harding and (below) Aiden Newhorse

 

[Chicken Run]

Of course here is a picture of the day 13,000 fans packed into the stadium.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Blimey, Chicken Run: I remember watching the Brighton B52s at Withdean.

Imagine how John Catt would have felt if he'd had to deal with 13,000 fans on his doorstep instead of just 8,000.

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

The old stand on the site of the south stand turnstiles is in the background of this photo:

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

Found a better photo on the Regency Society's website :

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

And one of Withdean before even the stand was built, famous railway bridge over Tongdean Lane in the background :

 

[The Large One]

Withdean STH gather for a moan-in. c.1912

Damn - too slow.

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

And they even had pitch invasions back then too, ( site of South Stand in the background ) ..........