[Albion] 24 years ago today

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Do we think we have learnt as a fanbase from what nearly destroyed us?

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There's a question. There will always be clever engaged people who can work out what's needed. The rest of us? I thought (wrongly it seems) that someone can't buy a football club and just flog the ground, like Archer did, but apparently I'm wrong. In some respects I'm surprised it hasn't happened again, somewhere.

So I guess your question boils down to: would a sufficient number of supporters be able to stop a wrong-un taking over a club before it's too late. In general (nationally)? No. Brighton? Probably not. There is a minority who actually view Bloom as a 'moneyman'; for the rest of us, 24 years is a long time in football.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

It was an unbelievably stressful day.

My son was born in mid April 1997, so was less than a month old, and I remember thinking that this would be a seminal moment in his young life - I was going to 'tutor' him to support his local club, but events may conspire to remove that local club from existence.

I lay on a bed with him, listening to the commentary - it was almost unbearable. When we were one down, I had mentally given up...but then we equalised - the rest of the match took years off me.

My son made his Withdean debut in 2004, aged 7, and has seen us transform from lower league mediocrity in an athletics stadium to where we are now - all highs, no lows. When other kids his age were supporting Spurs or Arsenal, he was watching an absolute fairy tale unfold - something he likes to remind the 'newer' fans amongst his friendship group about. He is an absolutely die-hard fan - my work is done.

We are so lucky. I will be forever grateful to Robbie R and esoecially Steve Gritt. Life changing stuff.

 

[Horses Arse]

There's a question. There will always be clever engaged people who can work out what's needed. The rest of us? I thought (wrongly it seems) that someone can't buy a football club and just flog the ground, like Archer did, but apparently I'm wrong. In some respects I'm surprised it hasn't happened again, somewhere.

So I guess your question boils down to: would a sufficient number of supporters be able to stop a wrong-un taking over a club before it's too late. In general (nationally)? No. Brighton? Probably not. There is a minority who actually view Bloom as a 'moneyman'; for the rest of us, 24 years is a long time in football.

I've absolutely no concerns re Bloom owning the club, why would anyone? Everything he's said has been backed by actions, there is absolutely nothing to make anyone think that there's a risk right now. It does worry me that there seems to be little ability for individual thought or challenge though - that would indicate that in those 24+ years we've forgotten what we learnt as a fanbase. As you say, it is a long time in football, and in life generally.

Circumstances change, big changes in circumstances mean the best intentions may no longer be possible. I look at Reading and what happened there, Madjeski was completely dedicated and then........ Charlton too, expectation leading to change and then it starts to fall apart. Swansea albeit currently to a much lesser extent.

A support base that backs everything and shouts down any challenge or any alternative thought will not react when circumstances do change - too willing to believe whatever they are told. When there is too much control over what supporters are allowed to discuss/believe then that behaviour is very difficult to change.

I would hope that we would known better than most what the dangers are and that we would be on guard - it doesn't seem that way. That is just based on this forum of course but it concerns me that we remember and talk of the past but may not have learnt from it. We all know why the statement that this club would never again be owned by one person could not hold, but that should encourage greater challenge and debate in my opinion. It's healthy.

 

[zefarelly]

What a day , never forgotten . Pics of the banner , me , Sis and me old mate . Such an emotional rollercoaster .

Great snaps, wish I had a few, I do have a photo or two from the Doncaster game

I'm in the side stand photo somewhere, upper tier. . .

 

[zefarelly]

I've absolutely no concerns re Bloom owning the club, why would anyone? Everything he's said has been backed by actions, there is absolutely nothing to make anyone think that there's a risk right now. It does worry me that there seems to be little ability for individual thought or challenge though - that would indicate that in those 24+ years we've forgotten what we learnt as a fanbase. As you say, it is a long time in football, and in life generally.

Circumstances change, big changes in circumstances mean the best intentions may no longer be possible. I look at Reading and what happened there, Madjeski was completely dedicated and then........ Charlton too, expectation leading to change and then it starts to fall apart. Swansea albeit currently to a much lesser extent.

A support base that backs everything and shouts down any challenge or any alternative thought will not react when circumstances do change - too willing to believe whatever they are told. When there is too much control over what supporters are allowed to discuss/believe then that behaviour is very difficult to change.

I would hope that we would known better than most what the dangers are and that we would be on guard - it doesn't seem that way. That is just based on this forum of course but it concerns me that we remember and talk of the past but may not have learnt from it. We all know why the statement that this club would never again be owned by one person could not hold, but that should encourage greater challenge and debate in my opinion. It's healthy.

The Bloom family have been involved with the club since the 70's? even if TB did move on or step aside/down I'm sure it would only be to someone he'd vetted and would retain some interest at the very least.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

We are so lucky. I will be forever grateful to Robbie R and esoecially Steve Gritt. Life changing stuff.

Neither of them household names, or even names well known in football, one a journeyman lower league footballer, the other a man managing his only club in the Football League, and neither with any history locally.

I wonder if either of them actually realise the enormiity of what they achieved, for this football club, it's fans, and our city?

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Great snaps, wish I had a few, I do have a photo or two from the Doncaster game

I'm in the side stand photo somewhere, upper tier. . .

I was just just about to post, the Goldstone didn't have an upper tier! then l realised that it was the first game at the Amex you were talking about, not the last game at the Goldstone, both against Donny . . . obviously.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

I was just just about to post, the Goldstone didn't have an upper tier! then l realised that it was the first game at the Amex you were talking about, not the last game at the Goldstone, both against Donny . . . obviously.

Or was he referring to the Hereford game?

 

[bhafc99]

Or was he referring to the Hereford game?

Probably this. We were allocated an upper tier of seating at Edgar Street, as well as the terrace behind the goal. That’s where I was anyway.


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[Horses Arse]

The Bloom family have been involved with the club since the 70's? even if TB did move on or step aside/down I'm sure it would only be to someone he'd vetted and would retain some interest at the very least.

I believe so too, or at least that would be his intention. The point I was making though is that things change, circumstances change and you can't always do what you intended. That's what I mean by referencing Reading - Madjeski loved that club (bloody weird), absolutely no doubt. But they've ended up with dodgy owners.

Look at Southampton too, no they are still in a great position clearly but I gather there was and maybe still is a concerning over their ownership - you only tend to find out properly when the PL gravy train ceases with such situations.

Some might say that by questioning and challenging you are more likely to hack TB off and lead to the sale of the club, which I guess is a legitimate argument but one that would make me uneasy.

..... and I guess it has to be said that the biggest trauma that this club suffered was between the 1970's and now. No suggestion that was in any way associated with the Bloom family but it is still a fact

 

[zefarelly]

I believe so too, or at least that would be his intention. The point I was making though is that things change, circumstances change and you can't always do what you intended. That's what I mean by referencing Reading - Madjeski loved that club (bloody weird), absolutely no doubt. But they've ended up with dodgy owners.

Look at Southampton too, no they are still in a great position clearly but I gather there was and maybe still is a concerning over their ownership - you only tend to find out properly when the PL gravy train ceases with such situations.

Some might say that by questioning and challenging you are more likely to hack TB off and lead to the sale of the club, which I guess is a legitimate argument but one that would make me uneasy.

..... and I guess it has to be said that the biggest trauma that this club suffered was between the 1970's and now. No suggestion that was in any way associated with the Bloom family but it is still a fact

One can be involved and have minimal influence/control, a Friend is a minor shareholder in Burnley ( Inherited) but has been powerless of late. The club are now heavily saddled with debt.

 

[Insel affe]

March 97 we beat Cardiff 2-0 at the Goldstone, they brought a fair few fans and there was fighting after the match.
Maybe the Cardiff fans were not happy about that day or thought we were going out of the league and wanted to wave goodbye

I definitely didn’t see any Cardiff fans at Hereford in our main end behind the goal, also didn’t notice any trouble where the other Albion fans were sited to our left.
There was some fighting down behind the other goal at the Hereford end just before kick off, but I can’t comment if it was Cardiff involved or that the Hereford fans had spotted some Albion in their end, it didn’t look like anything major from what I remember.

I travelled down from London for that match against Cardiff, yes there was fighting and they got a bit of beating if memory serves me right.
Cardiff thought they were nailed on for the promotion and actually wining the league, and were under the impression the Albion and their fans would be a soft touch.

I travelled back up to Camden after the match and went to the Elephants head to meet up with some of my mates and head on out to a rockin club, about 9pm in walked some rockabillies two of them with black eyes and bruising around their faces. Turned out they were Cardiff fans who had been to the game, and came out the wrong end of a beating, I did proclaim I was there and an Albion fan, they were ok, and said it was fair fight, and just did not expect us to put up such a good stand.

 

[Horses Arse]

One can be involved and have minimal influence/control, a Friend is a minor shareholder in Burnley ( Inherited) but has been powerless of late. The club are now heavily saddled with debt.

Absolutely. Didn't realise Burnley were in trouble - leveraged buy out presumably?

There are so many examples and references to clubs and fans that thought everything was fine and would always be fine is where I am with all this. Great to enjoy the most successful era of the club (ignoring the tedious time under Mike Bailey) but we surely need to keep one eye on the road.

 

[zefarelly]

Absolutely. Didn't realise Burnley were in trouble - leveraged buy out presumably?

There are so many examples and references to clubs and fans that thought everything was fine and would always be fine is where I am with all this. Great to enjoy the most successful era of the club (ignoring the tedious time under Mike Bailey) but we surely need to keep one eye on the road.

Yes . . . . https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-left-club-90m-worse-off-and-loaded-with-debt

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I've absolutely no concerns re Bloom owning the club, why would anyone? Everything he's said has been backed by actions, there is absolutely nothing to make anyone think that there's a risk right now. It does worry me that there seems to be little ability for individual thought or challenge though - that would indicate that in those 24+ years we've forgotten what we learnt as a fanbase. As you say, it is a long time in football, and in life generally.

Circumstances change, big changes in circumstances mean the best intentions may no longer be possible. I look at Reading and what happened there, Madjeski was completely dedicated and then........ Charlton too, expectation leading to change and then it starts to fall apart. Swansea albeit currently to a much lesser extent.

A support base that backs everything and shouts down any challenge or any alternative thought will not react when circumstances do change - too willing to believe whatever they are told. When there is too much control over what supporters are allowed to discuss/believe then that behaviour is very difficult to change.

I would hope that we would known better than most what the dangers are and that we would be on guard - it doesn't seem that way. That is just based on this forum of course but it concerns me that we remember and talk of the past but may not have learnt from it. We all know why the statement that this club would never again be owned by one person could not hold, but that should encourage greater challenge and debate in my opinion. It's healthy.

Wow. That's a brilliant post.

I neither disagree with a word of it nor can offer any solutions.

Attila raised the topic of resurrecting a version of a previous independent group a few months ago and was shot down in flames.

We have heard a lot about jeopardy and its importance in maintaining football as a viable entity, recently. Perhaps we have to accept the full gamut of jeopardy, including the possibility of ending up with a poor owner, in order to be....not sure what word I need here? Free?

That said the possible tweaking of football's rules over what an owner can do may be on the cards.

I guess things will change organically, and whether 'we' can act and influence change will depend on circumstances. New people, new ideas and ways of working. I am hopeful, if not full-blown optimistic

 

[Brovion]

Always worth a read: https://nortr3nixy.nimpr.uk/showthread.php?160-Half-Time-at-Hereford

And yes, whilst I hate it being used as a point of reference for everything, I do think it was THE single most important result in our history. Certainly we wouldn't be in a swish new stadium at Falmer, and NSC posts about 'Brighton in the Premier League' would probably refer to the Isthmian Premier. I'm guessing at best we'd be at a 5,000 capacity Withdean, and we'd almost certainly be the second club in Sussex behind Crawley.

 

[Seasidesage]

Oh what a day. I was on a doubledecker coach of erm architects who happened to be visiting nearby Ledbury to look at something or other. This was our cunning plan to allow for several hundred pounds worth of beer to be loaded onto the coach. The plan of course failed miserably and we were forced to leave said beer on the street by Hove Town Hall (Always wondered what happened to it) Coach driver had been suitably briefed by Sussex police beforehand and no beer that was that.

We actually did end up in Ledbury briefly which was full of Albion fans before heading off into Hereford to try and find a pub. Not easy on the day but we wondered around and eventually found one. Match was a range of emotions, I walked around like a zombie at half time, the goal, the final whistle were amazing the sheer batshit mental joy behind that goal. Came out the ground straight into a punch up which we won too indecently from what I could see. Back onto the coach and off along with the other coaches and a police escort.

As we poodle along the motorway a whipround ensues on our coach which persuaded the previously uncooperative coach driver to suddenly divert up a exit ramp and off down a country lane with the police in tow, flashing blue lights behind us but they could not pass as the lane was too narrow. We reached a village and shot into the 1st pub we saw. Two policemen rushed in and demanded we leave and were politely told no. (Fairly hard to tell 70 odd blokes to leave without reinforcements) Ok 1 pint then you go, then one more pint etc etc Finally at 10pm they came in told us we were good lads and could stay till closing time!

A great night getting thoroughly hammered and singing Albion songs. We did appear to be the only ones in there mind (can't imagine why? ) but it was a fabulous night and rounded off a great day. Landlord even came out to wave us off Lol. Got back to Brighton about 2am after about 20 piss stops and another whip round for the driver Lol

 

[Horses Arse]

Wow. That's a brilliant post.

I neither disagree with a word of it nor can offer any solutions.

Attila raised the topic of resurrecting a version of a previous independent group a few months ago and was shot down in flames.

We have heard a lot about jeopardy and its importance in maintaining football as a viable entity, recently. Perhaps we have to accept the full gamut of jeopardy, including the possibility of ending up with a poor owner, in order to be....not sure what word I need here? Free?

That said the possible tweaking of football's rules over what an owner can do may be on the cards.

I guess things will change organically, and whether 'we' can act and influence change will depend on circumstances. New people, new ideas and ways of working. I am hopeful, if not full-blown optimistic

Well thank you! I don't know the answer either. It's a shame that Attila was shot down in flames for suggesting an independent group but, judging by the majority of views on this site, it is not a surprise. Let's hope the PL, those beacons of integrity....., manage to pull something together that is vaguely useful in reducing the future casualty list.

 

[vagabond]

[tweet]1389529233987457024[/tweet]

 

[Hamilton]

What a week that was!

My daughter was born.
We survived.
And Labour were voted into power.