My father played for the Albion juniors just before and during the War years. He took me to watch the team play Hull City in 1965.... and that was the start of the incredible journey for me. God bless you dad.... this is beyond our wild dreams!
The whole Chuter family and also a nod to Keith Gumbrell who will be sitting somewhere with a cigar saying he does not what the fuss is about, whilst blowing smoke at an irate neighbour in the stand.
36 years ago this week (19th to be exact) my late dad and I walked all the way from Moulsecoomb to the Goldstone for my first match, a 3-1 win vs Sunderland.
Tonight I'll be walking the opposite direction, Preston Park to The Amex, thinking of dad and others who have shared our crazy journey from the bottom to the top of football. Unbelievable.
When I was about 6/7 and used to stay at my nan and grandads house on a Friday , Saturday morning grandad used to have a bath get ready and leave about 12 ish for the legion club on Shirley street then up to the goldstone last thing he would put on was his blue and white scarf I wish I could of gone with him (ended up going to my 1st game couple of later) was so jealous watching grandstand with my nan watching the scores come in, 7-55 tonight even tho he died over 20 years ago he will be with me as I hold that scarf up he wore this ones for you fella
Funny that this thread appears as I went for a chat with the old man today . Wondering what he would have thought of it all . Think he would have hated all the razzamatazz to be honest anyway he said go large 3-0 …ok pops done
Miss u loads
My (younger) brother Joe who sat next to me at the Amex in the Upper West. We started going to the Goldstone as schoolboys when Pat Sayward was in charge.
His last game was the 1-0 win against Man U. The one where the ref judged the ball to have gone over the line (aided by technology) just over 5 years ago. Sadly he was not with us for the next win over United a few months later.
His son, my nephew, now proudly sits in his place.
As we’re at it, my dad past away last June after a long few years being ill and having a stroke.
He managed to see us get into the premier league after years of struggle which he played his part.
For many years he campaigned through the medium of cartoons for fanzines, On the Up, Seaside Saga etc.
The reason why I support Brighton, I’ll raising a glass to him tonight, would’ve been there together, but will be in spirit(s).
Jez Cooper of the Fly Kicking Badgers, like most of us would find it all surreal now. He took is own life over 20 years ago and I still think of him at games.
Also the legend that is crazy Mick Dawes of Bognor. I first met him in a pub in Soho, he'd travelled up with an ex girlfriend of mine from Southampton. I lived on Green Street at the time and we were off to see the Albion at the Boleyn. Many years older than me, I had left it up to him as to when we should leave. I saw the time - 2:30. Then it dawned on me, he had already emptied the bar on the train to London, then I saw him down endless pints and spirits, shared several spliffs with me and offered me coke in the toilets. Unsurprisingly we arrived at the game 5 minutes before kick off and Mick drank himself to death last year.
Received a call from my friend's son this afternoon to say his dad died early this morning. John started watching Brighton in the 60's but stopped going in the 80's. I first met John in the Post Office he owned in Sedlescombe, I had just bought The Queens Head next door. We started talking football. Having 3 ST's for the family when one couldn't go John would. He caught the bug again and bought a st at Withdean next to me. For the last 20 years, he only missed periods when he was sadly diagnosed with cancer. He overcame it twice but days before our first home game this season he became unwell and so the bastard disease finally got him this morning.
Glad I’m not the only one feeling a little brittle today. I don’t think the enormity of where we are, as opposed to where we were, particularly when my old man started watching, has dawned on me yet.
What a wonderful thread. Tonight is going to be such a special occasion but for me (and many others) highly emotional as I look to the sky and remember mum and dad who took me first to the Goldstone all those years ago
Dad for the first Goldstone trip. Cliff Goddard colleague who worked for Star Brewery Eastbourne left the chicken run before the first sortie into the first div. wow what a time ago, RIP.
Went to pretty much every match, home and away, throughout the Gillingham and Withdean years. Sadly passed away from long standing health conditions before we got to the Prem.