Article: Making the effort to create a lasting memory - well done BHA!

[supaseagull]

Credit, where credits due!! Making the effort to create a lasting memory. Well done BHA!!

Brilliant stuff

 

[greyseagull]

Really great post and thank you for taking the time out to write that. All the best for the rest of the season.

 

[shaolinpunk]

That story made me smile

 

[elbowpatches]

Hey all

I hope other clubs read this, and if not doing so already, start to create the same experiences around the country when the opportunity arises. It just takes a little effort that perhaps most would not expect or be able to explain in this day and age but leaves an ever lasting memory from an amazing experience.

Well Done BHA!!!

To have all clubs consider the effect such simple gestures have is no bad thing. I have to say that BHA treat, in my opinion, children really well at games and I cannot wait until my son is old enough to go and enjoy it. He is already a member of gully's gang but has missed the open days and Christmas parties (but he is only 2!!) and I hear that on their 7th birthday a junior fan receives a full kit. Very clever - it ties the children into their club and shows the club appreciates younger fans. I have no qualms about taking him to the Amex whereas I would to other places I have visited myself. (Peterborough, my local league club, I would take him to but only after the Amex!!)

However, will this continue? Will there be open training sessions and Christmas parties again? The 10% offer at the club shop has gone, the signed photo for a birthday card will now be a generic team one and then there is the ridiculous amount of money asked for being a mascot. Is this the new chief exec turning the screws?

I hope the Albion continue to be a community club and we hear more stories from home and visiting fans about how great the club is. The signs are promising and it is hard work but I too hope all clubs aim high to please the younger generation.

 

[Wozza]

Great story, but I think you'll find that an invoice for £267 (plus VAT) is in the post. #blamebarber

 

[elbowpatches]

That story made me smile

This

 

[Wally Gould]

Great story. Very heart warming. Well done the Albion staff member who thought of doing this.

 

[Acker79]

And now you've got a picture of your son wearing shorts inside out so you can use to embarrass him when he's older!

 

[boik]

Indeed, thanks for sharing this. There's such a lot of negativity and bile around football, so it's great to hear the positive side. Wherever I go, I always see kids playing footie, and I always stop and watch. Never ceases to make me smile.

 

[Return of the Rev]

Hey all

I just wanted to post to tell our tale of yesterday evening.

Congratulations on the result however my son was the biggest winner last night and for that I owe all my gratitude to BHA for their efforts that have left an ever lasting memory which is a credit to everything you are striving to achieve.

I am a Peterborough United fan from Worthing and attended the game in the away support with my father (a fan for over 50 years), my son aged 9 (has also adopted the family passion for the “The Posh”) and brother (Posh/Brighton)

My son took a walk to take his first view inside the stadium to which he was amazed, whilst Dad, Grandad and Uncle enjoyed a pre match drink. Little did we know how our evening was to change and the incredible experience my son was about to have courtesy of BHA.

We suddenly turned to see my son being led by a female steward towards us, him looking a little worried and me thinking uh oh, what has he been up to. Of course he had done nothing and she simply approached to say that Peterborough did not have a mascot and would we be happy to allow him to, and would he like to be the Peterborough mascot that evening. Of course, we had no objection and once it had sunk in with him the excitement grew across his face.

From there he was led away to get ready, being provided with BHS shorts and socks (turned inside out so not displaying the seagulls). Out he went on to the pitch for a kick about before returning to the tunnel to lead the Peterborough united team out, have his photo taken with his favourite player and have the photos taken with the match officials and sponsors before his energetic run back to the tunnel from where he was escorted back to us with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face.

This is an absolute credit to BHA for the whole experience we had. I am sure most clubs in the country would not care that the away team had not brought a mascot and would nothing would have been done. Not last night with the effort required being made and an experience being created that will be a lifelong memory to 3 generations of a family, particularly for myself as I was able to recall when I was myself a POSH mascot when I was my sons age 28 years ago almost to the day.

I was made to feel proud and I am therefore obliged to write this regarding our experience as BHA should be proud of taking actions to create experiences such as this.

This is what football should be about and only strengthens the “community” stature they are striving to achieve although from our experience I feel they are already achieving this.

I hope other clubs read this, and if not doing so already, start to create the same experiences around the country when the opportunity arises. It just takes a little effort that perhaps most would not expect or be able to explain in this day and age but leaves an ever lasting memory from an amazing experience.

Well Done BHA!!!

P.S. My son was allowed to keep the shorts and socks, although he did say he may like to sell them ;-) (which of course I will not allow him to do and they will be kept as memorabilia of the evening)

shame we cant treat our own mascots the same.

 

[brakespear]

Glad to hear your son had such a nice time and good stuff from the club

 

[Albalbion]

Nice story and i dont want to take anything away from it here, more just to say that this is not the first time brighton have done this. I was eight years old, when i was in Brighton bus station waiting to get on one of the buses to gillingham, when someone from the club came up to me and asked if id like to be the mascot that day. Before i could even say yes my dad had already pushed me onto the junior seagulls coach and away we went with them. I was the first 'coach mascot' as apparently after this one, they then picked more mascots off of coaches going up to gillingham. I know how the guy's son feels, was an amazing day for me, i got to lead the team out, have a kick around with jeff minton and my photo taken with gary hart. I'll never forget that day, we won 2-0 against torquay and then happened to meet helen chamberlain in the services on the way home! Full credit to the club in both instances, made two little boys extremely happy indeed.

 

[HASSOCKS-BHA]

Great thread, lovely story, absolutely what football should be about..!!!

 

[Fat Langers]

I've had an absolute nightmare of a day, but this has just made my day. Really nice to hear. Pleased for you all!!

 

[Everest]

And now you've got a picture of your son wearing shorts inside out so you can use to embarrass him when he's older!

Not only that, but they were BHS ones

 

[Beach Hut]

I have to say this is wonderful and perhaps brings home something I have noticed more this season which is a charm offensive by all BHAFC match day staff.

This includes a polite chat and exchange of cash for a program advising enjoy the game to a very civil and polite greeting on entry and quick bag search and the forever polite and smiling lady steward we are blessed with in WSU.

 

[Albion Robster]

What a great story. Thank you for taking to come on here and share your families matchday story.
I'm glad my club has'nt sold all its soul in chasing the bucks! Like you say...it's about keeping the community feel to the Football Club sometimes.

 

[Triggaaar]

Out he went on to the pitch for a kick about before returning to the tunnel to lead the Peterborough united team out, have his photo taken with his favourite player

Who was it, Buckley, CMS, Bruno?

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Great stuff

 

[4-p]

Re: Credit, where credits due!! Making the effort to create a lasting memory.

This is an absolute credit to BHA for the whole experience we had.

Well Done BHA!!!

Great story!