SUA Seagull
Well-known member
Like all Albion fans I’m gutted by the fact that we didn’t lift the Championship trophy today. So, so near, but, alas, it wasn’t to be. Such is life and we must move on. So let’s just take a moment to reflect on this season's achievement.
What a memorable year this has been, culminating in a joyous outcome to an emotionally exhausting journey over two incredible seasons which will forever be etched into the memories of those of us lucky enough to experience them.
As sad as I was during the long drive home from Boro’ last season (which now seems a lifetime ago) I knew then that we were all witnessing something special. Equally, I was confident at that time that we’d simply reached the mid-point in a two-year campaign to join the top flight. During the “second half” of the adventure that was to unfold into this glorious season I always believed from the outset that, lessons learned from last season’s heartache, CH would set us up to succeed. And so it proved.
Focused and determined performances week in, week out. A never give up attitude that often saw us grind out three points even when not playing at our best. A team in the true sense of the word, always displaying phenomenal spirit and camaraderie. Strength in depth. Outplaying with ease a number of high-flying teams. Stockers’ crucial penalty saves. The Albion faithful’s celebration of every single Seagulls’ goal as if we’d just won the Champions League. Passionate support at most games and always at away days (my favourites). All made possible by the best manager, squad, chairman, CEO and fans in the EFL. We are truly blessed.
For me, the current squad is the best I’ve ever seen in more than 50 years of supporting the Albion. Along with our late 1970’s heroes, they will rightly go down in the club’s history for their remarkable achievement. In only six years we have risen from League 1 to justifiably earning our seat at the top table. Who amongst us could possibly have anticipated in April 2011, when we beat Dagenham 4-3 at the Withdean to seal promotion to the Championship, that, just over six years later, we’d be travelling to Old Trafford, Anfield, Stamford Bridge, Wembley the Etihad and Emirates stadia et al?
Ignoring our 2014/15 season’s 20th placed “blip”, in our other five Championship seasons since 2011 we finished 10th, 4th, 6th, 3rd and 2nd. That is a phenomenal record for a club that has spent the lion’s share of its 116 year existence in the two lowest tiers of the football league. This season was no aberration; we have been steadily building up to this zenith during our Amex years.
And who could possibly have predicted a mere 20 years ago, post-Hereford, that we’d ever be celebrating our arrival in the Premier League in two decades’ time? From staring into the abyss of almost certain extinction we somehow survived, consolidated, rebuilt and then prospered, thanks to the Herculean efforts, strategic and financial support of passionate and committed individuals and unwavering support from thousands of fans along the way.
The Seagulls’ story is a special one, intimately known to all Albion fans. It is hard for the media and fans of other, bigger clubs to comprehend fully our unique history, the struggles we’ve encountered over the last two decades and the bond between club, fans and community that has helped us to overcome those challenges. This season sees yet another fairy tale chapter written in the remarkable up-and-down story of our beloved Albion.
I have no idea what next season’s fortunes will bring (other than a full house at the Amex for every game) nor, at this moment in time, do I remotely care. We should now simply relax, embrace our success, celebrate in style and reflect on the sheer enormity of what this club, our club, has just accomplished. We have been promoted from the Championship in style and, in so doing, we’ve outclassed and outplayed many established clubs with far bigger budgets and reputations. Little BHAFC, quietly and efficiently getting on with its job under the radar. May it always be thus.
What a magnificent and uplifting feeling it is to be a Seagull today. These are truly great times, to be savoured to the full, not least because the sustained level of success we’ve enjoyed during the last two seasons may not come around again for a while, especially for us older fans.
Mrs. SUA Seagull is especially thrilled; a degree of normality will now be restored to our household for at least a few months, this time minus the stress of the playoffs! Best of all for me, I have experienced the whole League 2 to Premier League journey with my son, who’s equally besotted with the Albion, who’s currently on cloud nine and, like me, he’ll be there for quite a while. We’ll remember our shared experiences forever.
I’m already looking forward to next season and to what I am sure will be another exciting leg of the Albion’s remarkable journey, wherever it may take us.
Up the Albion ….. the Albion are up!
What a memorable year this has been, culminating in a joyous outcome to an emotionally exhausting journey over two incredible seasons which will forever be etched into the memories of those of us lucky enough to experience them.
As sad as I was during the long drive home from Boro’ last season (which now seems a lifetime ago) I knew then that we were all witnessing something special. Equally, I was confident at that time that we’d simply reached the mid-point in a two-year campaign to join the top flight. During the “second half” of the adventure that was to unfold into this glorious season I always believed from the outset that, lessons learned from last season’s heartache, CH would set us up to succeed. And so it proved.
Focused and determined performances week in, week out. A never give up attitude that often saw us grind out three points even when not playing at our best. A team in the true sense of the word, always displaying phenomenal spirit and camaraderie. Strength in depth. Outplaying with ease a number of high-flying teams. Stockers’ crucial penalty saves. The Albion faithful’s celebration of every single Seagulls’ goal as if we’d just won the Champions League. Passionate support at most games and always at away days (my favourites). All made possible by the best manager, squad, chairman, CEO and fans in the EFL. We are truly blessed.
For me, the current squad is the best I’ve ever seen in more than 50 years of supporting the Albion. Along with our late 1970’s heroes, they will rightly go down in the club’s history for their remarkable achievement. In only six years we have risen from League 1 to justifiably earning our seat at the top table. Who amongst us could possibly have anticipated in April 2011, when we beat Dagenham 4-3 at the Withdean to seal promotion to the Championship, that, just over six years later, we’d be travelling to Old Trafford, Anfield, Stamford Bridge, Wembley the Etihad and Emirates stadia et al?
Ignoring our 2014/15 season’s 20th placed “blip”, in our other five Championship seasons since 2011 we finished 10th, 4th, 6th, 3rd and 2nd. That is a phenomenal record for a club that has spent the lion’s share of its 116 year existence in the two lowest tiers of the football league. This season was no aberration; we have been steadily building up to this zenith during our Amex years.
And who could possibly have predicted a mere 20 years ago, post-Hereford, that we’d ever be celebrating our arrival in the Premier League in two decades’ time? From staring into the abyss of almost certain extinction we somehow survived, consolidated, rebuilt and then prospered, thanks to the Herculean efforts, strategic and financial support of passionate and committed individuals and unwavering support from thousands of fans along the way.
The Seagulls’ story is a special one, intimately known to all Albion fans. It is hard for the media and fans of other, bigger clubs to comprehend fully our unique history, the struggles we’ve encountered over the last two decades and the bond between club, fans and community that has helped us to overcome those challenges. This season sees yet another fairy tale chapter written in the remarkable up-and-down story of our beloved Albion.
I have no idea what next season’s fortunes will bring (other than a full house at the Amex for every game) nor, at this moment in time, do I remotely care. We should now simply relax, embrace our success, celebrate in style and reflect on the sheer enormity of what this club, our club, has just accomplished. We have been promoted from the Championship in style and, in so doing, we’ve outclassed and outplayed many established clubs with far bigger budgets and reputations. Little BHAFC, quietly and efficiently getting on with its job under the radar. May it always be thus.
What a magnificent and uplifting feeling it is to be a Seagull today. These are truly great times, to be savoured to the full, not least because the sustained level of success we’ve enjoyed during the last two seasons may not come around again for a while, especially for us older fans.
Mrs. SUA Seagull is especially thrilled; a degree of normality will now be restored to our household for at least a few months, this time minus the stress of the playoffs! Best of all for me, I have experienced the whole League 2 to Premier League journey with my son, who’s equally besotted with the Albion, who’s currently on cloud nine and, like me, he’ll be there for quite a while. We’ll remember our shared experiences forever.
I’m already looking forward to next season and to what I am sure will be another exciting leg of the Albion’s remarkable journey, wherever it may take us.
Up the Albion ….. the Albion are up!
