How far will the Albion progress in my lifetime?

[Brian Fantana]

Just been discussing this in the pub. I am 20 and say if I live a normal lifespan (touch wood) how far do you think the Albion can realistically progress?

Champions League
Premiership top half
Premiership bottom half
Championship
League 1
Below that

I would hope that by then we would be an established Premiership team with Champions League apirations.

 

[pasty]

Given the fact that I started supporting Brighton 34 years ago, and we are currently in exactly the same division as we were back then, not very far

 

[clippedgull]

With the right investment I guess we could emulate Reading and become a mid prem team

If and when that may happen is another matter.

But I guess it's safe to say that within a few years we will be a top half championship side.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Given the fact that I started supporting Brighton 34 years ago, and we are currently in exactly the same division as we were back then, not very far

ditto



I would be happy if in my lifetime we established ourselves as a decnt championship side.

I cant see us ever being a premiership side

 

[BensGrandad]

When I first watched the Albion we were in Div 111 South 62 years later we are in the equivalent of Div 111 but just a name change so it doesnt auger well for the next 60 years, not that I shall be here then, but I would hope to have at least flirted with the Premiership during the next 20 years of my life hopefully..

 

[TrevorDove]

There won't be a Champions League, it will just be the Euro league and I reckon we will be in Div 7.

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

When I first watched the Albion we were in Div 111 South 62 years later we are in the equivalent of Div 111 but just a name change so it doesnt auger well for the next 60 years, not that I shall be here then, but I would hope to have at least flirted with the Premiership during the next 20 years of my life hopefully..

Then like me you will have watched the Albion in all divisions. Once Falmer is up and running I would have said a about 10th in the championship would be our natural position, occasionally going up, occasionally going down. Better, in my opinion than getting established in the Premiership and regularly fighting to avoid relegation or getting mid table obscurity at best.

One thing I will absolutely guarantee you, in the rest of your lifetime you will have some absolutely FANTASTIC times and you will have some absolutely TERRIBLE times.

It's called being an Albion supporter!

 

[The Large One]

Given the fact that I started supporting Brighton 34 years ago, and we are currently in exactly the same division as we were back then, not very far

Yeah, but look what happened in between times.

34 years since 1974 - Six promotions (of which two were championships), four seasons in the top division, two play-off finals, one FA Cup Final.

34 years prior to 1974 - Three promotions (two of which were last-day championships). Er, that's it.

Put it this way, when I was 20, I could never envisage Sussex winning the county championship...

 

[gjh1971]

When I first watched the Albion we were in Div 111 South 62 years later we are in the equivalent of Div 111 but just a name change so it doesnt auger well for the next 60 years, not that I shall be here then, but I would hope to have at least flirted with the Premiership during the next 20 years of my life hopefully..

So weve climbed 108 divisions in your lifetime then.

 

[Peter Grummit]

I am 37 years a fan and have also seen the club in all divisions. If we make the Prem for 1 season in the rest of my life (hopefully at least another 37 years) then I will be happy. I never thought I would see Sussex win the Championship and we've done it 3 times in the last 5!
But yes, ups and downs, that's what it is all about. I am a great believer in the "zero sum game" theory of football fans. The fewer wins you have the sweeter they are: the more you have the more routine. Think about Hereford, Palace away 2 years ago. Ask Barnsley fans now. Ask Arsenal fans now: half of them had left when they equalised against Villa the other day.
PG

 

[Conkers]

I would like to think by the time I die, which statistics say won't be for at least 55 years (touch wood), that the Albion have at least been in the Barclays Pepsi Microsoft Premier Soccer League.....for one season.

 

[perth seagull]

I think we'll be in the Premiership eventually.

When League One gets renamed Premier League One or something equally naff.

 

[dougdeep]

They climbed 91 places in my first 20 years.

 

[pasty]

Yeah, but look what happened in between times.

34 years since 1974 - Six promotions (of which two were championships), four seasons in the top division, two play-off finals, one FA Cup Final.

34 years prior to 1974 - Three promotions (two of which were last-day championships). Er, that's it.

I know - my original post was a little tongue in cheek. What you posted there is precisely the reason I love supporting a club like Brighton. Never, ever boring. I'd much rather that than 34 years of mid table premier league nothingness.

 

[fatbadger]

I would hope that by then we would be an established Premiership team with Champions League apirations.

Don't be daft. We are a good medium-sized club. Our average position in the league (since 1958) is 49th-50th (ie close to the top of the division we are in). That's us, and that's fine. There have been some glorious years / moments, and (as we all know) some bloody awful ones.

In the 36 years of my lifetime, we have played in all four divisions. There's a chance we will be in the top division again in the next 36 years, but don't bet your house on it. But if you want an idea of the ways in which teams can make it big, even if only for a couple of years, there are currently 11 teams in League One which have enjoyed top-flight football in my lifetime, 3 in League 2, and 1 in the Conference.

 

[steward 433]

I think we will get back to the top division in the next 20 years but nowhere near champions league unless all the fans win the euro millions and start investing?