I'm scared of Falmer!

[The Ringleader Returns!]

I can't remember The Goldstone so in a way Withdean is my home ground. I've seen;

3 Promotions
2 Last day survivals
The Man City Game
Some utterly brilliant goals (Zamora,Bennett,Coke Cola Kid, Murray)
I've seen us let in some brilliant goals (Delph)
I've met good mates at Withdean and had a laugh.

Yes, I can't wait for Falmer. It's going to be brilliant but at the same time as I walk away from Withdean for the last time my feelings of Joy will be mixed with feelings of Sadness.

 

[westy]

This is beyond ridiculous. Withdean is utterly utterly shit. There is not one thing I will miss about it and cannot wait to be at Falmer. The goldstone was brilliant, Withdean for a season or 2 at the start was good compared to the horrid Gillingham days but Falmer will be superb.

Imagine how good a team we could have built around the likes of Zamora, Cullip, Sidwell etc when we were 1st in the Championship IF we had been playing at Falmer then... Withdean has held us back in terms of attracting players, generating funds to sign players and growing as a club for far too long. Good riddance and bring on Falmer. Scared is not the word that springs to mind when I think of Falmer, embrace Falmer, its going to be great!

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

i see leaving the withdean the same way as (i'd imagine) the death of a close relative who was a rapist/pedophile

yes, we share some nice memories, and i can remember when they were alright, and i'm slightly sad that they're gone, but in a way, kind of glad

it's for the best

 

[strings]

I do agree with the Ringleader Returns a bit.

There are a lot of people that never sat at the Goldstone and have never supported us whilst we had a home, and there will be those who only went to the Goldstone when they were young. For this demograhic of fans, myself included, it is a sad time leaving Withdean - it is all we have really known.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to Falmer, and I consider myself lucky to be old enough to have been to the Goldstone a few times. But Withdean has been our home since I was 14!

 

[Brovion]

This is beyond ridiculous. Withdean is utterly utterly shit. There is not one thing I will miss about it and cannot wait to be at Falmer. The goldstone was brilliant, Withdean for a season or 2 at the start was good compared to the horrid Gillingham days but Falmer will be superb.

Imagine how good a team we could have built around the likes of Zamora, Cullip, Sidwell etc when we were 1st in the Championship IF we had been playing at Falmer then... Withdean has held us back in terms of attracting players, generating funds to sign players and growing as a club for far too long. Good riddance and bring on Falmer. Scared is not the word that springs to mind when I think of Falmer, embrace Falmer, its going to be great!

Spot on. I've wasted ten years of my life watching (or more recently, not watching) the Albion at Withdean. Ten wasted years when we've occassionally reached the second tier but have been unable to stay there because as a club playing in a shitty, rented athletics stadium we were punching well above our weight. It IS part of our history as someone pointed out, but then so was the Black Death. Good riddance to it and onwards and upwards.

 

[westy]

onwards and upwards indeed!

 

[hans kraay fan club]

This is beyond ridiculous. Withdean is utterly utterly shit. There is not one thing I will miss about it and cannot wait to be at Falmer. The goldstone was brilliant, Withdean for a season or 2 at the start was good compared to the horrid Gillingham days but Falmer will be superb.

The Goldstone, towards the end, was actually utterly shit. I know we're not supposed to say that, but it WAS.

It was falling apart, parts of it were condemned, and had been for YEARS, and there were rarely more than 6000 people rattling around it.

Nostalgia is a fine thing, and by exactly the same token, in a few years time people WILL gloss over all of Withdeans many bad points, and have fond memories of the place.

 

[KneeOn]

I'll miss withdean, even though i've not gone to games all my life, its my first home. All i know is open, temporary seating, bad bacon bagguettes, scaffolding for stands and the wind and the rain.

And in a way, its beautiful. I won't forget the times there.

 

[westy]

The Goldstone, towards the end, was actually utterly shit. I know we're not supposed to say that, but it WAS.

It was falling apart, parts of it were condemned, and had been for YEARS, and there were rarely more than 6000 people rattling around it.

Nostalgia is a fine thing, and by exactly the same token, in a few years time people WILL gloss over all of Withdeans many bad points, and have fond memories of the place.

Yea 1990 onwards the Goldstone was neglected by the farcical board but the atmosphere in there could still be electric. Im thinking Millwall in the play offs, Ipswich last game before that, United in the league cup, Liverpool replay, Pompey in the cup, Donny last game, all electric. That’s not nostalgia thats memory.

For the younger who have only know Withdean think of the best atmosphere / experience (Bristol city last min winner, Swindon play offs?) and double it that’s what the Goldstone could be like and what Falmer will hopefully be like. No one should ever think about missing the Withdean, its a dump and like getting over a woman when you meet a new nicer/better looking one you wonder how you were ever bothered about missing the last one...

The idea of missing ANYTHING about Withdean is simply barmy, forget the place, you will love Falmer!

 

[SUIYHP]

Withdean is cramped, uncomfortable to sit in and wet.

Falmer is BIG and has a life and soul of its own.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Withdean is a crap place whatever the weather. You wedge yourself between the people each side of you, you can't get a beer, the food is awful, ... come to think of it it was bearable when we had BZ and the "rocket" man!

 

[Cullip4]

the only time it scared me was when Withdean was a Fortress (Micky Adams 1st time round) and teams hated coming here, I wondered if we would go the same way as Southampton when they left the more compact Dell. But it is certainly no longer a fortress.

My only other concern was how on earth we were going to afford it and whether we would do a Southampton or a Leicester and go into Admin with the crippling repayments, but along came Sir Tony with his magic chequebook.

Now I drive past it everyday and look on with awe, lets face it its fecking lovely.

 

[westy]

the only time it scared me was when Withdean was a Fortress (Micky Adams 1st time round) and teams hated coming here, I wondered if we would go the same way as Southampton when they left the more compact Dell. But it is certainly no longer a fortress.

My only other concern was how on earth we were going to afford it and whether we would do a Southampton or a Leicester and go into Admin with the crippling repayments, but along came Sir Tony with his magic chequebook.

Now I drive past it everyday and look on with awe, lets face it its fecking lovely.

Good post.

 

[Lurker]

If we were moving from the Goldstone to Falmer, maybe I could understand a few reservations about whether it'll be better or not?
It was far from perfect ... but the Goldstone was home, and was a 'proper' football stadium in the 60's/70's sense of the word.

But the Withdean FFS!
That's not home ... it's a squat.
It's not even a football stadium ... it's a bloody 2nd rate athletics stadium!
They wouldn't even entertain it as a venue in the 3rd Division of the Cyprus Disabled Women's league?

Scared of Falmer?
Not even if they use razor wire as seat cushions ... it'll still be better than the Withdean.

 

[public school boy]

Withdean aint all that bad. There are some nice houses.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Yea 1990 onwards the Goldstone was neglected by the farcical board

When was the Chicken Run condemned?

 

[Martinf]

I have many, many fond memories of the Goldstone but only a few of Withdean. When I think of Withers the first things that spring to mind are graveyard, shithole and soaked. After the last game at Withers I wont give it a second look when I walk away.

 

[Philzo-93]

Am l the only person scared of Falmer?.

l mean, over the years, despite its many failings, l've become sooo attached to Withdean. lts, nice and safe, and l've bonded so well with my seat. Falmer is big and brash and not nearly so friendly. l might get lost wiithin its many corridors and stairwells.

Plus of course its going to be a rush to get back to central Brighton for my last bus home at 6pm ... the real reason! lol

You're having a laugh right