In defence of Withdean

[Ex Shelton Seagull]

Just read an article on the The Big Tissue, an AFC Wimbledon site, that offered a defence of several of the Observers "crap stadiums". Very nice of them I must say.

"No 4 is Brighton and Hove Albion's Withdean stadium. Now it's true that Withdean is an inadequate stadium for all the reason stated - running track round the stadium, temporary stands, no cover - but to be as so crass as to complain about it strikes me as being the equivalent of visiting Christopher Reeves sometime in the last decade and thinking him rude because he didn't get up to greet you.

After being kicked from pillar to post by chairmen, council and government I think there's something rather inspiring about a trip to Withdean and its perennially sold out temporary stands. For a once a season visitor the park and ride scheme and request to keep the noise down when leaving is more lark than pain but imagine having to do that every match. It's a great testament to the loyalty and persistence of the Seagull fans and the fact that even now they have to tread on eggshells even to keep this school playing field of a ground"

 

[Northstander]

 

[Hiney]

 

[Titanic]

An excellent comparison - although I hope our outcome is rather better than the recently departed Christopher Reeves.

 

[b.w.2.]

Great defence... nice...

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

 

[GUNTER]

....and we have our own pub too!

 

[Wardy]

 

[ManOnTheRun]

Exactly.

I thought the Observer article was rather cynical and somewhat spiteful (not just to us ...)

Lazy journalism, from a paper that should know better.

 

[Brighton till i die]

very well put!









still a shit hole though!!

 

[Ex Shelton Seagull]

I'll put the whole article up 'cos it's an interesting rebuttal of the Observers cynical attitude.

Crap seems to be the word of the moment: Crap Towns, Crap Jobs, Crap Towns II and, coming soon, Crap Football Stadiums. In a pre-emptive strike the Observer did their own little survey, placing the Franchise's NHS at no 9, but for the most part got it all wrong.

If you ever wanted proof that the middle classes are taking over football than this is it - stadiums that have character but happened to be in slightly poor area dominate the list while all those new post Taylor report stadium are nowhere to be seen. Better some Drabness on the edge of town than something with heart in the middle.

Never been to the Parks Ninian and Blundell or Kenilworth Road or Milmoor (or indeed the Hokey Cokey) so can't comment on their crapness but judging by the other choices I wouldn't let their inclusion on this list put me off.

No 1 is Gillingham's Priestfield stadium. Now I've only been there twice and both were fairly grim occasions: 0-0's with a vengeance and on the first occasion we got lost and spent the whole of the first half driving around Gillingham and trying to park.

So it's not as if the place holds fond memories for me, but I'd be more than happy to go there again. There's nothing wrong with the stadium itself. Now of course we're all a bit blasé to the thrill of standing at a football ground but just a few years back a terraced away end was a very big deal. And just a short segregation away are the banks of home fans, which makes singing about the wheels on their house going round and round all the more exciting.

True, a roof on top wouldn't go a miss but the atmosphere is good and you feel right in the heart of it: it's much better than being stuck away in some far corner of the ground and the other three seated sides of the ground seemed fine. Gillingham may indeed be a chavtasticly grim place but it does at least have a football club and a stadium that situated in the heart of its community, so it's not that deprived.

No 4 is Brighton and Hove Albion's Withdean stadium. Now it's true that Withdean is an inadequate stadium for all the reason stated - running track round the stadium, temporary stands, no cover - but to be as so crass as to complain about it strikes me as being the equivalent of visiting Christopher Reeves sometime in the last decade and thinking him rude because he didn't get up to greet you.

After being kicked from pillar to post by chairmen, council and government I think there's something rather inspiring about a trip to Withdean and its perennially sold out temporary stands. For a once a season visitor the park and ride scheme and request to keep the noise down when leaving is more lark than pain but imagine having to do that every match. It's a great testament to the loyalty and persistence of the Seagull fans and the fact that even now they have to tread on eggshells even to keep this school playing field of a ground.

No 5 is Fratton Park, which is surely ridiculous. True the facilities for away fans are poor but what an occasion. There's nothing quite so humiliating as when you try to get your little chant going and this great wave of noise rises up from three sides of the ground and just flattens you. Sit down; shut up just doesn't come into it.

Try telling tell a Pompey fans that they'd be happier at the mumble-along-a-St Mary's stadium. Or indeed try telling them that Fratton Park is marginally more crap than…

Selhurst Park, which is No 6. I'm half inclined to attempt a defence of South London's Abattoir of Dreams, but have thought better. I hate the way this survey castigates a football ground because they don't like the area its situated but have to concede that there is a real air of despair in the streets of Thornton Heath. It's quiet enough on match days; if you ever go there on non-match days the streets are Neutron bomb quiet.

That said, the moan about no decent pubs is instantly squashed by a trip to the Thomas Farley and if the whole survey is fueled by the irks of away fans than they should be aware that the dark recesses of Arthur Wait stand is easily the most atmospheric part of Selhurst to watch a game from.

Only in its final choice does the survey redeem itself. After castigating grounds that seemed to me represent something of the games grass roots appeal they finally get round to attacking a ground which is "a cesspit of everything that is crass about twenty-first century football." Yes, step forward Stamford Bridge.

 

[Faldo]

I took a Sunderland supporting mate to Withdean - he thought it was quite cool, and called it "quaint". We were sat next to the (doomed) Notts County fans, and they were a good laugh...

 

[Brighton Jock]

Good article.......

 

[maffew]

Selhurst Park, which is No 6. I'm half inclined to attempt a defence of South London's Abattoir of Dreams, but have thought better. I hate the way this survey castigates a football ground because they don't like the area its situated but have to concede that there is a real air of despair in the streets of Thornton Heath. It's quiet enough on match days; if you ever go there on non-match days the streets are Neutron bomb quiet.