[Albion] Is Palace the least attractive game of the season?

[Eeyore]

This is exactly why the atmosphere at the Amex is average at best. Too many wet blanket fans who may offer a polite hand clap every now and then. For those of us who appreciate where we’ve come from it’s so disappointing that the fervent fans have been overshadowed by apathetic liberal types. I bet you get a half and half scarf tomorrow. Pond life!

You'll take pleasure in knowing that I won't be there tomorrow. So it's fine.

But calling supporters who have traveled far and wide supporting the club, in good times and bad, 'pond life' may need some reflection.

 

[Justice]

Does anyone else find they hate Chelsea almost as much possibly more than Palace? The entitlement and arrogance of their fans

Not sure we need to be that unkind to send anyone to watch Lewes women. I suspect the biggest turn off is train travel and families not wanting to bump into the Palace Nigels

Some Brighton wanting a fake rivalry with Chelsea is embarrassing.

 

[herecomesaregular]

This will be the first home game vs Palace I've missed since my first season watching the Albion ('87). Just can't afford it , this close to Christmas (and several December birthdays). Annoying, mildly embarrassed even, but such is life.

 

[Ike and Tina Burner]

All I can say after reading through this thread is that a lot of the questions I have about why our atmosphere is generally so poor have been answered.

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

This is the thing, I fuckin hate their shitty club and hope they go down, but I know a few individually and drank with a few at Sussex v Surrey and generally know their stuff and accept, let’s face it, we have more in common than most would admit.
However as a collective i think they’re wankers

Spot on.

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

I don't agree with that. The Palace and Brighton rivalry, like most rivalry really, is nonsensical. The only reason folk have it in many cases is because they inherited it. 20 odd thousand Albion fans have not come to an independent conclusion that Palace are an enemy. Especially given that this is not a life threatening dispute but twenty two, mostly mercenaries, kicking a bag of air around a patch of grass. And an apparent dispute between two ex-pros is no ground to start a 50 year campaign of hatred.

But it's fun, it's theatre, and in that sense I buy into it. But nothing more than that. I don't like losing to Palace and I don't like seeing them above us. But in the end it really doesn't matter. The need for a rival is more based in personal validation rather than genuine a genuine gripe. In real terms it's insecurity and need. But, as I said, in footballing terms and given a benign context it's fun. I shall enjoy the pantomime tomorrow and may be a bit disappointed more than usual if we lose. But not much.

As for not getting the club by virtue of not subscribing to the Platinum Rivalry Membership, I should imagine that having first watched us at a friendly in May 1977 and traveled to see us at most league teams in the country should suggest I at least have a passing understanding.

Oooo I am a better more experienced fan than you

 

[sydney]

would love to play them off the park and send them home with their tails between their legs but ......you all know the rest.

 

[London Irish]

Apart from that weird cup game it’s all been pretty tame with them at the Amex?

 

[Eeyore]

Some Brighton wanting a fake rivalry with Chelsea is embarrassing.

I don't think his dislike for Chelsea is comparable to a rivalry. It is very different. I personally don't dislike Crystal Palace at all. I have no reason, other than being told I should. Which is no reason. I enjoy the rivalry, but it is a pantomime creation. A bit of fun. Only made real and threatening by those who need some sort of purpose.

I do dislike Chelsea though. I think most do. And their antics of recent years have fueled that. I don't see them as a rival and would only do so if we were locked in a battle for a similar position. Which I suspect we won't be this season. I see quite a few clubs as our rivals this season, such is the league.

 

[Chicken Run]

All I can say after reading through this thread is that a lot of the questions I have about why our atmosphere is generally so poor have been answered.

I’m surprised it’s taken you so long to work out

 

[Justice]

As a kid in the 80’s it was drummed into you by the older Albion Palace was the big one. Tickets should be like gold dust for this fixture regardless of the hassle the game brings.

My mates dad was a local Vicar he used to take us to football as nippers. Away at Palace we watched him happily lay out a Palace fan he brushed himself down and muttered I f***ing hate Palace.
We got in the car and he goes son best not tell your mother about that

 

[HeaviestTed]

1504 as I’ve been puking up all night

 

[Dougie]

So who would your rivals be then ?

 

[loz]

So who would your rivals be then ?

For Palace defiantly Charlton, but that seems to be just a section of us palace fans, for older ( most not here now) it was Millwall, when I started work in 1980 the older men who were about 40 then absolutely hated Millwall, Brighton they didn’t think it mattered too much.

For Brighton ? Crawley too new, Southampton have Portsmouth so I suppose a 55 year argument between two managers will have to do.

 

[El Presidente]

For 90 minutes it’s pantomime/WWE hate.

Far more time for Palace fans than the glory seeking Ruperts who refer to Manchester United/Liverpool/Chelsea as ‘we’ and whine like six year olds because ‘their’ team has only won five trophies in the last ten years.

Always made welcome in the pub at Selhurst pre our match there and I’ve found Palace fans to be fair, knowledgeable and able to take the piss out of both themselves and us. We have far more in common with them than we do with the SuperLeague, matches overseas, pitch ready shirt for £125 brigade .

 

[Commander]

I expect this has been said already. But the proportion of our fans that see this as the absolute must not miss biggest game of the season, that will create an intimidating atmosphere in the ground and in the town before the game is a lot smaller than it is at most comparable clubs. It’s exactly the same reason why there are so many threads about our home atmosphere. Palace fans will claim it is because so many Brighton fans are people who are second-teamers, which is partly true, but mainly it’s just the demographic of the area, I think.

If the vast majority of our fans came from Brighton it might be different, but they don’t. A large proportion of them come from sleepy Sussex towns and villages. That’s why our fan base is a bit flakey.

That’s not meant to be a dig or a criticism, it’s just the way it is. It’s actually the same for Palace as well, as much as they would argue it. Their home atmosphere is basically 200 teenagers in black hoodies and the rest of the ground is a load of accountants from Reigate.

 

[barbus_max bhafc]

Hate the scum, always will do

 

[tedebear]

Not my favourite fixture, but will be there...I know and understand the history and won't dismiss it like some seem keen to do. Is it relevant now - maybe not, but does it make us part of the club we are and our history - certainly.

Whilst the rivalry probably isn't front of my mind as to why I am not keen on Palace, its how dirty they sometimes are for me that forms my opinion...Hopeing for a clean well played game today, but highly sceptical.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I expect this has been said already. But the proportion of our fans that see this as the absolute must not miss biggest game of the season, that will create an intimidating atmosphere in the ground and in the town before the game is a lot smaller than it is at most comparable clubs. It’s exactly the same reason why there are so many threads about our home atmosphere. Palace fans will claim it is because so many Brighton fans are people who are second-teamers, which is partly true, but mainly it’s just the demographic of the area, I think.

If the vast majority of our fans came from Brighton it might be different, but they don’t. A large proportion of them come from sleepy Sussex towns and villages. That’s why our fan base is a bit flakey.

That’s not meant to be a dig or a criticism, it’s just the way it is. It’s actually the same for Palace as well, as much as they would argue it. Their home atmosphere is basically 200 teenagers in black hoodies and the rest of the ground is a load of accountants from Reigate.

While I agree with a lot of that, and it’s certainly no Burnley v Blackburn, this is the case at a lot of clubs now.

I was stunned at how placid Stamford Bridge was this season. A place where you feared being cut by a C18er back in the day is now literally full of day trippers. Brentford are almost as middle class as Fulham. Affluent areas plus recent success = seriously reduced atmosphere.

 

[Simster]

Some Brighton wanting a fake rivalry with Chelsea is embarrassing.

If you say you hate a club more than Palace,, it doesn't mean you're wanting a fake rivalry with them. It's just that you hate them.

I don't particularly like several clubs and most of them we have zero rivalry with. I really dislike Portsmouth but 80% of their fans barely view us a rival any more than they do Plymouth or Millwall.