[Albion] Least away attendance that you’ve been part of

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Arrived in the car park at Ewood for a Championship game at Blackburn to discover the game had just been called off, a very local cloudburst had flooded the pitch. Rather than turn around and head straight home we popped up the road to Accrington Stanley for their game against Plymouth. A few groups of BHA stood in the away end, with the Green Army, much to the bemusement of the locals. Don't think BHA have ever played a competitive game against AS, so was a bit of a novelty.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Preston away mid 70's - think I was the only Brighton fan there although like me they all could have been quiet .

 

[AnotherArch]

Can’t be sure, but probably 1972 away to Rochdale at Spotland. Sat on wooden benches, I think.

Quite a few of us there that day, as we were chasing promotion. Another late goal, of which there were many in that run-in.
We could change ends at halftime. Don 't know about the benches but the terraces for the second half were made from wooden railway sleepers holding black gravel.

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

I was at Blackpool midweek during the fuel crisis in 2000. I was a student in Preston and got there by train. There were not many of us there, and we won 2-0 and sang “Up with the petrol, we’re going up with the petrol”

 

[Comrade Sam]

I was at Blackpool midweek during the fuel crisis in 2000. I was a student in Preston and got there by train. There were not many of us there, and we won 2-0 and sang “Up with the petrol, we’re going up with the petrol”

I was there, bloody awesome. I stayed in a B&B with Bob Ellams and his son from Glossop. I had met the wonderful old Communist and retired engineer shortly before at an Open University summer school in Manchester. We had to introduce the person sitting next to us to everyone in the room. When I heard he was a Commie I rushed to meet him. The first thing he said in a thick Lancastrian accent was 'Did thee say thee where from Brighton? Ee I'm a massive fan of Brighton and Hove Albion!' Turned out he too had grown up in Shoreham and when he left the navy in 1960, he moved to Glossop with his wife to find work. His sons, grandkids, brother in law and mate where all Albion fans and attended all the northern games. The last time I saw him I went to stay with him and watched us away to Macclesfield with his family posse.
It seemed like away crowds slumped as we slid down the leagues in the '90s and this changed when we fought back against Archer and then away gates seemed to be healthier than home gates when we were at Gillingham.
There wasn't many at Hereford away in the Simod Cup in a blizzard. Then most missed Gerry Armstrongs winner as they left to catch the train before extra time.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

I think we were 2 of about 3 at Steyning Town away at Crawley Down Gatwick a few weeks ago.

In the words of UB40 I was a one in ten when Peacehaven played away at Guernsey. I’m also counting Doc Talbot (see Goldstone thread) as one of ours as he was on one of his ground hopping jollies.

I think I was the only Peacehaven fan at Broadbridge Heath last season.

 

[Berty23]

I have been one of about 15 away at Hereford following national league north side my mates play for.

For Brighton I think there were hardly any of us at Plymouth in c93/94 when codner scored from half way in a 3-0 win.

 

[Statto]

I remember going to Swansea on a midweek night for a Johnsons paint trophy Game (or whatever it was called then) in early January ish 2008 (i think). 5 of us packed into my mates car. The official away attendance figure was 106 i think. We lost 1-0. I remember getting back to Brighton about 2.30/3am and seeing the milkman starting his round. Interesting times!

 

[Seagull on the Hill]

During the late 60's and early 70's Albion's away following was often less than 100, especially for matches in the North.
I can remember plenty of games where there was only those that travelled on the Supporters Club coach, and a handful of others .
Even during the promotion season 1971-72, the numbers travelling away were low until the final few games.

 

[Man of Harveys]

Norwich away, Simod or Zenith Data cup, 1989. Lost 5-0 in front of between 40 - 60 of us. They still split us between the seats and terrace! Once the fourth went in we did the conga round the terrace, led by a bloke with Norwich City knickers on his head.

I was at that game - an easier trip for me to and from my fresher hall of residence in the Fine City.

My mate had assured me that morning that sure, he’d accompany me to this game, could be a bit of a laugh etc. Then he promptly forgot that he’d said that and took a vast amount of acid (I did not partake). He still came with me though, then spent most of the game crouched down on the Barclays End with his back to the pitch, laughing and crying at the same time.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

We went to Roker Park a couple of times late 80s both times, only about 100 -150 in that corner.
We didn’t anticipate any bother as we thought we’d be seen as a novelty, so as we walked past the pub with loads of them outside, my mate put his Albion ski hat on. The abuse was incredible and the police were around us in a shot and grabbed the four of us and marched us to the ground while exclaiming
[in a Sunderland accent] “Ger the fook in th’ groond yer stoopid suvven bastards!”

 

[heathgate]

Newcastle FA Cup R3 replay, (83)..... 40 ish... one supporter coach, not full, plus some extras... grim cold evening KO, no expectations after draw at home, ... surprising win.... I got a free coach trip somehow, via my neighbour who was a senior steward at the club..... he runs Seagull Travel now, or at least his son does now I believe.

 

[ozzygull]

It is probably either the u21's away game at Wycombe last month in the Bristol Street Motors cup or away to Bristol City in the same competition but it was named Johnstones Paint Trophy Semi-final - Southern Section in 2007

 

[PFW]

Bradford City away in the Simod Cup in 1988, there must have been under 50 of us, At least i didn't have to pay, got complimentary tickets off the club - lost 3-1. Train broke down on the way home and got stranded in Rochdale.

 

[kojak]

We went to Roker Park a couple of times late 80s both times, only about 100 -150 in that corner.
We didn’t anticipate any bother as we thought we’d be seen as a novelty, so as we walked past the pub with loads of them outside, my mate put his Albion ski hat on. The abuse was incredible and the police were around us in a shot and grabbed the four of us and marched us to the ground while exclaiming
[in a Sunderland accent] “Ger the fook in th’ groond yer stoopid suvven bastards!”

The game in 78 when we went top of the league
A couple of stops before Seaburn is it?
It came over the tannoy to pull the blinds down
On arrival Sunderland were everywhere, literally, even on the train tracks
What followed was the best police escort I've ever experienced walking to a stadium
Once inside Roker all the Brighton fans ,about 250-300 ended up in different parts,no segregation whatsoever
Can't remember the walk back to the station,but to my knowledge there were no problems
Arriving back very late into Brighton ,all the singing echoing around the station
One of my favourite away days that one

 

[PeterT]

Bradford City away in the Simod Cup in 1988, there must have been under 50 of us, At least i didn't have to pay, got complimentary tickets off the club - lost 3-1. Train broke down on the way home and got stranded in Rochdale.

Living the dream!

 

[dwayne]

11 February 1995 away at Bournemouth. We were owned by asset stripping crooks and our squad was weak, it was cold and an all day monsoon turned the Dean Court pitch into a lake. The ball would stop dead shortly after each pass. We played the conditions expertly, McDugald and Minto starred.

Possibly 200?

I went to that one. Great fun.

 

[Guinness Boy]

We went to Roker Park a couple of times late 80s both times, only about 100 -150 in that corner.
We didn’t anticipate any bother as we thought we’d be seen as a novelty, so as we walked past the pub with loads of them outside, my mate put his Albion ski hat on. The abuse was incredible and the police were around us in a shot and grabbed the four of us and marched us to the ground while exclaiming
[in a Sunderland accent] “Ger the fook in th’ groond yer stoopid suvven bastards!”

Were you at the one where it absolutely pissed down? We were in a corner of an open terrace and the rain came in straight off the North Sea. IIRC we lost to an obviously offside goal too. I bought twelve cans of lager for the train ride home after that. 12. TWELVE.

(edit, quick google would suggest it was end of April 1989 as I think we lost 1-0 but I just think of it as 'that game where it didn't stop raining and I can't remember getting home').

 

[Seagull on the Hill]

The game in 78 when we went top of the league
A couple of stops before Seaburn is it?
It came over the tannoy to pull the blinds down
On arrival Sunderland were everywhere, literally, even on the train tracks
What followed was the best police escort I've ever experienced walking to a stadium
Once inside Roker all the Brighton fans ,about 250-300 ended up in different parts,no segregation whatsoever
Can't remember the walk back to the station,but to my knowledge there were no problems
Arriving back very late into Brighton ,all the singing echoing around the station
One of my favourite away days that one

There were a few problems on the walk back to the station.
Sunderland fans waiting at various points along the way, and I remember some of them were spitting at the Brighton supporters , and making threats of violence, although I don't know if anyone going hurt.

 

[Cesar Chavez]

I was at that Barnsley game, Mick McCarthy was a mountain at the back for them. Previous round was at Huddersfield, I don't recall seeing many away fans there. Mind, I opted for safety and went in with the home fans.