[Brighton] New Fan: Where to Start?

[thatjustinclark]

Background: I am an american living in Florida my boss lives in the UK and is a lifelong Wolves fan and my buddy/coworker who also lives across the pond is a lifelong Liverpool fan. So I decided to take the first bit of this season to decide on which team to adopt and after some research into ownership, respect around the league, organizational stability etc. things that I admire in my american football team the steelers I decided that Brighton was the team for me. I am not thrilled that the team is three words long, but I am now here to learn so lets start there. My jersey is ordered and on the way, I should have it before the Ashton Villa game. So, do we use all three names in casual conversation? Do we just use Brighton? Why is it three words long in the first place? What is a good book to read to learn more of the team history? Who is our best player in team history? Who is our best current player? Do have any in game traditions like songs or chants? I am ready to dive in and come over and see my first in person have this spring so thanks for having me and being my Sherpa in this journey.

-Justin

 

[Anger]

Welcome! You have made a wise choice.

I will let others provide answers to your other questions, but I will address (in part and probably unsatisfyingly) your question about our multi word name.

The good news is that most fans are capable of turning our name into just one word, this being Brightnovalbion. Practice it a few times and you will find that it rolls off the tongue very easily.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Do they sell popcorn at the Amex? If so, I'm stocking up for this one...

 

[Mustafa II]

Do we just use Brighton?

Brighton, The Albion, The Seagulls, BHA - probably in that order.

Why is it three words long in the first place?

Brighton and Hove is the city, previously two towns that were merged in 1997. Albion is an ancient name for Great Britain chosen by a few football clubs for patriotic reasons.

Who is our best player in team history?

Peter Ward and Bobby Zamora are the two main club icon strikers from different successful eras of the club. However they are probably not the best. Alexis Mac Allister won a World Cup while he was here and now plays for Liverpool. Moises Caicedo sold for £115m ($145m) and could one day be the best. But in regards to who is the best player playing for the Albion - I would say Lewis Dunk for his longevity and consistency over the years in the Premier League.

Who is our best current player?

Kaoru Mitoma has been regarded our best player, but his form has dropped off recently. Carlos Baleba has been our strongest player this season, and is young and improving all of the time.

Do have any in game traditions like songs or chants?

The most traditional song is "Sussex by the Sea", but aside from that, we furiously squawk and flap our arms as if we are seagulls to intimidate the opposing fans. If you ever attend a game, try doing that and you'll find that everyone around you will start flapping their arms and squawking with you.

 

[Cotton Socks]

NSC is not the best place to start!!
Some of us are finding it very weird that we're getting international support & can I be the first to accuse you of being a Palace fan. We have a bit of a rivalry with them.
We don't call them jerseys we call them shirts. Most of us just forget about 'Hove' & say 'Brighton' or 'The Albion'. Solly March is the bestest player & don't listen to what anyone else says unless they agree with me.
For matches we 'should' win, we lose. For matches that we are not expected to win, we win.
Enjoy the ride, it's not easy being a Brighton supporter and is very frustrating a lot of the time. It's fun though.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

30 years ago, it was more likely your jersey would arrive before the Curzon Ashton game rather than Ashton Vanilla.

 

[The Optimist]

we furiously squawk and flap our arms as if we are seagulls to intimidate the opposing fans.

Works a treat against that Millwall roar thing they do!

 

[Eeyore]

Well, I'm waiting for the email that was sent to the club on the naming issue. I know there were at least 54 people who signed a petition for the name change to Brighton City.... Once PBOBE gives the go-ahead I believe we can then ask the government.

The confusion for American friends can be listed in the evidence for change.

 

[Slum_Wolf]

Background: I am an american living in Florida my boss lives in the UK and is a lifelong Wolves fan and my buddy/coworker who also lives across the pond is a lifelong Liverpool fan. So I decided to take the first bit of this season to decide on which team to adopt and after some research into ownership, respect around the league, organizational stability etc. things that I admire in my american football team the steelers I decided that Brighton was the team for me. I am not thrilled that the team is three words long, but I am now here to learn so lets start there. My jersey is ordered and on the way, I should have it before the Ashton Villa game. So, do we use all three names in casual conversation? Do we just use Brighton? Why is it three words long in the first place? What is a good book to read to learn more of the team history? Who is our best player in team history? Who is our best current player? Do have any in game traditions like songs or chants? I am ready to dive in and come over and see my first in person have this spring so thanks for having me and being my Sherpa in this journey.

-Justin

 

[Papak]

Where were you when we were shit?

 

[thatjustinclark]

What a video, that hit me in the feels

 

[thatjustinclark]

Where were you when we were shit?

by the timeline of that posted video I was in high school here in the states and we had zero access to football over there at the time, we just had aol chat rooms pirated music and porn that took up all of our bandwidth..... but better late than never right

 

[thatjustinclark]

Works a treat against that Millwall roar thing they do!

I'm going to make a reveal video for my boss and coworker so I hope this squawking and flapping is a thing otherwise I may never live this down lol

 

[A1X]

Where were you when we were shit?

Christmas shopping

 

[Bodian]

I am not thrilled that the team is three words long

First thing to learn is that we're excellent on pedantry on NSC!

1 - Brighton
2 - and
3 - Hove
4 - Albion

 

[5Ways Gull]

It was passed into law in the 16th century that professional football teams called Albion have to have 3 word names, e.g. us and West Bromwich Albion.

And then Burton were given special dispensation because....um..they brew lots of beer there.

I'm sure that's what I read.

 

[Braggfan]

Background: I am an american living in Florida my boss lives in the UK and is a lifelong Wolves fan and my buddy/coworker who also lives across the pond is a lifelong Liverpool fan. So I decided to take the first bit of this season to decide on which team to adopt and after some research into ownership, respect around the league, organizational stability etc. things that I admire in my american football team the steelers I decided that Brighton was the team for me. I am not thrilled that the team is three words long, but I am now here to learn so lets start there. My jersey is ordered and on the way, I should have it before the Ashton Villa game. So, do we use all three names in casual conversation? Do we just use Brighton? Why is it three words long in the first place? What is a good book to read to learn more of the team history? Who is our best player in team history? Who is our best current player? Do have any in game traditions like songs or chants? I am ready to dive in and come over and see my first in person have this spring so thanks for having me and being my Sherpa in this journey.

-Justin

There's lots of history, highlights and lowlights to cover, too many for one post. So I'll just mention probably the most basic point, that the name North Stand Chat comes from the old ground, the Goldstone Ground. The North stand was a terrace behind the goal. It had the reputation for being the more boisterous stand, where most of the chanting started.

 

[Sirnormangall]

Good choice. To make you feel at home we’ve just signed a player from Inter Miami and two of our greatest players (Peter Ward and Mark Lawrenson) played for Tampa Bay Rowdies

 

[A1X]

*Puffs out cheeks*

Well, I wouldn’t start from here if I were you…

 

[birthofanorange]

Ignore @Ethelwulf would give you a decent start.