Sad good bye to The Withdean.

[public school boy]

It may not have been the ideal stadium but there is no hiding the fact that it was a successful one. It was unique. Another chapter in the History of our Great Football club. God bless The Withdean.

 

[tezz79]

Yeah as much as I'm looking forward to the Amex it still feels strange knowing we won't be watching it there anymore.... The end of an era but onwards and upwards now

 

[Easy 10]

4 times out of 12 we were promoted there, 3 times as Champions. So every 3rd season at that place was cuffing BRILLO.

I'll miss it a little bit. Never again will I watch the Albion at home with the sun on my face.

 

['sladegull]

I have a great view at Withdean and apart from a couple of tools am surrounded by decent fans . Weather has never bothered me and only really got soaked a couple of times...

I will only miss Withdean if this is no longer the case so I am looking forward to Falmer with nervous anticipation....

 

[NMH]

The lack of 'top quality' facilities has been endured well enough - the players we've had must take a lot of credit for going away and seeing proper stadiums, but then playing Withdean with a fairly consistent interest in the game at hand. Loads of teams probably came down and thought "we'll teach this tinpot outfit a lesson" only to get their arses kicked.

At times it's been called a fortress, it's been cursed and praised in equal amounts and at various times. Great games is shit weather, shit games in great weather. All in all, we have done way better than survive as a club - we have even managed to thrive compared to many out there.

Withdean could be called Dick Knight's era, and we should all keep respect for the man who kept us in business only to have to hand over the coveted prize to keep us in the races. And how! I would LOVE to see a tribute to DK on the opening league match fixture at The Amex.

What has mattered most was to have us stay in the leagues as a competitive concern, and that's been achieved. Whatever we say in praises for TB and Gus - Withdean has been the path laid down before them to get the club to the future rich seam.

Personally, I'll remember it with a picture from the many sunny days first in my mind, but then also maintaining an appreciation for the dark wet afternoons with dark clouds blowing in, even when it was bombing down in bucketloads and the rain dripped from my nose. It's about the football after all, and there were never any guarantees that we'd do well or even survive the years there.
In the face of adversity, we now finally know where we are going at last, and it's probably even better than many of us dreamed.
That was forged at Withdean. Respect.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Withdean

But we're a more professional club now.

I'll be missing Withdean though, it's been 12 years of regularly heading over that way.

 

[severnside gull]

Anyone missing it too much, you can always go back on Monday to watch the youth team and next season to watch the reserves

 

[gripper stebson]

I'll remember sitting in the SS and seeing bright sunshine on one half of the pitch while it was pissing down on the other!

 

[desprateseagull]

cold, wet, expensive. roll on falmer!

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Never again will I watch the Albion at home with the sun on my face.

When you can't manage the stairs to WSU you can come and join us in the East.

 

[peterward]

After the destruction of Archer, Stanley and mouthpiece Bellotti.....

Priestfield was the Emergency to keep us going.

Withdean has always been the transition

The Amex is the future that will see our beloved club back at the level it always belonged

I will not miss it, it was a stop gap. This football club is much bigger and better than Withdean

 

[Easy 10]

When you can't manage the stairs to WSU you can come and join us in the East.

I'd love to watch a game in the East at some point, just to have the spectacular backdrop of the West stand and to try out a different viewpoint.

Maybe we should arrange some kind of "foreign exchange student" type thing for a match

 

[The Large One]

When you can't manage the stairs to WSU you can come and join us in the East.

I'll wait for the top shelf to be built over there.

 

[Old Greg]

A thing of beauty. I for one though, will miss it.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

Many many happy memories of Withdean and sadly, I can't be there tomorrow.

Apart from the obvious lack of facilities etc, it has a certain charm and you always feel part of the family there. You can get close to the players and management too which is something top teams don't have the benefit of.

Whether bathed in sunshine or drowned in rain, there are plenty of great memories for what has been a very successful home and as much as I am looking forward to Falmer, I shall miss it.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Many many happy memories of Withdean and sadly, I can't be there tomorrow.

I can't be there tomorrow either. But fortunately I'm free for the game on Saturday

 

[BUTTERBALL]

I can't be there tomorrow either. But fortunately I'm free for the game on Saturday

Blast! Bloomin bank holidays......

 

[Commander]

The lack of 'top quality' facilities has been endured well enough - the players we've had must take a lot of credit for going away and seeing proper stadiums, but then playing Withdean with a fairly consistent interest in the game at hand. Loads of teams probably came down and thought "we'll teach this tinpot outfit a lesson" only to get their arses kicked.

At times it's been called a fortress, it's been cursed and praised in equal amounts and at various times. Great games is shit weather, shit games in great weather. All in all, we have done way better than survive as a club - we have even managed to thrive compared to many out there.

Withdean could be called Dick Knight's era, and we should all keep respect for the man who kept us in business only to have to hand over the coveted prize to keep us in the races. And how! I would LOVE to see a tribute to DK on the opening league match fixture at The Amex.

What has mattered most was to have us stay in the leagues as a competitive concern, and that's been achieved. Whatever we say in praises for TB and Gus - Withdean has been the path laid down before them to get the club to the future rich seam.

Personally, I'll remember it with a picture from the many sunny days first in my mind, but then also maintaining an appreciation for the dark wet afternoons with dark clouds blowing in, even when it was bombing down in bucketloads and the rain dripped from my nose. It's about the football after all, and there were never any guarantees that we'd do well or even survive the years there.
In the face of adversity, we now finally know where we are going at last, and it's probably even better than many of us dreamed.
That was forged at Withdean. Respect.

Excellent post NMH.

 

[Return of the Rev]

i recall a sports day there in the seventies and looking round at this natural bowl and thinking develop this and we could get 40,000 in here!

 

[227 BHA]

Has served us well really.

We arrived here in 1999 having finished near the bottom of the 4th tier (17th/18th spot if I remember correctly?) and we leave as a Championship side!

Like I said, done a good job really - good old Withdean!! But onwards and upwards!