Sad good bye to The Withdean.

[public school boy]

Home to a 9000 seat fully monetisable facility that has served the Albion brilliantly and will hopefully go on serving our great city (if the politicians and Nimbys don't f*** it up).

Could be included in The FA's next bid to host The World cup.

 

[16bha]

View attachment 23695

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

Blimey, away fans would have been nearer the pitch if they'd stayed at home. I'll definitely miss it's rustic charms. Farewell Withers!

 

[Titus]

It wasn't, isn't and never will be THE Withdean.

 

[Caveman]

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

Nicely put and sums it up perfectly for me too.

Had some good seasons there, but the atmosphere has always been shocking.

Time to move on to our new home.

My eyes have seen the coming of the lord...

 

[BUTTERBALL]

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.

Magnificent evocative post. Sums it up perfectly.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

My very last blog. Thank gawd eh.
Brighton From The Argus)

Great work Sir.

 

[bhaexpress]

It wasn't, isn't and never will be THE Withdean.

Maybe it's just me but 'THE' Withdean always irritates me, I have no idea where that came from but it has always been 'Withdean', no 'The'. Frankly whilst I have happy memories of Withdean and 'The' Goldstone I cannot say that I will miss either of them. The Amex is just a totally new world. Go to be one of the best grounds in the country.

 

[Hercules Rockerfeller]

Withdean has been like an old dog we got from the RSPCA. yeah, she pissed up out legs a few times and shat on the rug, but she was our old dog and we grew to love her and we'll never forget her.