Taking the criteria of fanbase, stadium, potential and club history into consideration....

[Goldstone Rapper]

And these match ups:
Fulham or BHA? Burnley or BHA?

Would have to run it through the points system in Taking the criteria of fanbase, stadium, potential and club history into consideration.... - Page 3 to find out.

 

[golddene]

comfy seats its definitely comfy seats!!!!!!

 

[Buckley's Mad Eye]

Historically, half way down the third division.......but we are rising. Very difficult to be precise with this sort of thing, but I'd say we've reached division 2 standard now.

 

[KZNSeagull]

What this thread shows is that Brighton have been perennial underachievers. All that will change though...maybe.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

What this thread shows is that Brighton have been perennial underachievers. All that will change though...maybe.

People say we have a large catchment area but that's probably because Sussex is not a football hotbed.

Considering that, we haven't underachieved at all. With the infrastructure of before, we were a third division club at best. The period of the late 1970s and 1980s was a period of overachievement considering what the club had available in resources (and it's highly likely we spent beyond our means).

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

What this thread shows is that Brighton have been perennial underachievers. All that will change though...maybe.

Agreed. Massive underacheivers. Hopefully the future will be different.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

We haven't underachieved at all. We may have a large catchment area but that's probably because Sussex is not a football hotbed.

What is a 'football hotbed'? Norfolk? Suffolk? South Wales? All areas breeding historically successful teams at one time or another.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

What is a 'football hotbed'? Norfolk? Suffolk? South Wales? All areas breeding historically successful teams at one time or another.

Lancashire. Now that's a football hotbed.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Lancashire. Now that's a football hotbed.

Was waiting for that one. Are you sure you're not a reincarnated Brian Clough with your rigid regional opinions on football GR?

 

[KZNSeagull]

People say we have a large catchment area but that's probably because Sussex is not a football hotbed.

Considering that, we haven't underachieved at all. With the infrastructure of before, we were a third division club at best. The period of the late 1970s and 1980s was a period of overachievement considering what the club had available in resources (and it's highly likely we spent beyond our means).

There is some truth in that - Sussex has never been a sporting hotbed at all really. SCC, until recently, had won bugger all and there are no major Rugby clubs. You could actually say that about most southern counties. Southern softies have better things to do I guess!

 

[withdeanwombat]

Lancashire. Now that's a football hotbed.

I think you mean a football hotpot.

 

[Bruntburger]

As a very general loose rule I think there are two types of 'big' club

1. Those clubs that have been successful and who have a fan base from all over the nation/world based on that success and the exposure from it.

2. Those clubs that have a large local support and and in their fans eyes represent them in a personal and tribal way.

Eg. Point 1
Manchester Utd
Arsenal
Liverpool

Point 2.
Newcastle
Manchester City
Sheffield Wednesday

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

trophies doesn't automatically turn you into a big club

Bury won the FA Cup twice in the early 1900's

Swindon & Oxford have both won the League Cup

I would consider Brighton to be a bigger football club than them now

look at Huddersfield won the Football League 3 seasons in a row back in the 20's

but when Huddersfield got their new stadium,they didn't suddenly become a big club,just some stability for the next couple of decades

and that's all what we have,as it stands

even if we won the FA Cup of League Cup,it wouldn't elevate us into "big club" status

that takes decades and with only just begun

 

[5mins-from-amex]

Norwich played in Europe, they were not banned. They caused a huge upset beating Bayern Munich in the Olympic stadium

I remember that cracking goal by jeremy goss!

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Was waiting for that one. Are you sure you're not a reincarnated Brian Clough with your rigid regional opinions on football GR?

What did Clough say?

As for me, my perspective is backed up by the number of professional sides Lancashire has sustained down the years and the number of trophies they have won (and would be even greater if Manchester and Liverpool still counted as part of it).

I wish things were different, that Sussex has had a strong footballing status but it does not in the general scheme of things.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

What did Clough say?

(and would be even greater if Manchester and Liverpool still counted as part of it).

Liverpool and Manchester are still part of the historic county of Lancashire. Ask anyone in those areas (not so much Liverpool due to it's unique demographic) if they are Lancastrian and they will without doubt reply 'yes'. After all just because Brighton and Hove became a unitary authority, it does not mean they are no longer a part of Sussex!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

It's true, Old Estonians are the only Eastern European team to have played in the FA Cup.

Blasted predictive text!

 

[Northstandite]

Swansea and Cardiff fight with rugby union for crowds and comm income, and are in far lower population catchments than the Albion, but look at their recent ascents with stadia and squad investments.

The Albion 1983 to 1997 were the victims of 2 awful boards and nothing spent on the ground, as well the restrict covenant on the old east terrace. The moment to grow the club from the Bamber-Taylor-Mullery era was missed.

But now this club has everything in place, and with the right team management and players, will rise.

With the one proviso that southern football fans are fickle, and attendances would dip severely eg if we started losing regularly in the pl. In contrast, clubs like lfc, Newcastle, Sunderland, Glasgow rangers, have vast followings of immensely loyal fans through the lean times as well.

 

[Gully Forever]

Premier League Clubs Attendances that are lower Then Brighton's ( After Completion)
Southampton 30,271
Stoke City 27,094
Norwich City 26,574
Fulham 25,523
West Bromwich Albion 25,030
Reading 24,100
Swansea City 20,343
Wigan Athletic 18,490
Queens Park Rangers 17,782

History has nothing to do with potential. look at Man.City.

My Verdict:
Brighton are in a brand new era, We are almost sleeping giants now. That have Everything in place to be in Europe.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

With the one proviso that southern football fans are fickle, and attendances would dip severely eg if we started losing regularly in the pl. In contrast, clubs like lfc, Newcastle, Sunderland, Glasgow rangers, have vast followings of immensely loyal fans through the lean times as well.

I think that given lean times along the lines of the lean times our club has suffered that these clubs would suffer huge decline. Undoubtedly they are fantastically well supported but their attendances over the years are helped by the fact that they are almost always in the top league.

In 1990/91, Newcastle Utd's average attendance was 16,879, the lowest in recent times. They were in the old 2nd division at the time.

Or Sunderland in 86-87 with 13601 average.

Liverpool and Rangers have not really suffered 'lean' times in modern football so their averages will have remained steady.

Until they are taken over by unscrupulous businessmen, have their ground sold off for peanuts, pay 80 miles away for two years and then end up in the worst ground in the league there can be no fair comparison.