Kuipers Supporters Club
Well-known member
The best Withdean Moment – Group B
A real group of death this, a serious case to be made for all of them. This will be much more competitive than the breeze that was Group A. Four games, from three different divisions to choose from. As ever, top two go through to the Last 16 …
3-1 vs. Reading 2001/02, Division Two
Monday 11th February 2002 Att: 6,756
Withdean was always at its best when it rained. The pitch was a gluepot in a memorable affair. Level at the break, Albion hit the gas and produced a fantastic second half display. Bobby grabbed two, before setting up Junior Lewis – what a player – on his debut to tap home. Reading were sent packing for the first defeat in 12 games. We would go on to win back2back titles, 6 points clear of Steve Coppells (and Ben Roberts’) Reading.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1814378.stm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hx6tyChfSQ
1-0 vs. Cardiff City 2000/01 Division Three
Saturday 10th February 2001 Att: 6,922
I had convinced myself this was a year later, but having checked the programme notes, it was almost exactly a year prior to the above mentioned Reading game. Once again, it was of course, raining for a bumper crowd of nearly 7,000 watch us beat our near promotion rivals.
After a quarter of an hour, Bobby (who else) was set through on goal, with all the calm in the world, he slid the ball beyond ex-Albion keeper Mark Walton for a vital three points. Cardiff were dismissed to ten men late on in the contest. At the end of the season, we would finish ten points clear of Cardiff, who only finished second due to the financial irregularities of Chesterfield. (the goal is at 1:08 in the video below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMRL7m00WwM&t=68s
1-0 vs. Leeds United, 2004/05 , The Championship
Saturday 23rd October 2004 Att: 6,716
Three years prior to this fixture Leeds had been semi-finalists in the Champions League. On this day – by now you can guess the weather – they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of The Albion, ending the game with nine men.
The programme said:
‘Now this may sound like gloating, but of course, we wouldn't dream of such a thing. All the same, when a small club, it's team packed with youngsters and free transfer signings to extend that only one member of the team cost a fee (and that was Charlie Oatway, not a bad 10 grands worth) beats one of English football's megaclubs, it has to be celebrated
Miserable for them, but wonderful for us. Albion wanted the points more and played better, giving us one of the best ever within afternoons. Thanks lads coming up some more? '
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3748968.stm
2-2 vs. Burnley 2003/03 Division One
Saturday 28th December 2002, Att: 6,502
Probably one of my ‘favourite running track limbs’ . A baby faced Steve Sidwell scored a dramatic late brace to earn us a point against Burnley. With the game seemingly ticking down and two goals in arrears, a lot of the crowd were headed for the exits. Step up Sidwell, who first lashed in a fierce shot, before bundling home from a Zamora cross a minute later.
“Steven Sidwell threw relegation-haunted Brighton an amazing lifeline against Burnley at the Withdean Stadium. The visitors seemed to be cruising to a comfortable 2-0 victory when up stepped Sidwell to score goals in the 88th and 89th minutes.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2596933.stm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaziRJOiemY
A real group of death this, a serious case to be made for all of them. This will be much more competitive than the breeze that was Group A. Four games, from three different divisions to choose from. As ever, top two go through to the Last 16 …
3-1 vs. Reading 2001/02, Division Two
Monday 11th February 2002 Att: 6,756
Withdean was always at its best when it rained. The pitch was a gluepot in a memorable affair. Level at the break, Albion hit the gas and produced a fantastic second half display. Bobby grabbed two, before setting up Junior Lewis – what a player – on his debut to tap home. Reading were sent packing for the first defeat in 12 games. We would go on to win back2back titles, 6 points clear of Steve Coppells (and Ben Roberts’) Reading.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1814378.stm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hx6tyChfSQ
1-0 vs. Cardiff City 2000/01 Division Three
Saturday 10th February 2001 Att: 6,922
I had convinced myself this was a year later, but having checked the programme notes, it was almost exactly a year prior to the above mentioned Reading game. Once again, it was of course, raining for a bumper crowd of nearly 7,000 watch us beat our near promotion rivals.
After a quarter of an hour, Bobby (who else) was set through on goal, with all the calm in the world, he slid the ball beyond ex-Albion keeper Mark Walton for a vital three points. Cardiff were dismissed to ten men late on in the contest. At the end of the season, we would finish ten points clear of Cardiff, who only finished second due to the financial irregularities of Chesterfield. (the goal is at 1:08 in the video below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMRL7m00WwM&t=68s
1-0 vs. Leeds United, 2004/05 , The Championship
Saturday 23rd October 2004 Att: 6,716
Three years prior to this fixture Leeds had been semi-finalists in the Champions League. On this day – by now you can guess the weather – they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of The Albion, ending the game with nine men.
The programme said:
‘Now this may sound like gloating, but of course, we wouldn't dream of such a thing. All the same, when a small club, it's team packed with youngsters and free transfer signings to extend that only one member of the team cost a fee (and that was Charlie Oatway, not a bad 10 grands worth) beats one of English football's megaclubs, it has to be celebrated
Miserable for them, but wonderful for us. Albion wanted the points more and played better, giving us one of the best ever within afternoons. Thanks lads coming up some more? '
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3748968.stm
2-2 vs. Burnley 2003/03 Division One
Saturday 28th December 2002, Att: 6,502
Probably one of my ‘favourite running track limbs’ . A baby faced Steve Sidwell scored a dramatic late brace to earn us a point against Burnley. With the game seemingly ticking down and two goals in arrears, a lot of the crowd were headed for the exits. Step up Sidwell, who first lashed in a fierce shot, before bundling home from a Zamora cross a minute later.
“Steven Sidwell threw relegation-haunted Brighton an amazing lifeline against Burnley at the Withdean Stadium. The visitors seemed to be cruising to a comfortable 2-0 victory when up stepped Sidwell to score goals in the 88th and 89th minutes.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2596933.stm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaziRJOiemY
