Top five games for atmosphere at the goldstone that you attended

[westy]

Albion 2 - 1 Man City
2-1 April 89
One of my 1st games. Loved it.

Albion 2 - 3 Liverpool
1991
FA Cup replay, so near yet so far..

Albion 2 - 1 Ipswich
Last league game of 1991 season, Wilkins freekick to get us in the play offs after Diggers saved Ipswich penalty.

Albion 4 - 1 Millwall
Play off 1st Leg 1991
Demolition Men

Albion 3 - 1 Westbrom
1993
Getting one over my WBA supporting cousin!

 

[stugbhafc1]

Albion 2 - 3 Liverpool
1991
FA Cup replay, so near yet so far..

Albion 2 - 1 Ipswich
Last league game of 1991 season, Wilkins freekick to get us in the play offs after Diggers saved Ipswich penalty.

Albion 4 - 1 Millwall
Play off 1st Leg 1991
Demolition Men
These 3 were there for me to

 

[Brovion]

Great stuff, my first match at the Goldstone with my dad, remember it being very noisy (31,038 ), plus the three mentioned at the top of the thread, the match against Blackpool ,33,431 (77/78). I suppose us fans that were at these matches were so lucky to have been part of the atmosphere. I don't think we will ever be witness to the same atmosphere at the Amex simply because everyone is seated and we won't ever have our beloved North Stand massive swaying about. Still onward and upward thats the main thing

One thing that we do tend to forget though is that even in the 'Glory Years' there were quite a few matches with no atmosphere. I remember the Argus mentioning it more than once in the promotion to Div 1 season; also Mullery was quoted as saying that the North Stand had 'dried up' and sometimes the crowd was so quiet you could hear the players calling to each other.

The great nights were, as you say, unsurpassable. But for overall, consistent, week-in-week-out, humdrum league game atmosphere the Amex pisses all over the Goldstone. No, I never thought I'd say that either.

 

[El Presidente]

Albion 1 Doncaster 0 1996/7. Abysmal game, Ian 'Bonkers' Baird realised that he would get nothing out of Darren Moore, the Donny centre back, so managed to get both of them sent off early doors. The atmosphere was incredible though, transistor radios were in ears to see if any of our rivals had fallen, and it was ironically Orient beating Hereford that day that gave us a lifeline.

Albion 1 Norwich 0; FA Cup QF 1983.

Albion 3 Sheff Wed 2 in 1977, the first time I saw the Albion promoted.

Albion v York 1996, match abandoned, you know why.

Albion 2 Arsenal 1 1982, cracking game, Arsenal took the lead with a 35 yarder from John Hollins ( I think) we fought back to win. I honestly thought we were laying the foundations for a long period in the top flight.

 

[Mackenzie]

The final game of the season against Bristol Rovers in '88 was good, but then most of 87/88 was good.

 

[richmond]

For me, one of the games with amazing atmosphere was back in the 1964-65 season. Brighton were home to Darlington in the old Division four. They won 3-1 that night and went up as Champions with around 33,000 crammed in.

I was only 11 and couldn't get to the front and my dad was worried about me so he got me up on an old flat roof in the corner of the west stand and the north stand. I managed to see the centre circle and the ball occasionally!

The noise when they scored was unbelievable!

 

[Badger]

I attended 2 games at The Goldstone:

Albion 1-2 Derby
Albion 0-0 Oxford

Pretty sure I never got the full Goldstone "experience".

 

[westy]

One thing that we do tend to forget though is that even in the 'Glory Years' there were quite a few matches with no atmosphere. I remember the Argus mentioning it more than once in the promotion to Div 1 season; also Mullery was quoted as saying that the North Stand had 'dried up' and sometimes the crowd was so quiet you could hear the players calling to each other.

The great nights were, as you say, unsurpassable. But for overall, consistent, week-in-week-out, humdrum league game atmosphere the Amex pisses all over the Goldstone. No, I never thought I'd say that either.

Interesting you should say that. After Doncaster at home last season I asked my old man if he could ever remember the Goldstone being that loud in the 70's (before my time). He said no.

My favourite games at the Goldstone are obviously ones that I remember a great atmosphere at, BUT, I cannot remember anything like the sheer volume or intensity of the likes of Doncaster or Leeds at home last season.

I too never thought the Goldstone atmosphere could be topped but I think I've changed my mind.

 

[BHAZiggy]

1 - Albion 3-3 Liverpool, Sat 17 Oct 1981. We came back from 3-0 down at half time.
2 - 2-1 win over Ipswich, last league game of the season to reach the play-offs, 1991
3 - 3-0 win over Palarse, Boxing Day 1979
4 - 2-0 win over Liverpool in the FA cup, 1984.
5 - Albion 1-0 West Ham United, Sat 16 Jan 1982. Both sets of fans could be heard from space!

 

[Betfair Bozo]

Funnily enough a few away fans have said the opposite, those that came down to the Goldstone with Liverpool, Swansea, Cardiff (off the top of my head) have mentioned to me that the atmosphere was electric. Perhaps we didn't appreciate how loud WE were? I certainly remember the walk down OSR towards the ground as a kid and always thought it was a cauldron of noise (I am talking late 70s, early 80s.) Obviously it became shit as the team slid towards oblivion and the capacity decreased.

 

[Storer 68]

Hereford utd in 1975 - memorable atmospeher for me as it was my first game, big crowd and we won a top of the table clash 4-2
Sheffield Wed (I think) in 1978 - until we heard about the Saints Spurs result
Arsenal in 1979 - first game in the First division
Derby in 1977
Donaster in 1996 - just sheer joy

 

[catfish]

I'd add the games against Blackpool and Charlton at the end of the 77/78 season. Crowds of 33,431 and 31,203 roaring us on to our promotion near miss.

 

[Brovion]

Funnily enough a few away fans have said the opposite, those that came down to the Goldstone with Liverpool, Swansea, Cardiff (off the top of my head) have mentioned to me that the atmosphere was electric. Perhaps we didn't appreciate how loud WE were? I certainly remember the walk down OSR towards the ground as a kid and always thought it was a cauldron of noise (I am talking late 70s, early 80s.) Obviously it became shit as the team slid towards oblivion and the capacity decreased.

I went to virtually every home game from about 1975 to 1985 and I can never remember a game against Cardiff or Swansea where the atmosphere could be described as 'electric'. Liverpool's obviously different, some fantastic atmospheres when they came down. Although interestingly I was talking to a Liverpool fan who went to the Goldstone and the Amex and he said the opposite to what you were told! He can still remember how all the Liverpool fans pissed themselves (with laughter, not fear!) when they saw the Goldstone for the first time and were very underwhelmed by our support. No such complaints at the Amex.

 

[Betfair Bozo]

I went to virtually every home game from about 1975 to 1985 and I can never remember a game against Cardiff or Swansea where the atmosphere could be described as 'electric'. Liverpool's obviously different, some fantastic atmospheres when they came down. Although interestingly I was talking to a Liverpool fan who went to the Goldstone and the Amex and he said the opposite to what you were told! He can still remember how all the Liverpool fans pissed themselves when they saw the Goldstone for the first time and where very underwhelmed by our support. No such complaints at the Amex.

You may be right, I guess people have different recollections depending on their age etc. I recall Cardiff at the Goldstone being "electric" but in a more uneasy way in that match that ended with a ten minute ruckathon in Hove Park. Those with different shall we say, "sensibilities" would view that in an opposite fashion wouldn't they. That was later than the dates you mention though of course.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Liverpool FA Cup 1984 2-0. Terry Connor's 2nd goal, just after Gerry Ryan's first, in front of the North was the most mental I ever saw the North Stand. 30 seconds into this clip provides the unrefutable evidence. Brighton 2-0 Liverpool (FA Cup 1984) - YouTube


Sunderland, late 70s when Eric Potts scored twice in added time to win 2-1.

Palace 1979 Boxing Day 3-0, first time Mullery's team beat the scum.

PG

I am in that footage of the north going mental after Connor's goal. Can't see it on YouTube but the tv recordings are better quality.

I agree with the Liverpool match, the Derby match, the Wednesday promotion game and the palace drubbing (although the atmosphere at those games was nasty and dangerous). That Super-sub appearance from Eric Potts was amazing, what a turnaround!

 

[Mackenzie]

That walk down the stairs by Hove station, past the bus depot. The quickening of your step, the excitement, the anticipation... right and under the tunnel, programme outside the church on the corner, walk up past the East stand and the away fans, the Goldstone....queue up for the North Stand. All the while listening to the crowd singing their hearts out, pulse quickening, then you're in and up the steps behind the stand, you see the pitch...........I miss that old place

 

[Official Old Man]

I've just been going back over the 1970's programmes to see what I remembered. Interestingly the 1971/72 season home gate averaged 13000 up until it looked like promotion near the end. I was 15 and my first game was Villa home that year. Pretty certain I danced down Old Shoreham Rd after the last game and promotion. Season ticket holder from about '74 in the South moving over the years to the East and ending up in the West stand. Most away games via the 'Seagull Special' train as well.
Two games that really stand out for me are Palace 26th Dec 1979 in the height of Mullery Mania (3:0) followed by Man City three days later (4:1) and the chant of "you're worse than Crystal Palace".

 

[BHAZiggy]

That walk down the stairs by Hove station, past the bus depot. The quickening of your step, the excitement, the anticipation... right and under the tunnel, programme outside the church on the corner, walk up past the East stand and the away fans, the Goldstone....queue up for the North Stand. All the while listening to the crowd singing their hearts out, pulse quickening, then you're in and up the steps behind the stand, you see the pitch...........I miss that old place

That's exactly how I remember it too.

 

[greyseagull]

One game that stands out for me was the home game against Leeds - pretty sure it was the 89/90 season. 2-2 it finished and Ian Chapman scored that own goal in front of the north when it bobbled up on his shin.

Then Crumps scored the header at the back post to level it up. To be fair though, the Leeds fans were brilliant and so loud at that game. So many of them too. I recall getting to Hove station and as an innocent 9-year old, being a bit confused as to why so many Leeds fans were sticking their bums out of the train windows as it pulled away.

Other games - Millwall play-offs; Doncaster; Liverpool in FA Cup at home when we took them to a replay (my memory is shocking....91?); Leyton Orient at home when Ray Wilkins almost got wrestled to the ground

 

[greyseagull]

Or even Ipswich at home to get us in the play-offs - Wilkins last min free-kick. We were in the south directly behind it - great memory