This'll be fun - I'm going to post this, then duck behind the sofa to avoid the inevitable abuse...
For many years I was a supporter of Arsenal (I had a season ticket at Highbury during the Ian Wright years) although I grew up very near to Brighton and so probably should've been a Seagull all along. I moved back to Sussex from North London 15 years ago, and have since seen far more Brighton games than Arsenal games. I never went to Gillingham (it must have been horrendous for those that did) but have taken many drenchings at Withdean. Since the move to The Emirates the soul has been ripped out of Arsenal for me, and I would've lost interest anyway regardless of the existence of The Albion on my doorstep. Last season I bought a season ticket at Brighton for the first time, and renewing it this year was a no-brainer. It's magnificent club / stadium / atmosphere. I am by any measure a Brighton supporter now - literally, as I'm in the East Stand on a weekly basis.
I've actually struggled with myself to justify this switch in allegiance, and of course have taken tons of stick from mates etc. But in my view, football is about the noise and the passion and the brotherhood of it all, something sadly absent at Arsenal for many years. I feel just as strongly about Brighton as I ever did about The Arse. I'm aware it's crime number one to change your football club, but how can I call myself an Arsenal fan when I'm at The Amex every week and wouldn't want to be anywhere else?
It's an existential conundrum: I know all of this makes me a plastic, but am I a also massive ****? Answers on a postcard please...
For many years I was a supporter of Arsenal (I had a season ticket at Highbury during the Ian Wright years) although I grew up very near to Brighton and so probably should've been a Seagull all along. I moved back to Sussex from North London 15 years ago, and have since seen far more Brighton games than Arsenal games. I never went to Gillingham (it must have been horrendous for those that did) but have taken many drenchings at Withdean. Since the move to The Emirates the soul has been ripped out of Arsenal for me, and I would've lost interest anyway regardless of the existence of The Albion on my doorstep. Last season I bought a season ticket at Brighton for the first time, and renewing it this year was a no-brainer. It's magnificent club / stadium / atmosphere. I am by any measure a Brighton supporter now - literally, as I'm in the East Stand on a weekly basis.
I've actually struggled with myself to justify this switch in allegiance, and of course have taken tons of stick from mates etc. But in my view, football is about the noise and the passion and the brotherhood of it all, something sadly absent at Arsenal for many years. I feel just as strongly about Brighton as I ever did about The Arse. I'm aware it's crime number one to change your football club, but how can I call myself an Arsenal fan when I'm at The Amex every week and wouldn't want to be anywhere else?
It's an existential conundrum: I know all of this makes me a plastic, but am I a also massive ****? Answers on a postcard please...