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When did the ALLLLLLLBBBIIIIIERRRN ALLBIIIERRRN chant start?

















Spun Cuppa

Thanks Greens :(
The genesis of the chant can be more accurately linked to the phasing out of gents wearing flat caps when spectating at games. While flat caps were en vogue, the chant was 'Play up Albion.' As flat cap wearing began to wither, a more rumbustuous type of fan started attending games, and the mentioned pronunciation challenging 'Al-be-ern...' effort (sadly) became the norm...
 




JOLovegrove

Well-known member
Jan 30, 2012
2,060
Don't know, but half of my Uni course chant it at me on nights out/Brighton the city is mentioned/I walk into the building.
 




Grassman

Well-known member
Jun 12, 2008
2,619
Tun Wells
The genesis of the chant can be more accurately linked to the phasing out of gents wearing flat caps when spectating at games. While flat caps were en vogue, the chant was 'Play up Albion.' As flat cap wearing began to wither, a more rumbustuous type of fan started attending games, and the mentioned pronunciation challenging 'Al-be-ern...' effort (sadly) became the norm...

"Play up the Hove!" surely.
 


jonny.rainbow

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2005
6,846
Early 2000s.
In the latter Goldstone years we sung AL-bi-on, AL-bi-on, AL-bi-on in the same way Liverpool sung LI-ver-pool, LI-ver-pool, LI-ver-pool.

Liverpool then started the Liiiiiiiiiiiverrrrrrpoooool, Liiiiiiiiiiiverrrrrrpoooool chant with the elongated first syllable and we followed suit.
 








Early 2000s.
In the latter Goldstone years we sung AL-bi-on, AL-bi-on, AL-bi-on in the same way Liverpool sung LI-ver-pool, LI-ver-pool, LI-ver-pool.

Liverpool then started the Liiiiiiiiiiiverrrrrrpoooool, Liiiiiiiiiiiverrrrrrpoooool chant with the elongated first syllable and we followed suit.
This.

Like many Albion chants, it was stolen off the telly.
 


Freddie Goodwin.

Well-known member
Mar 31, 2007
7,186
Brighton
I 1st heard it sung by Orient fans (their version, of course) & I believe we nicked it from them.
 






wellquickwoody

Many More Voting Years
NSC Patron
Aug 10, 2007
13,911
Melbourne
Early 2000s.
In the latter Goldstone years we sung AL-bi-on, AL-bi-on, AL-bi-on in the same way Liverpool sung LI-ver-pool, LI-ver-pool, LI-ver-pool.

Liverpool then started the Liiiiiiiiiiiverrrrrrpoooool, Liiiiiiiiiiiverrrrrrpoooool chant with the elongated first syllable and we followed suit.
I would suggest the slow version always existed, at least in my Albion supporting career, since the 70's when it was only ever used once or twice per game via the old West Stand.

It only became the most commonly used chant at Withdean when creating any kind of atmosphere was high on impossible, and the slow, dull nature of 'Aaalbiiiooon Aaalbiiiooon' allowed fans to unite behind the team without the benefit of a roof.

It should now be reserved for use by the WSL so that we will only hear it twice per season.
 


somerset

New member
Jul 14, 2003
6,600
Yatton, North Somerset
I would suggest the slow version always existed, at least in my Albion supporting career, since the 70's when it was only ever used once or twice per game via the old West Stand.

It only became the most commonly used chant at Withdean when creating any kind of atmosphere was high on impossible, and the slow, dull nature of 'Aaalbiiiooon Aaalbiiiooon' allowed fans to unite behind the team without the benefit of a roof.

It should now be reserved for use by the WSL so that we will only hear it twice per season.
Nope, never heard it in the 70's and 80's..... that's for sure.
 


Brovion

In my defence, I was left unsupervised.
NSC Patron
Jul 6, 2003
19,864
I would suggest the slow version always existed, at least in my Albion supporting career, since the 70's when it was only ever used once or twice per game via the old West Stand.

It only became the most commonly used chant at Withdean when creating any kind of atmosphere was high on impossible, and the slow, dull nature of 'Aaalbiiiooon Aaalbiiiooon' allowed fans to unite behind the team without the benefit of a roof.

It should now be reserved for use by the WSL so that we will only hear it twice per season.

Yeah, I don't quite understand this 'started in the 2000s' bit. I never remember hearing it at Withdean and thinking "That's new". It may have fallen into abeyance a bit but I'm 99.99% certain we used it at the Goldstone in the 1970s
 






somerset

New member
Jul 14, 2003
6,600
Yatton, North Somerset
Well that's weird. One of us is a senile old git!
A good test would be to go over the old cup final footage, I wouldn't mind betting its not in there.....
 


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