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[Albion] Who has been the MOST important person in the rise and rise of BHA

Who is the MOST important person in the rise of BHA


  • Total voters
    229


Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,888
West west west Sussex
I voted 'Fans'. Without the fans DK wouldn't have got involved and without him TB wouldn't have got involved. What must also be remembered is that both of them are life long fans to so in my view correct answer is 'Fans'.

That'll come as a surprise to Arsenal fan Dick.
 




Paulie Gualtieri

Bada Bing
NSC Patron
May 8, 2018
10,622
As there is a bit of a binfest about it going on on the thread about it, can we put it to bed with a poll

You only have one choice, pick carefully :smile:

Can only be one winner can’t there?

Can’t see the Poll as on TT but would be surprised if Jeff Minton wasn’t mentioned
 






Jim in the West

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 13, 2003
4,951
Way out West
IMHO Dick Knight was the most important person in saving BHA. Tony Bloom is the most important person in relation to our rise.

That's probably true, but Tony Bloom was also providing funds to pay the players in the early days at Withdean when the Amex and the Premier League were a long way off. And (if I recall), Liam Brady was helping to pay the players back in the mid-nineties.
 












Cowfold Seagull

Fan of the 17 bus
Apr 22, 2009
22,114
Cowfold
Impossible question IMO

Without 'the fans' such as Paul S and others getting involved, The Argus wouldn't have found out the truth, DK wouldn't have got involved.

Without DK and the 'Bring home the Albion' campaign we would have stayed at Gillingham.

Without DK (and Martin P) and others (including the tireless FFA Campaign) we would not have got planning permission for Falmer.

Without Bloom Falmer would never have got built - DK has said as much.

This. I'd add to the mix Steve Gritt too, because without his managerial skills it would have meant certain relegation from the Football League, and then there wouldn't have been much of a football club for Dick Knight and the dedicated fans to save.
 


Swansman

Pro-peace
May 13, 2019
22,320
Sweden
From the outsider perpective... probably depends on what you mean.
"Most important in keeping the club alive" = you guys tell me
"Most important in reaching & staying in the PL" = I struggle to see any other answer than Tony Bloom

Either way it is a shit poll.
 






Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash
Jul 6, 2003
72,321
We'll never know how things would have panned out were it not for the global financial crash of 2008. Pretty sure DK and MP would have had a few monetary tricks up their sleeves. But in that perfick financial storm, Ready Cash was King
 


A1X

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 1, 2017
20,533
Deepest, darkest Sussex
Given both Dick Knight and Tony Bloom are Brighton fans, I feel perfectly happy with my fans vote
 


NorthLainer

Well-known member
Aug 12, 2011
452
Now available in Hove
Impossible question IMO

Without 'the fans' such as Paul S and others getting involved, The Argus wouldn't have found out the truth, DK wouldn't have got involved.

Without DK and the 'Bring home the Albion' campaign we would have stayed at Gillingham.

Without DK (and Martin P) and others (including the tireless FFA Campaign) we would not have got planning permission for Falmer.

Without Bloom Falmer would never have got built - DK has said as much.

Voted Dick Knight, as I think he was most instrumental in getting to where we are now, but in my mind this is the 'right' answer. I also think we are doing a disservice to him if we don't include Martin Perry on the list, he was the continuity between Knight and Bloom.
 




brighton terra

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2008
1,545
Worthing
Dick Knight. Without him none of this would’ve been possible. The arrival of Tony Bloom, and his financial input, accelerated our progression. We owe them both a massive debt of thanks!
 


Bold Seagull

strong and stable with me, or...
Mar 18, 2010
30,454
Hove
The clue is in the wording of the question I think.

The actual saving of the football club - the fans. Could easily have gone the way of a few clubs like Aldershot without the huge fuss fans kicked up.

The continued survival of BHAFC was Dick Knight.

The subsequent 'rise' of the club is Tony Bloom.

Given the poll question is specifically the rise of BHA, then I personally think it's TB.
 


The_Viper

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2010
4,345
Charlotte, NC
Gritt dragged us out of the mire on the pitch

Knight saved us off the pitch

Bloom built on Knights foundation, invested hundreds of millions into a club he loves, funded our rise and rise from L1 to the PL, has had a structure in mind from the 8 year olds up to the senior team from day 1, has kept himself cool, calm and collected when the fans were having an absolute meltdown at separate times throughout the last 15 years and is the very definition of keeping the faith.

Poyet worked with Bloom to build his vision as early as L1, got us promoted to the Championship playing godly football, made us a footballing name that pundits recognised and provided constant success alongside TB prior to PBs hiring

Hughton built on the Poyet/Garcia legacy while adding a pragmatic approach to get us to the promised land. His management to keep us focused after the last day heartbreak v Boro and playoff shitshow to then go up EASILY the following year was astounding. Then kept us up for 2 seasons.

Potter Reverted back to the Poyet era in terms of playstyle and man management that TB has clearly wanted all along, developed some young players into unbelievable assets, now just needs one summer with the kind of funds CH had and I really think our top 10 dreams could be a reality

Fans were the lifeblood in the darkest days and saved the club as much as Dick Knight did, have been lucky that TB doesn't listen when the bedwetting/booing starts and keeps the faith
 


Commander

Arrogant Prat
NSC Patron
Apr 28, 2004
13,558
London
I think without Knight we would have found somebody to play a similar role eventually. It might have meant a spell in the conference for a while, but I really think the club would have survived. Without Bloom, there is absolutely no way we would be in the situation we are in now, and the Amex, if we ever got it, would probably have been a soulless identikit 18,000 seater bowl like the Keepmoat or somewhere.

Instead of a soulless 30,000 beautifully unique stadium [emoji2]

So Bloom, no doubt.
 




Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,248
Withdean area
The clue is in the wording of the question I think.

The actual saving of the football club - the fans. Could easily have gone the way of a few clubs like Aldershot without the huge fuss fans kicked up.

The continued survival of BHAFC was Dick Knight.

The subsequent 'rise' of the club is Tony Bloom.

Given the poll question is specifically the rise of BHA, then I personally think it's TB.

That was my thinking, “rise” the key here.

Without TB’s funding, we wouldn’t have built the stadium, training/academy facility or squad to reach the EPL.
 
Last edited:


Blue Valkyrie

Not seen such Bravery!
Sep 1, 2012
32,165
Valhalla
I don't think there was a MOST important person, more a group of vital people without any of which we would be in a different place.
 


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