[Albion] Who on here has switched allegiance from another League club to the Albion?

[oneillco]

I don't think it counts who you follow as a primary school kid. I thought I supported Everton as the most popular kid in my class was from Liverpool and followed them so I did too (this is the Alan Ball era when they were good). I didn't even know where Everton was! It only really counts when you start going to matches and I chose The Albion...

 

[jakarta]

Northwich Victoria, much to the chagrin of my dad who used to watch Witton Albion in his youth.
You will need to read Pies and Prejudice by Stuart Maconie to see why this matters to a 3rd rate shithole such as Northwich.
Remember when we had an FA Cup Run ended by Watford and Elton John arriving at Drill Field Road in his Roller!

 

[Icy Gull]

Not me as have been Albion through and through thanks to very early parental indoctrination but of my group of historical STH buddies (there were 10 us I count from) there were the following:

2 Spurs fans
1 Chelsea
1 Leeds
1 Arsenal/Newcastle/whoever was easy on the eye and winning*

And most of those are as die hard Albion as I know - STH at Goldstone, Gillingham, Withdean and Amex - so not JCLS…

I’m not claiming moral superiority over them but wondering at what age is it acceptable to realise the error of your ways and switch to the wider footballing fraternity?

For me anything over 13 and you’re in serious trouble of giving those clowns up the road way too much ammo for their generalisation of our supporter base.

That’ll be me again, I was over 20 but now coming up to 50 years following the Albion. If anyone wants to call me a JCL or suggest I’m not a “real” fan it’s like water off a duck’s back. I won’t bore you with details but I have followed this club far and wide and at 4 “home” grounds.

Palace fans have to be desperate to be calling anyone who followed the Albion before the Amex a plastic, surely they have much more to worry about

 

[worthingseagull123]

No, but I do like Worthing FC.

 

[faoileán]

I don't think it counts who you follow as a primary school kid. I thought I supported Everton as the most popular kid in my class was from Liverpool and followed them so I did too (this is the Alan Ball era when they were good). I didn't even know where Everton was! It only really counts when you start going to matches and I chose The Albion...

Agreed; all little kids are glory hunters; the crunch comes when you start going to the match with your mates

 

[Mackenzie]

I'm just about to start the fatherhood gig again.

I failed miserably with my first three (my younger daughter kinda follows the Albion, just enough to let me know that she knows the results, and to attend a game with me two or three times a season; the other two have zero interest).

I'm determined to succeed with this imminent new daughter (temporarily named Steve).

1. She has to be into football. No ifs, no buts.
2. By age 9, she has to be a season ticket holder at either her local club (Watford) or the Albion.
3. If the Albion are playing (home or away) when Watford are, then I'm going to the Albion game. She'll be very welcome to join me . If she chooses to support Watford, she can either go alone or persuade her mother to take her.
4. If she comes with me to Albion games, she'll get sweets/chocolate, and pocket money. If she goes to Watford she will not. If she chooses not to support a club at all, I'll write her out of my will. And tell her.

I've had enough of my kids not being into football.

She’ll be Albion, don’t worry.

Going to football is a great thing to share with your children.

 

[Barham's tash]

That’ll be me again, I was over 20 but now coming up to 50 years following the Albion. If anyone wants to call me a JCL or suggest I’m not a “real” fan it’s like water off a duck’s back. I won’t bore you with details but I have followed this club far and wide and at 4 “home” grounds.

Palace fans have to be desperate to be calling anyone who followed the Albion before the Amex a plastic, surely they have much more to worry about

Ha! Oh I’m certainly not finger pointing at those in your boat - frankly seeing the light at any point is all good with me just know that the intelligentsia (oxymoron when discussing Palace) of those up the road love jumping on this shit!

 

[faoileán]

The other issue with Brighton and Hove is that it's an area that has had large inward migration over the last 25 years as it is such a popular place to live. A lot of blokes who moved here started going to an occasional game with new local mates and gradually developed an Albion habit, and they've brought their kids up to follow Albion. The most passionate Albion fan I know has been a regular for 20+ years but grew-up in Leeds and supported them. I don't suppose that, for example, Rotherham, Grimsby or Sunderland have much inward migration and I suspect their support is very static.

 

[Stato]

I was a MotD Liverpool fan as a kid. Weirdly, it was finally going to a Liverpool game that kicked me of the habit. I was stood there thinking: 'This feels wrong. I'm nothing to do with these people. This is not like being among the people I watch Brighton with. I've got their accent. I've got their local knowledge. I am part of that, not of this.'

When I was away at University, I went to a Brighton away match in my University town and felt a bit bereft at full time when everyone else was going back home and I was staying away. Made me realise that football supporting is first and foremost about community. The years and events that followed proved this beyond doubt. After everything we went through together, the last promotion left me standing in the Amex in tears, overwhelmed with the moment and the journey we had been on as a community. Its all about moments of pure human contact with your fellow fans who, as Belinda Carlisle put it, 'Dream the same dream... Want the same thing.'

Yes, I am a stupid old lefty.

 

[Gabbafella]

Football never even entered my mind until I was 14. Never paid it any interest at all, didn't even know Brighton had a team and I only lived in Worthing.
A girl I fancied at school and who I sat next to in science, said she and her dad were season ticket holders at the Goldstone and would I like her dad's ticket for the upcoming game against Reading. We lost 1-0.
I went that day because I was horny and thought I might possibly get some boob action, never thought I'd fall in love.
I can't imagine my life without the Albion now. So many ups and downs over the years, I don't think any other club could've given me so many memories, both good and bad. What a journey so far.

 

[Nicks]

She’ll be Albion, don’t worry.

Going to football is a great thing to share with your children.

I concur as my two lads first game was Barnet at home in the last evening game at The Goldstone.
They still love the Albion to this day and have done the STH at Gillingham, Withdean and now The Amex

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Football never even entered my mind until I was 14. Never paid it any interest at all, didn't even know Brighton had a team and I only lived in Worthing.
A girl I fancied at school and who I sat next to in science, said she and her dad were season ticket holders at the Goldstone and would I like her dad's ticket for the upcoming game against Reading. We lost 1-0.
I went that day because I was horny and thought I might possibly get some boob action, never thought I'd fall in love.
I can't imagine my life without the Albion now. So many ups and downs over the years, I don't think any other club could've given me so many memories, both good and bad. What a journey so far.

And did you?

 

[Eeyore]

I supported Brighton and Aston Villa. But I gave up on Aston Villa because they became too good. I had no such problem with Brighton. Even when Villa were doing well, it always felt better following Albion. I am the original un-glory hunter.

My 'other teams' are Aldershot Town, Whitehawk and Queen's Park in Scotland. I've seen Shots and Hawks play loads. @atfc village will be pleased.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Going to football is a great thing to share with your children.

It absolutely is.

 

[Glawstergull]

When i first began to understand/watch/play football in the early 70's i did run around the playground shouting QPR!
Stan Bowles looked pure RocknRoll.
Albion since i was 10.

 

[Surf's Up]

I've been Albion from age 4 onwards although I went to college at Goldsmiths and went to watch Milwall on many occasions when I lived in the New Cross/Lewisham area - I wouldn't say I was ever a Milwall fan though.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Your wording in the poll kind of saves me. As a primary school aged kid in the 80s and secondary school in the late 90s I supported Brighton and followed my Dad’s side of the family’s team Liverpool as you could actually watch them on TV. Mum is Sussex born all be it the exotic west kind. Neither could really be classed as my first team.

Early noughties though Brighton won the contest as could get to Withdean occasionally as a young adult or to quite a few away games.

 

[DJ NOBO]

United…sorry. Bryan Robson though - player.

 

[Austrian Gull]

I don't think it counts who you follow as a primary school kid. I thought I supported Everton as the most popular kid in my class was from Liverpool and followed them so I did too (this is the Alan Ball era when they were good). I didn't even know where Everton was! It only really counts when you start going to matches and I chose The Albion...

Absolutely right. My family moved to Wakefield in the late 70s when I was 7 and everyone in the class supported either Liverpool or Leeds. We then moved back down south(ish!) a few years later to Hertfordshire where any team was accepted. I think that was because Harpenden is between Watford and Luton but most people seem to support other clubs, especially Arsenal or Spurs. My classmates were pretty impressed with Brighton being my team whereas I would have been threatened with violence in Yorkshire!

 

[SK1NT]

I was brought up by mum and dad as a spurs fan and went regularly to games from the age of 10 through the 90s however i was born and raised in Brighton. It never quite felt right being a spurs fan however i can't let go as i have many happy memories going to watch spurs with my mum. I met all the players for my 16th and 19th bday which gave me special memories. I use to always go with a mate who died of a drug overdose. Turning my back on spurs would be like turning my back on a lot of my childhood.

I only started watching Brighton in the late 90s., although my first game i believe was FA cup against Wycombe at the Goldstone. It was never a problem with Brighton being in the lower leagues however now they are in the same league and both competing. I never thought i'd see the day really. I am going to Spurs Brighton on the 8th, which is kind of a win win either way for me... unless they draw.

I really loved the Brighton era at the withdean and went to a lot of the games however i am glad they have the new ground and are one of the best teams in the country (just writing that sends tingles) but i rarely see them at the Amex. I liked the fact i could drive 10 mins from my dads, park up easily watch the game and then go back to my dads. Spurs 90s is my childhood but Brighton 2002-2010 give me very very happy memories more than spurs.

I know "proper" supporters don't have two teams however i can't let go on my childhood and relationship being a spurs fan gave me with my mum and Brighton is where i always feel at home and love. I feel i will always be torn.

Just for the record I AM NOT A MEMBER OF ANY SPURS FORUMS... this is home.