Withdean Capacity

[Buzzer]

I remember one Paint Pot Trophy game where the away fans were stuck in Block A of the South Stand because there were so few of them. Also an FA Cup game where there were more stewards than home fans in the Family Stand.

Micky Adams MKII was the low point for attendances. Things picked up pretty quickly with Poyet and that last season I'm pretty sure we sold out most home games. There were countdown threads on NSC at the time.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

For the first couple of seasons there was nothing at one end apart from a hammer-throwing net, so they gave the away fans the corner stand. I seem to remember most matches were pretty much sold out then, when the capacity was around the 6,000 mark I think.

Who can forget the great first match back in Brighton? First game of the season, beautiful sunny day, won 6-0 with Brighton-born Darren Freeman getting a hat-trick... Fans in the South Stand stomping their feet to make the sound of an express train for some reason (?!).

Yes always worried the hell out of me when everyone did that, I don't think it would have taken too much for the rickety old structure to collapse. It really was the most Heath Robinson looking of contraptions.

Amazes me that parts of it are still in use at Whitehawk, and Newhaven I believe.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I remember one Paint Pot Trophy game where the away fans were stuck in Block A of the South Stand because there were so few of them. Also an FA Cup game where there were more stewards than home fans in the Family Stand.

Who was the team that only brought 9 away fans?

 

[Hotchilidog]

Who was the team that only brought 9 away fans?

I think it was Boston United in a midweek LDV/Paintpot fixture

 

[Yoda]

If my memory is correct:

First season was just the North and South Stands - away fans in the north corner.
(1)Added the new away end , adjacent to the North Stand - this was sometimes split with home fans if the away attendance was small
(1)Added the tiny stand under the clock
(2)Added the big away end at the hammer throwing end
(2)Added a final stand next to the 'old' away end , which became the family stand.

Expansions (1) happened at the same time, as did expansions (2).

 

[Notters]

Yes always worried the hell out of me when everyone did that, I don't think it would have taken too much for the rickety old structure to collapse. It really was the most Heath Robinson looking of contraptions.

Amazes me that parts of it are still in use at Whitehawk, and Newhaven I believe.

Glad you mentioned this - I assumed they were, though I've never seen anyone sat in them! Hopefully Newhaven make it to the third round of the cup!

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I think it was Boston United in a midweek LDV/Paintpot fixture

I thought it was when Megazone mentioned them, but wasn't sure.

 

[The Large One]

Average attendances with (from a quickish searching through archives) the capacity. Not necessarily totally accurate, but reasonably reasonable, I think.

2010/11 7,352 - 8,850 (83.1%)
2009/10 6,467 - 8,850 (73.1%)
2008/09 6,092 - 8,850 (68.8%)
2007/08 5,937 - 8,850 (67.0%)
2006/07 5,993 - 8,850 (67.7%)
2005/06 6,802 - 8,850 (76.9%)
2004/05 6,426 - 8,850 (72.6%)
2003/04 6,248 - 8,850 (70.6%)*
2002/03 6,651 - 6,926 (96.0%)
2001/02 6,598 - 6,926 (95.2%)
2000/01 6,603 - 6,926 (95.3%)
1999/00 5,733 - 6,000 (95.6%)

* - capacity increased by 2,000 part-way through the season

 

[Brok]

I wonder how many watched from the trees, can't have been rocket man on his own?

 

[SK1NT]

I wonder how many watched from the trees, can't have been rocket man on his own?

The rocket man stopped when his rocket landed on me... was against Watford or Wolves when we won 4-0 or 4-1.

Love the Withdean

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

The rocket man stopped when his rocket landed on me... was against Watford or Wolves when we won 4-0 or 4-1.

Love the Withdean

Think it was Wolves!

Although we did thrash Watford as well!!

 

[Cian]

There were countdown threads on NSC at the time.

I had an absolute mare of a time getting weekends guaranteed off work more than a few days in advance that year and wanted to get as many games in as possible. Relied on those threads and occasionally Frutos on here to see what I could get tickets for at short notice.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Glad you mentioned this - I assumed they were, though I've never seen anyone sat in them! Hopefully Newhaven make it to the third round of the cup!

At Newhaven FC Withdean seats are behind both goals and in both tiers of the main stand, the seats behind the goal at the skate park end are out of bounds, all the other seats are used.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

The highest capacity was 8,850 before the little stand behind the east goal was burned down. The record attendance was the 8,729 against Man City in the cup (September 2008) - of course attendance was bums on seats in those days.

hang on- a stand burned down?! don't remember that at all!

 

[SK1NT]

Think it was Wolves!

Although we did thrash Watford as well!!

That's why it is confusing to remember which game it was. Both teams begin with W and both games we scored 4 goals. Although one game was 4-1 and the other 4-0

 

[Husty]

Do you actually know what Withdeans lowest league attendance was?

Considering we only managed 1,740 against Boston in the JPT. I'd be interested to know what some of the Withdean attendances were which clashed with the champions league matches shown live on TV. From my memory, the crowds did seem very low and it did become a big talking point.

Read my post again, it does a pretty good job of telling you. Go look it up if you want to know the precise number.

 

[Megazone]

Go look it up if you want to know the precise number.

I have and it seems it's not on the web.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I wonder how many watched from the trees, can't have been rocket man on his own?

Rocket man was in his own back garden, not the trees.

 

[Brok]

Rocket man was in his own back garden, not the trees.

Never knew that. Thanks.

 

[Clive Walker]

Withdean? You mean we existed before the Amex? Just kidding