[Football] Withdean visit

[Brovion]

for my generation we mostly started following the club at the tail end of the Goldstone years when the team were mostly absolutely dogshit and the ground was a crumbling wreck and being 7 or 8 or whatever we weren't involved in the political aspect of those late Goldstone years as much as older fans were. The reason for Withdean nostalgia is that it was the first time that we'd seen us actually be good and there was positivity around the club. I know that it was an absolute dive and probably one of the worst grounds to have ever hosted league football but it's such a massive part of our formative years

Yeah, that's absolutely fair enough. Like @Neville's Breakfast though I preferred Gillingham, although that was more for family reasons. However I accept that for the club Withdean was a) totally necessary and b) a massive step forward. That first game against Mansfield!

 

[ForestRowSeagull]

The chips were also brilliant

 

[Hamilton]

The last walk out of the Withdean stadium.

 

[Hamilton]

And a full South Stand!

 

[Thunder Bolt]

No, our money went on paying rent to another club for use of their facilities. That doesn’t come for free. What they spent it on was up to them. Our seats weren’t in the away end. We were in the Gordon Road Stand on the halfway line which was perfectly adequate for L2 football. About the same as every club at that level.

I am talking about the away end when we’d moved to Withdean. Gillingham put us in temporary seats which were uncovered.m

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

I am talking about the away end when we’d moved to Withdean. Gillingham put us in temporary seats which were uncovered.m

Oh, understood. Yes, I went in there as well. I preferred the Priestfield away end on that corner terrace. Some great atmospheres at games in the 80s.

 

[Perry Milkins]

Random memory I just had. Pre-Albion, I went to watch American Football there in the mid 90's if I remember correctly!

Brighton B-52s vs City College Rams of San Francisco.

Think we lost about 78-0...

 

[jonsey]

Why grading not good enough when we played championship there

Yes, many years ago.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

No, our money went on paying rent to another club for use of their facilities. That doesn’t come for free. What they spent it on was up to them. Our seats weren’t in the away end. We were in the Gordon Road Stand on the halfway line which was perfectly adequate for L2 football. About the same as every club at that level.

We also stood on the terrace behind the goal opposite the now away Stand.

Can’t recall if they opened 3 “home” stands for us or whether it was just the two?

 

[knocky1]

1972 Hove and Portslade U-13 400m . A winners stadium.
Many great moments but forget who rocketed under the bar in the penalties against Swindon? Best moment due to the in laws.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

We also stood on the terrace behind the goal opposite the now away Stand.

Can’t recall if they opened 3 “home” stands for us or whether it was just the two?

I think 3 home stands. We certainly sat in the main stand a couple of times but mostly the Gordon Road.

 

[timbha]

We also stood on the terrace behind the goal opposite the now away Stand.

Can’t recall if they opened 3 “home” stands for us or whether it was just the two?

Definitely all three, with the away fans at the end/corner opposite the rainham end

 

[Is it PotG?]

Some great memories aside from BHA ones.

The Sussex Mini-Minor Cup Finals we played in, numerous school sports days and chasing Jon Biggs year after year in the Brighton 400m, knowing gold would never happen. The big and significant change was the removal of the asphalt track and replacement with the cushioned comfort of the tartan, meaning our spikes losing about ⅔ of their length. Training on the track with Ovett & Co.

Happy days.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Went to Withdean today to catch up with chums over lunch. It was just like old times - especially the weather

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Brighton B-52s vs City College Rams of San Francisco.

Think we lost about 78-0...

Yep, 76-0 and lucky it wasnt more! Im still in touch with George, the Rams ball-boy that day, whos dad was the San Francisco Head Coach. George Sr. only retired from the Rams HC job 2 or 3 years ago, and has one of the best all time winning percentages in College football. Also good mates with Pete Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks HC. Georges step-brother later played for the Rams as well, then went on to be drafted by the NY Giants (winning the Superbowl vs Tom Brady) & became the highest paid safety in the NFL at the time, & also played for the Dolphins & Raiders I believe.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

The last walk out of the Withdean stadium.

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There's me, generating a stream of light from my fist, and passing it through Junior Pogue's head.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

And a full South Stand!

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Blimey that is literally where my season ticket was!! Many amazing days down there. I now live next door ha

 

[London Irish]

Why dont our women play there ?

They'd surely double the crowds they get at Crawley, maybe triple. Obviously would require a bit of money spent to get it up to scratch again. Just can't see the women really taking off until they are back in Brighton, right now seems like their own perpetual Gillingham

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

And a full South Stand!

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Few details to note in the background:

- the tarpaulin that shamefully passed for the disabled section in those days, tho to be fair to the club it's hard to see what else they could have done in the circumstances
- the big box clock sourced from the railways (Connex?) that used to be switched off as soon as the game had finished

Strange and infinitely inventive daze indeed