Your First Experience of the Albion

[The Oldman]

1953 We lost 1 -2 to Ipswich. Did not stop me wanting more. how time flies!

 

[atomised]

Can't remember the year but my first game was in the auto windscreens equivalent at the time against Notts County at the Goldstone. We lost 5-1

 

[whitelion]

I wrote up my first time in The Goldstone Days programme. It went something like this...

In the mid-late 1970s, my father was a self-employed carpenter. Most Saturday mornings he would head to the small industrial units in Newtown Road, Sackville Road and Conway Street where there were painting and decorating shops or an electrical store or a general hardware store.

These stores always stank of white spirit – whatever they were selling – and ran by a kindly old fella called Reg or Stan. Think The Two Ronnies’ Four Candles sketch, and you’ll get the picture. This was way before the DIY sheds came along.

His eight year-old son (me) being keen to know what his Dad was doing, would merrily bowl along, in the oft-forlorn hope that he would be abble to take a left turn to watch Brighton play at The Goldstone Ground.

In those days, Brighton were on the up. Recently-retired firebrand Alan Mullery was the new manager, and a cocky upstart called Peter Ward was banging the goals in for fun. It was a good time to start being interested in football in Brighton.

Every Saturday afternoon, we’d have to traipse to my Nan and Grandad’s house to see the rest of the (large) family. The room was full of cigarette smoke and endlessly boring chatter. My Nan and I would watch the wrestling on ITV; Nan spitting venom at the baddies, me waiting for the football results to come up.

I’d sit patiently waiting for the Division III scores to come in, not having a clue where the Albion were playing, nor against whom on any given day. But we seemed to win most weeks, and we were always near the top of the table.

I’d been pestering Dad about when we could go to the Albion. I had no idea how dangerous it might have been – there was a lot of hooliganism back then – I just wanted to see my (as yet unseen) heroes play.

So it came to pass, we were on another visit to Hove one Saturday lunchtime in September 1978. I assumed I was merely accompanying Dad on another white spirit-sniffing escapade. We parked up somewhere nearby and, as we were walking along Old Shoreham Road past the North Stand turnstiles, he turned to me and said, “fancy watching the game...?”

HALLELUJAH!

We eventually found a turnstile to Dad’s liking leading to the terrace in the West Stand, north end. I had to go in a separate entrance to him, so Dad gave me my 20p to get in, and in I went. From there, everything was simply magic for me. All the things I’d dreamed going to a football match would be was all perfectly true.

I can vividly remember so many details – the sunny day, the loud noise from the North Stand about Peter Ward being magic, all being sung by skinny blokes in their late teens and early twenties with massively flared jeans and ridiculously androgynous hairdos. Scarves – blue and white, of course – were worn on wrists, and everyone smoked.

And I also learned a fair few words of Anglo-Saxon I only thought the naughty children in the playground said. I had no idea adults swore; I thought they’d grown out of
it by then.

We won 1-0 against Oldham Athletic. Wardy claimed the goal, but it went down as an own goal. I couldn’t see the south goal from where I was standing. So it was great when I saw Gary Williams (I recognised him from the Evening Argus) taking a corner. Peter O’Sullivan was flying down the wing. Brian Horton bawled lumps out of everyone, friend and foe...

As much as I’d pestered Dad to go before, this was nothing compared to how much I wanted to go again. He never did take me again though, so as soon as I could, I went on my own.

From the age of 12, I walked from our home near Preston Circus to The Goldstone Ground every home match, and took my place in the North Stand. I met up with a few of my schoolfriends there, and we had a good time. In the 19 years between my first and last game at the Goldstone, I probably went about 300 times.

While we’re at it, let’s call the Goldstone for what it was – a dump. Behind the North Stand, the food kiosk was next to the toilets, and most times you couldn’t tell which was which. As the years passed, the terraces were crumbling, neglected by the arrogant local businessmen who ran the club who seemed to care not one jot for the welfare of the lifeblood of the club – the supporters. But it was our dump, and we were proud of it. It was home.

So when it came to the club announcing that they were selling the ground and moving to Portsmouth, I was intrigued, then concerned, then outraged.
I’d kept my spot in the North Stand for years (aside from the times they closed it to build the new roof – and the time they handed it over to Pompey fans for one match). Now it seemed someone wanted to end all that; not just the Goldstone, the club. Some things are sacred; this must not happen.

The story of how things turned out between 1995 and 1997 is now the stuff of legend, and everyone who played their part knows who they are – as should every single Brighton fan. Me, I did more than some, less than others – but i can confidently raise my glass high and say with satisfaction that I was there.

But, like the Bobby Goldsboro song, I’ll go back in my mind, to the very first time - and that piece of magic, going to the football with my Dad, will stay with me forever.

As for now, 39 years on...

That is a masterpiece - thanks for sharing your memories - I'd not seen this before.

It's amazing what influence a football club (our Albion) can have on our lives.

 

[mwrpoole]

1976, aged 6, my Grandad took me. He used to live in Bolsover Road and I remember walking to the ground and him carrying a small wooden box. When we got to the ground, I'm pretty certain it was the South Stand, we walked down to the front, he put the box down and said 'stand on that, see you at half time' and off he disappeared up the terrace I guess. I don't remember who we played but I do know we won 3-0 and I was totally amazed by it all.

He sadly passed away 10 years later but my Nan is still going strong at 93. When we moved to the Amex I took her to a game, it was quite an emotional moment for us both.

 

[Technohead]

My dad is a Palace fan ...... took me to the Albion Palace match Oct 77 when I was a 7 year old. After that pestered him week in week out if we could go again, which we did .... often. We would park in one of the roads off Goldstone Crescent and walk to the ground across Hove Park. Invariably would go in the North Stand, where I would stand at the front just to the right of the goal, while my dad went higher up the terrace with his mates.

 

[Napier's Knee]

Got the programme (thanks Ebay!) framed and next to my desk - 16 March 1968, Mansfield at the Goldstone with my father. I was 7. We were on the Chicken Run. I can remember the smell of tobacco, the swearing, and the colours. I also remember that Mansfield's badge seemed very big on their shirts.

 

[Bobby's Gull]

Bournemouth 2003 as a 15 year old. Down with a Cardiff supporting mate.

Walked into Withdean and felt amazed by the place. Just as i said with a big smile 'I'm home' my friend was muttering 'what a shithole'

Sounds odd but I love the place immediately, I had been on here and followed the club as best I could but it was something else to actually be there

Withdean was truly awful as a ground but it was home for me too. I've a lot of fond memories of the place, I guess as I spent most of my teenage years there every other Saturday. Bobby Zamora, Adam Virgo etc my absolute heroes. I used to hang around in the car park after the game, to get them to sign my programmes.

I guess if you're under the age of 30 you're not going to have too many memories of the Goldstone, sadly.

My first memories of the Albion would have been around the 1990/91 mark, when I was 4. Small random things like parking the car, walking to the Goldstone, my Dad putting my coat on or my half time lunch box. I'd sit with my Dad whilst my brothers went into the North much to my annoyance when I was a bit older as I wanted to go in the North with them.


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[Peter Grummit]

1971 v Port Vale. 1-1. Remember how green the grass was and my Dad and I walking from our home in Westdene which was a bit of an adventure in itself as I was only 7. We sat in the West but soon had a ST, front row of the South.
Years later found out that Nobby Horton played for Vale in that 1st game.
PG

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[AmexRuislip]

My first Albion experience was a home game v Swindon in 1976, which my dad took me to.
I do not remember much, only the singing from the then northstand, wondering why they were singing out loud.
I know now
Plus the journey to the Goldstone via train from Bexhill to Hove, all the lovely smells of cigars and programs, bliss.

 

[Jam The Man]

It was nearly 30 years ago exactly...April 20th 1987
I was 11, and I still remember it very well. My Grandad took me to the spare seat next to his in the West Stand, and i thought it was surreal watching football without commentary.... and most importantly, we beat Palace 2-0!

I was instantly hooked and have recorded details of every match I've been to since. Tonight is my 690th match

 

[Worried Man Blues]

My dad took me and we sat in the stand behind the dug out. The only recollection I have is my feet were frozen, that's all. Circa 64 possibly.

 

[Big_Unit]

16th January 1982 (apparently). Albion 1 West Ham 0. I went with an older kid from school. I remember absolutely nothing about the day other than how terrifying the skinheads in the away end were.

 

[carlzeiss]

A wagon wheel from the East Stand snack hut and sick at half-time .

 

[Jimmehh]

I remember my first. I was 10 and it was in Jan 2007 against Millwall... It was raining and we lost 1-0, but I was hooked... Being young, it was a few years before I could go to my next, but I'm now a season ticket holder and wouldn't look back!

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I cannot remember the date or the match. I was around 12 or 13, and went with my Dad. We always went on the east terrace.

 

[Robinjakarta]

Maybe 1958 aged about 9? Taken by a neighbour. Lost to Northampton I think.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

I haven't a clue and sadly never will as my parents have forgotten when i first went or roughly how old i was and can't even seem to be able to offer a guestimate. (not even able to say if it was when we were last in the top flight or not)

My first memories were standing on an old yellow Heineken crate turned so that i gained the maximum extra height possible and still barely being able to see over the perimeter wall of the East stand (probably at around the half way line) but i have no recollection of any of our players or their names or who the opponents were to try to help narrow it down to a season as i would have gone to several games during it

 

[coagulantwolf]

October 2001 as a 12 year old. Played Wycombe Wanderers on a Tuesday night, the game was 1-1 after Full Time and my dad was debating leaving then as he didn't want me going to bed too late if it went the full distance. Cue him letting us stay, and scoring 2 minutes in to Golden Goal.

Quite weird to imagine now a game going to Golden Goal and being won almost instantly...All that ET hype would be wasted!

 

[Brightonfan1983]

My first game was Jan 1994 v Blackpool. Probably the only fan who can day the first Albion goal they ever saw live was by Mark Flatts.

Mine was Peter Ward! 1-1 v Watford, Jan 1st 1983.

I've just found that game on Youtube too, blimey, very exciting. Suffice to say, nothing I've just watched jogs any memories. Age. Memory. Where's the nurse?

 

[Dave the OAP]

First game was in 1965 Huddersfield vs Newcastle...don't remember anything about it apart from being very cold! I was only 7

First albion game 1974/5 season vs palace at the goldstone. No trouble that I can remember. I was with my brother in the north west corner as my dad sent us both down there on the bus. Enjoyed it, but went in the east terrace afterwards. First away game was an evening one vs Watford I think.