by Billy the Dog McGraw
Everyone wants to be there. Ian was trying to take his sons and meet up with the south coast part of his family. Stefan had the idea that he might be able to turn up at the ground and procure a ticket. Tony fancied it because the Brighton ground is built right next door to where he was a student (while simultaneously plotting for three years the overthrowing of the state).
But tickets were there none. And it isn’t even on TV. Hey ho.
In the old times, when people were worried about the far right political parties taking over football, there was a major enquiry into fascism and football. After deep consultation it was felt that despite being based in one of the most genteel towns in the country (Hove) there were major problems at the club, and so a commissioner was sent to do undercover work, and see how deeply fascist Brighton and Hove Albion had become.
At first the reports were negative, and so reference was made back to the sources who claimed that fascist chants of Sieg Heil! could be heard at every single home match. There was debate as to whether such chants were indeed fascist (the words actually mean “Hail Victory!”) but it was thought that yes such was their link with the Nazi Party in Germany, they were fascist, and they most certainly had been heard repeatedly at Brighton & Hove FC.
The commissioner returned to the south coast and spent more time among the locals. Eventually the old boy tumbled the problem. What had been heard was not Sieg Heil, but actually “Seagulls, Seagulls, Seagulls” – the lament used by supporters which repeated the nickname of the club.
Arsenal have two major associations with Brighton, as least as far as I can remember. The first is the fact (taken from memory) that we were their opponents in their first ever game in the first division. We won 4-0. The second is that from 1993 to 1995 Liam Brady was their manager. In other events, Brian Clough was their manager for a while, and they played in one cup final (the “And Smith must score” final) before playing at one of the worst football league grounds ever – the Withdean Stadium.
Actually on the Brian Clough issue Tony adds one other memory. Brighton clambered into the second division for the first time in their history, and played Middlesbrough who had a certain centre forward called Brian Clough. Middlesbrough won 6-4, and Clough scored quite a few (Tony doesn’t recall how many). But he was there, as a youngster, dreaming of the day his story might be used on the yet-to-be-invented internet.
Brighton and Hove Albion now play in Falmer – a village in the ancient District of Lewes where each November 5th there is a ceremony to burn the pope. I am not sure what Roman Catholics did to Lewes but the locals seem to be quite anxious to keep the tradition going.
A footbridge links the two parts of the village. In the south there is a pond (which gives the village its name) complete with ducks, surrounded by cottages and an ancient parish church. Also on site is a farm shop.
Just by the village are two universities – the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton, and the local council’s archive.
The American Express Community Stadium, is close by – but do please be aware that the stadium does not take American Express cards, for reasons that I have never been able to work out.
The stadium was handed over to the club on 31 May 2011 following a long battle for a new ground (planning permission was actually granted in 2002), which ended with John Prescott stepping into the mire and saying that yes, it could be done. And here’s a nice twist, the first ever league game at the Amex was against Doncaster Rovers, who were also the last opponents to play at the Goldstone Ground. The average attendance at the Amex is 20,000, but there is only parking for 2000 cars, mostly in the University of Sussex grounds.
As for the team here’s a possible line up
Szczesny;
Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs;
Diaby, Cazorla
Wilshere
Walcott, Giroud, Podolski
Rosicky is fit again and should be on the bench with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta and Coquelin are still out. Santos and Ramsey will certainly either be on the bench or in the team. Frimpong and Arshavin will make up the bench, I imagine.
One other possibility is that Jenkinson will get a run out – he has not had a chance to play for some time.
Brighton are 6th in the Championship after 28 games, eight points away from the second automatic promotion spot. They have a goal difference of +10. Their last match was a 1-1 away draw at Blackburn who are 14th. In the last four games they have three draws and a win.
So that’s it. If you are going, do remember they don’t play in Brighton. Or come to that, in Hove. The result: 3-1 to the Arsenal.
Recent posts…
- Arsenal WHU: catering, early leaving, predictions, possession
- Hazard kicking ball boy, FA also at fault?
- Arsenal – West Ham, the preview
- Arsenal – West Ham : what can we expect from the ref?
- Who wants to work for Chelsea, who would want to come to Arsenal?
- Arsenal and others will go to court to get Financial Fair Play
- Arsenal loyalty through locality and history
- Uefa reaches insanity as it contemplates the problem of banners on economic matters
- Would change of manager, change anything?
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The books…
- Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football – Arsenal’s early years
- Making the Arsenal – how the modern Arsenal was born in 1910
- The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal FC: crowd behaviour at the early matches
The sites…
- Referee Decisions – just what are the refs up to this season?
- Parent News – what is going on in schools these days?
- The weight loss programme: The only guaranteed way to stay fit
- The Arsenal History Blog from the AISA Arsenal History Society
When the Brighton fans used to chant “seagulls seagulls” the away fans always chanted back “seaweed seaweed”!!
I think that was slightly less a Viv Stanshall ramble, but I can never be too sure?
The likely team looks promising. The fewer changes the better I think. I hope you are right on the score, it would be a very strange season if Brighton went all the way to Wembley too??
I lived in Brighton when they had Zamora and the Support the team hadwas very impressive back then. They would easily fill a 100, 000 seater stadium. They’ve acquired a new stadium since I was there, though it is in Falmouth, a town under the Juristiction of Lewes and not Brighton, lol. … But it is still immensely supported. Tickets for Brighton games were easy to get hold of since everybody I knew in East Sussex was a fan. They will not beat us today.
Well for once living abroad has a benefit as the game is shown live on our sports channel. 😉
Those who want to come over to my place to watch the game live on my big TV are free. If you want to drink a beer, fine but you have to bring your own.
I’m surprised no mention has been made of the sandy beach at Brighton, on which many an opposition has been given permission to train by the local authority.
My Gran (who cleans at the Emirates)often tells the story of a pre-season weekend break in 1933 (which was nearly 25 to 8 in those days) when Arsenal visited Brighton only armed with plimsolls, intending to practice on the beach and make sand castles.
They had only gone there having been told by their chums in white from down the Road in postcards about the lovely beach.
The gruesome result was a complete absence of sticking plaster along the whole length of the south coast for the rest of that year.
To be serious, I’m told that this year Arsenal have trained along at Bognor Regis (on the recommendation of the Old King just before he died).
Sorry Nicky, no sandy beach at Brighton. Just huge pebbles. The beach is dire and no way could any kind of game be played on it except maybe Frisbee.
@Arsenal1Again,
Now you tell me!
These days i count my eggs only after they have hatched. But in those days hmmm i wish they are back.
Thanks Mr McGraw – another fine read.
The Seagulls website hints at another B&HA link to AFC:
‘The Who legend Roger Daltrey also speaks exclusively to Seagull about the big game and his foot in both camps.’
Well, I knew that RD was a big AFC fan (Who are you?) but wonder at the link to B&HA. Is it simply the filming of Quadrophenia, or is there more?
Hopefully attendees will buy a match programme and make this Untold told.
@Matt Clarke:
He owns a manor in East Sussex, stupid.
I never knew the great Roger Daltrey also was a Gooner?
Well being from My Generation I now Won’t get fooled again 😉
Very Untold this news to me
He he, nice one Walter.
RD sang at the end of Highbury:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osb7b_9DV0o
He (along with the rest of The Oo) grew up in West London, so not too much of a stretch to support the best team in London (the World etc).
…and this speaks of his path to loving the Arsenal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgHxpZZvhoA
Sorry, but
Frimpong will make the bench, for Fulham. He’s out on loan now. Does this mean a midfielder is in the pipelie, or are Rosicky and Diaby the new signings?
@ Bob, or Nico Yennaris – he’s always done us a good job and got the Arsenal DNA.
Hi Untolders!
Thanks for an enjoyable article and an enjoyable discussion.
Sadly unlike the discussion about the article ‘What would a member’s poll at Arsenal show?’ which I stopped reading.
I’ll go back and finish in a bit when I feel stronger.
A good preview. I think this will be a tough enough match, Brighton will be up for it and we must be equally up and not complacent – with that proviso we should progress to the next round.
Another gem , Billy , ta . Hope we keep a clean sheet and hopefully score 3 goals .
Up the Gunners !
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/liam-brady-how-arsenal-legend-helped-save-brighton-from-the-brink-8466271.html
Thanks Kenneth – an interesting link…and more so at the end, where the history of the old Albion ground mirrors AFC’s early history too.
Haha.. This was a brilliant article.. I can just imagine the chants of Seagulls/Seig Heil..
Billy the Kid, Mad Dog Tannen, Quick Draw McGraw. Are those the origins of your name Billy?
Team:
Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Santos, Ramsey, Diaby, Rosicky, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.
Subs: Mannone, Sagna, Gibbs, Wilshere, Cazorla, Arshavin, Walcott.