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Dick KnightMartin Perry
Managers
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Steve Coppell
Martin Hinshelwood
Peter Taylor
Micky Adams
pre-Withdean Managers
Norman Cook
Celeb fans
Old Withdean Squad
Journeymen
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Michel Kuipers
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Dick Knight
Not quite exactly ten years after Doncaster came to Brighton and played in that frantic very last game at the Goldstone Ground, they returned to what was then a springtime city. The venue for April 2007 was Withdean, which hosted a pretty ordinary mid-table run-in fixture in League 1. There was little to play for except pride in performance and thoughts that things can get better one day. Before too long many Brighton fans would be renewing season tickets for next season and also wondering where the last decade went. A win against Donny in the penultimate match of '96/7 had set up a final day relegation clash at Hereford and you know the rest. The following season Albion were again in deep trouble, playing home games miles away at Gillingham. It was only a truly dreadful run of results by relegated Doncaster that saved our record of seriously avoiding Conference football for two years running. For any number of previous seasons Brighton had been a div2 club with aspirations, if not expectations of higher achievement. That particular image was wrecked in the nineties and misplaced in the noughties. So did Rovers really do us a big favour way back then as they slipped out of the league? They have since played fixtures in 2007 at their brand spanking new Keepmoat Stadium and had nearly 8000 there when Bristol city visited during the run-in. Read into that mundane statement what you'd like to.
In a twist of warp speed fate, Albion supporters read back pages of daily newspapers one hot day and recoiled in a horrific sweat. The summer of 1997 had turned into a nuclear winter wasteland, like remnants of ravaged, excavated Goldstone soil. BHA had surprisingly been voted out of the Football League at an emergency meeting for, 'failing to ensure the club would return to its populated catchment area.' Mr Knight and his consortium had all but officially taken over the Board, so proved powerless at an eleventh hour to stop rot at the top. Albion had been caught between the Devils and deep blue and white sea. Or put another way, appeared washed up by workings of satanic maladministration. Hereford were happily reinstated to div3. Brighton thus started the '97/8 season ground-sharing with Worthing until Withdean could quickly be updated to take three thousand people watching semi-pro outfits. Now nice Mr Knight already had a vision of a brighter future and motivated his team to work at providing plans for a new home. In a parallel universe, manager Steve Gritt had released many of the squad and elected to build a team fit to challenge for FL status once more. Due to vagaries of time and space, let alone income from bums on seats, a harsh reality took hold. Albion's struggles continued on and off the field and we were merely mid-table mediocrity by next May. Conversely we had 'carefully' consolidated in the Conference. The next campaign saw Brighton joined by Doncaster in lower league fare. In an epic meeting at Withdean, a 1-1 draw held old adversaries together in a north-south divide, to avoid a still lesser tier of north-south regional football. Donny lead from a first minute penalty and had resisted Albion pressure for a further 89 minutes. Then former Essex Senior League player Hart, forged forward as two minutes of stoppage time drew to a close. He was clattered by a big, red hoop-shirted dirty northern bar-steward but somehow chipped the ball over this fall-guys body. From angle of lines marking extremity of the area, OGH unleashed a left foot drive that beat Rovers goalie by sheer quality of pace, power and placement. Less than two thousand people pondered if this could possibly be the start of something big for the new millennium.
In 2002 Doncaster were the first club to visit Brighton's new ground at Falmer, the Forever Fans United Stadium. One hundred years of Albion history had not terminated in a retail park in Hove but was rejuvenated on a Southdowns chalk slope with apparently full sustainability. B&H City Council had voted by 11 to 1 to approve building a 12000 capacity, very low profile modern arena outside boundaries of the new National Park but providing a stepping stone to access an area of outstanding natural beauty. Doncaster came, saw and conquered on that day but realised this magnificent structure was something they could build in facsimile in south Yorkshire - if they could just get back into div3. The Gods of Football duly deemed it to be so. Meanwhile Brighton had developed a competitive side through a prolific youth policy and use of Withdean as a reserve and U18 venue. Over a period they had specially established two successful teams in both the Combination and Youth Alliance leagues.
On the final day of this inaugural season Brighton hosted Hereford for FL honours. Leading goalscorer Zamora smashed a left foot volley from outside the area to seemingly break deadlock after an hour. The ball hit a post just as in May '97 and rebounded into play. Super sub Brooker raced-in and hammered the loose ball into an inviting net. Deja vu or what? Promotion was assured, while Hereford...
Mr Knight latterly had steered the club to climb several divisions of the pyramid and wasn't stopping for anything. Planning permission was sought to increase capacity of Falmer's FFU venue, to make it attractive to visiting Championship outfits and their travelling support. Doncaster had built their Keepmoat Stadium in the interim and last century Belle Vue was just another housing development opposite the racecourse. The government of an ever changing world decided there was no opposition case to answer at Falmer, where local politics had bled community services dry within borders of our landlocked County Town. They continued to tilt at escarpment windmills and refused to comply with terms and conditions of surrounding NP status. Their future seemed bleak as increasing visitor numbers swelled many a small town in Sussex. Construction work, including the Wembley style arch began for 2010 completion. It was all part of an old fan's dream but these can and do happen in reality if you maintain belief long enough. Truth is sometimes much stranger than footy-fan pulp fiction. Ask Dick Knight if you doubt it!
Martin Perry
Martin Perry is Chief Executive of BHA with responsibility for delivering Falmer. He once worked on McAlpine's special projects. He could not have anticipated how long a job babysitting a community stadium would be.
During the nineties quite a number of football grounds were well past their sell-by date. A new generation of stadiums was coming on stream and it seemed like a good idea at the time to try and get one. Towns and cities that many years previously had attracted large crowds, fell into this prime footy wish-list category. Brighton and Huddersfield were two such likely candidates - both urgently in need of an overdue makeover. When McAlpines were building a super, shiny stadium below heights of Kilner Bank, Huddersfield were just so desperate to play there. In conjunction with the Rugby Club, local council and Football Trust, they had made a plan almost come to fruition. In the '94/5 season Town upped sticks and moved in anyway, with three sides completed. At the end of that season Huddersfield were promoted via the play-offs to what is now called the Championship. That would have been thought very unlikely, had they been forced to stay at decrepit Leeds Road - which was then sold.
Brighton had been in similar difficulties by comparison, as the final twentieth century decade dawned. Albion had fallen on hard times and more so, from not establishing as an equivalent top ten Championship club. On relegation from the second tier in 1992, BHA 'remained' in div2 because they were renumbered on formation of the Premiership. The Goldstone Ground 'safety' capacity had been significantly reduced and search for a new stadium site was always 'ongoing'. The club appeared trapped, not only by unhelpful local authorities and sanctity of Green Belt but through self-inflicted abysmal financial management. Hove Council later also turned down a scheme for warehouses on the Goldstone site, that might initially have alleviated crippling debts and huge tax burden. By 1995 power had shifted into asset strippers clutches, who sold the Goldstone without securing an alternative home in Brighton & Hove. A new stadium remained all but a dream and sinking status of this football club was further eroded to become immersed in a total nightmare. After '95, Albion would not meet Huddersfield until 2001, when again we could only stand, stare and marvel at what might have been - little knowing what was actually still to come.
On 28 October 2005, Brightonfans.com were one of the first to announce 'Yes' - a verdict then just released by the ODPM, that upheld Falmer as the number one site for a community stadium. The case for Falmer hung in the balance after a first Public Inquiry. An apathetic anti lobby, presented as a pro-environment and conservation of ecology alliance, held sway with initial intractable Inspectors. In the second instant, they had to prove conclusively a viable alternative was forthcoming. Whereas in other localities a stadium would routinely be built at city limits, part of Brighton's problem was availability of land encompassed at the foot of surrounding South Downs. Further, an error in that paperwork granting planning permission left a loophole opponents could effectively exploit by seeking a Judicial Review.
In Sept '06 Brighton & Hove Albion may have lost three consecutive League 1 fixtures in a week but by October critically won a point of conjecture in an ongoing out-of-court battle of Falmer with Lewes District Council. A year after Prescott's verdict this undemocratic body guessed they could prolong legal processes as much as possible but were out manoeuvred by the FC, who instigated a preliminary hearing to circumvent formal High Court action. LDC realised the whistle was about to blow at the 90th minute for extra time and substituted their future protracted tactics, reverting to plan A. The government solicitor had previously offered matters be referred to Communities Minister Ruth Kelly, for inspection and consultation. This would include due consideration of all such questions LDC raised by way of challenge. Therefore a conclusive situation BHA and B&H city council actively encouraged, was available again as a method of categorically reaching an incontrovertible decision.
The gist of Lewes DC's current argument concerns the associated AONB. In a strange twist of fate, BHAFC applied first to B&HCC for planning permission within Unitary boundaries at Village Way. Clearly of necessity, adjacent land for an immediate transport 'drop-off' area was required, still to the south of the Droveway but fell into LDC's non-rural patch - although viewed seemingly an act of heinous bureaucratic provocation. This parcel has subsequently been grabbed by all those organisations the sub-county authority purport to represent like CPRE, to be passed around as 'prime downland' on a sensitive chalk slope. So a perceived audacious application to tarmac right up to a natural roadside boundary, was actually equally valid because proposed National Park limits were not originally established but open to public consultations. However, common sense did not prevail and a myriad of minor groups like the Society of Sussex Downsmen, fought to register remote ploughed up 'set-aside' as an integral field of regional recreational importance. Let's face it, there would be a bloody good carpark ready for expected out of county tourists, wishing to partake of a new NP promoted 'perfect' landscape. And remember, there would anyhow be an all year right of access to popular heritage in 'unspoilt countryside', as the ever trampled South Downs Way becomes some sort of back packers or mass ramblers' super highway to Brighton - not just a little busy beauty spot on alternate autumn/winter Saturday afternoons. Slight infiltration of the AONB won't usurp the hold LDC attempts to justify but they can't stay elected ad infinitum and eventually, power exerted by those National Park civil administrators will make rescinding outdated byelaws - the only true vocation of small town 'representatives'.
Martin Perry managed to retain his sanity and one day, which coincided with the anniversary of Withdean opening, received some really good news.
Go to the Falmer tab to check out what happened next.
Managers
There was a local south-coast derby on a Tuesday night, when Bournemouth came to town. The first time they visited in the 'modern' Withdean era was almost exactly five years before in 2001, while the world recovered from 9/11 and realised its implications. By coincidence it was also Brighton & Hove Albion's selective Centenary Match. Brighton duly won, to cement their intention to make a mark on history and attempt to gain a second consecutive promotion in three years at W'dean. Three games later Micky Adams quit as manager, to jump two levels instead of just one small step. Peter Taylor bridged that gap but subsequently failed to take a giant quantum leap. A year later 2002, Martin Hinshelwood was about to be relieved of duties by Dick Knight after eight losses on the bounce, with a 'ten and out' limit imminent. Two years on from actually achieving 100 years, by 2003 Albion were back in div2 (league 1) having further; lost those two 'new' bosses, had an abortive initiation to div1 (Championship) in '02/3 and were now about to wave goodbye to Steve Coppell. Thus changing their third manager in quick succession. September is remembered as the month war broke out in 1939 but for this 21st century equivalent, "'progress' in our time" was getting a tad ridiculous. By the second coming of Bournemouth to our super sports complex in Feb '04, BHA was well on the way to reach a place in div2 play-offs. A 3-0 home victory certainly floated our boat. We had by then lashed Mark McGhee to the helm and he steered a straight course to the Millennium Stadium. Another three years went by and following a second sinking from the Championship and indifferent form in League 1, Brighton repeated their September phobia and dispensed with Mr McGhee's captaincy.
Mark McGhee
There was another weekend visit to south London in Sept 2006, thankfully short in terms of nationwide away trips because appearing a lot on the fixture list is - Millwall. We'd been there a lot during recent seasons, which also brought mixed memories flooding into our once manager's aching head. He came, in the year 2000 to Millwall and in that new beginning, created heaven and then it became hell. He took them up to division 1 and on to play-offs but crowd trouble meant imposed restrictions at the Den, when sky high gates fell to meagre on rocky earth. Mr McGhee was under enforced gas pressure, as imposed Premiership impossibilities simmered on a low rear burner. The following season, he moved down to Brighton in 2003 and took us back into the Championship alongside Millwall again. Both clubs dropped into familiar League 1 surroundings by 2006 and Mr McGhee was once more feeling pressurised.
Dick Knight appointed Mark McGhee, hoping he could make new city boys Brighton a regular Championship side, like he had with our neighbours in the capital and one enduring life with the Lions. Our new manager responded with a defensive, 'there is no magic wand'. This no nonsense Glaswegian had a very broad playing and managing experience, also saying, 'I don't want to be known as a Second Division specialist'. McGhee arrived here after long deliberation and not as a knee jerk reaction to wanting a job. By own admission, he was prepared to give 100% but only signed for two years initially, as a sort of pre-nuptial honeymoon period. Those opening games at lesser standard for our gritty Scots Boss were, in footy speak a 'mare. He added to the squad immediately and held a doctrine of blooding young players considered of pro ability. His aim was to finish in the top two. It didn't happen quite that way but a prominent Youth Policy flourished during two subsequent years ('04-'06) in the Championship. However establishment there stalled as things went badly wrong towards that disappointing end to our last Champ's season. Even a 1st of April win at lowly Millwall was merely celebrated as another bizarre event, although it could be seen just what youth, pace, enthusiasm and commitment might eventually achieve.
The '06/7 season started with a below average assessment and again Mr McGhee was feeling a squeeze. He asked for a degree of tolerance from Brighton fans, who gave him a tongue lashing on seeing the third consecutive defeat in six. 'We have a very young squad, who need time to develop and aren't suddenly going to turn up experienced and knowing the ropes'. So, based on form thus far, no inspiring talk of a 'top two finish' or presumably not League 1 er, specialism either. 'The only players available to me beyond the 16 were two others, neither of whom featured before'. Well, BHA had become a selling club and by definition 'profits' by remaining small and turning over talent - including those not reaching McGhee's supposed quality test for attitude, seemingly in which he did specialise. So goal posts appeared to get moved since progressive days of three years before, when he stated, 'I've come here to be at the top end of the game again'. Brighton fans very much welcomed a return to such an ambitious program that desperately needed to boost this club and yes, it all kicked off on a Saturday in Docklands. McGhee was sacked on Friday.
Dean Wilkins
More speculation and serial September sensation in the denes of Sussex - Dean & Dean were still awaiting their first home win! We supposed this small blip in an otherwise winning sequence would soon be rectified, to register complete satisfaction on any given Saturday. Their new partnership bridged a six year gap stretching back to the end of September 2000. On that proverbial 'well I never did' football merry-go-round, Withdean was 'sold out' for a first time and Micky Adams was shortly to appoint Bob Booker as his new assistant and also Dean White as boss of reserves. B'fans said thank you Bob for your guiding, advising and generally looking after so many BHA managers and players in the interim. Our new caretaker Dean Wilkins, had previously been kicking a ball about at Worthing, Crawley and Bognor before returning to Brighton as Youth Team Coach in pre-season of 1998. As a 21yo Dean left QPR, joined BHA and went out on loan to er, LO. He then ended up in the Netherlands for three years, finally signing again for Brighton in 1987. It was a kind of arse about face and definitely a little bit double Dutch to boot. Adams brought Dean White to the club to tap into his non-league knowledge and experience, thus trying to exploit any local talent to be found in and around the county. On May Bank Holiday 2000, BHA reserves had played Hastings Town, managed by White and won the Sussex Senior Cup via a penalty shoot-out. Fiesty Adams gave away lucky winners champagne to his future 2nds coach and Chief Scout - keeping Dean in mind for a professional post at Brighton and subsequently much more bubbly.
Coaches
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Miscellaneous
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Dean Wilkins
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Mark McGhee
Going back in time to mid November 2003, BHA were full of anticipation for a successful launch to return to a division 1 orbit. Mark McGhee had stepped forward to replace Steve Coppell and next up was Bristol City at Withdean. Albion were in 4th place in div2, four points ahead of City and within reach of leaders Plymouth and QPR. McGhee said, 'I don't think anyone at the club believes we have a squad that can guarantee us a top two finish. Therefore I am determined to put together a squad that will give us a chance of finishing in the top two.' After the match which Bristol won 4-1, McGhee then said, 'I think between the time of Steve going and me arriving at the club, the players had lost a little bit of confidence and a bit of fitness and they are starting to get that back. This should bode well for the very hard programme coming up... However there's a lot of work to be done in order to get us back to the top of this division and we just can't afford to have days off at the moment.' Brighton fans had got a shock during that Bristol fixture but home form picked up again and the next 90 minute Withdean 'loss' of sorts, was to Swindon in '03/4 play-off semi-finals. Meanwhile McGhee struggled to prevent a string of defeats on the road until entering the run-in proper. His words were seemingly as thin as Albion's away form as we went for at least 6th qualifying spot. A play-off place was secured, five points behind third placed Bristol City and six adrift of automatically promoted QPR.
Three seasons later on our last visit to Ashton Gate for a JPT tie the manager had changed, although Albion's '06/7 squad had not radically altered. During a summer day of 1 September '06, in an early season League 1 sparring contest at City, McGhee fell foul of fans and ultimately his Chairman. In a slightly different ball game, Wilkins was also building for a future and still generally has backing while inheriting, understanding and tackling latent problems. McGhee's then fielded team could be called experimental, having shown the door to numerous established pro's before pre-season. By default, Wilkins had adapted those remaining personnel to needs as he saw fit for purpose to progress. If ongoing League results were expressed in form of a graph, an undulating upward curve reached a plateau, possibly peaked and had to be watched closely, if not monitored ultra carefully for signs of downward motion. But that midweek contest was a second consecutive cup-tie and one perhaps with more significance than being pushed over the edge by a flashy Prem outfit. There were post match measures pinpointing how far Brighton had fallen in relation to a typical top ten League 1 club, who we crucially defeated in regaining Championship status - getting on for three years before. Essentially Albion had to view it like past play-off or Millennium Stadium style events charged with positive energy. However times had changed and this was kicked off by McGhee but eventually to be finished by Wilkins.
Steve Coppell
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Martin Hinshelwood
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Peter Taylor
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Micky Adams
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pre-Withdean Managers
Norman Cook
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Celeb fans
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Old Withdean Squad
Richard Carpenter
Richard Carpenter came to Brighton from Cardiff as a Bosman free transfer. Adams had tried to sign him previously but Chippy stayed an extra year in Wales. At an earlier time when B'ton were on the Goldstone skids, Carpenter was winning div3 promotion at Gillingham. In years following, when Albion erstwhile played home games up at Priestfield, he was at Fulham with Adams and yet more success. After another promotion at Cardiff, our man from Kent coasts and shores sidestepped a possible move to now div1 Gillingham - in favour of Sussex by the sea. Peter Taylor had meanwhile pushed Gills onward and upward but would no doubt, have appreciated Chippy's work ethic there. After taking over from Adams as B'ton manager in '01/2, he found out what might have been. He said, 'if he'd had real pace he would have played at the very top level.' Blimey, steady-on Mr T. Anyway, Carpenter definitely made the grade in div1, or Championship call it what you will, to soar to seven years with Seagulls.
Carpenter scored twice against Gillingham in Champ's contests at Withdean. In September of '02/3 he let fly a long range special, when we were two down and in need of a makeover at the back. The ball cannoned of both post and keeper before entering the net at speed. On Boxing Day in '04/5 Chippy did it again from 25 yards as was his party piece, to open his account for another Championship campaign. In '05/6 he only scored one and in some respects, it was a handful of vital goals from mid-field that had previously helped Brighton forwards - in both senses! Carpenter said, 'I'd like to thank the fans for their support over the years. They have always been good to me.' He moved on in '06/7 and played for Conference South side Welling Utd. The club is not far off that A2 dual carriageway to London, from a route through Gillingham. Perhaps he just prefered an immediate return to reside nearer his roots in hills, fields and green spaces of Kent, than to shut up shop in Sussex. B'fans said good luck mate and thanks for everything.
Back in 1999 Brentford completed their programme in that old div3 (league2) as champions, while Albion actually celebrated too but bizarrely in 17th place. Our 'home' match at borrowed Gillingham on Boxing Day '98, was witnessed by nearly five thousand against a beatable (when they travelled away from W London) Bees side, with victory for Albion 3-1. Micky Adams had come on board that following Spring at Priestfield and for once kept us out of 23rd position, as 'held' precariously in each of those previous three terrible seasons. He then put together a side fit for a new era at the Withdean and as they say in Sussex, 'the rest is BHA history'. Adams brought in Charlie Oatway, Paul Watson and Darren Freeman from an old century Brentford clear-out for '99/00. He later also picked up ex-Bees Danny Cullip, who'd recovered from a serious knee injury and twelve months down the line, Bob Booker as Assistant Manager for our centenary year through '00/01.
Journeymen
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Barry Lloyd
Early in '07/8 season the Albion gave a job to southern old-boy and ex-manager Barry Lloyd to go forth and find some new and exciting talent. He was BHA reserve and youth team coach in 1986 before stepping into the bosses job after nine months. His previous managerial career included a spell at Yeovil Town, when they successfully gained a place in the new national Alliance Premier League of 1979. Lloyd got Worthing up to speed in the Isthmian League then made a fateful jump into Football League. Following initial relegation to old div3, Lloyd rebuilt a Brighton side and got Martin Hinshelwood installed as chief coach. This useful partnership saw BHA once more get to within touching distance of original div1 by 1991. Barry Lloyd then became Managing Director, while Hinshelwood more or less ran the playing side. A sometimes volatile relationship with fans deteriorated over the next two seasons as Brighton fell to third tier football, while the Premiership took off. Albion were a selling club and basically Lloyd didn't have spare money to spend because high squad wages and growing debts took a toll from limited budgets. Increasingly this football club was in a desperate financial situation and fans perceived Lloyd as integral to an emerging debacle. A valuable asset in size and position of our Goldstone Ground, unfortunately was set against a background of claims by creditors and outstanding tax bills. By end of the 1992-3 season only sale of Brighton's goalkeeper averted a winding-up order. HM Inland Revenue offices were at Durrington and Lloyd personally delivered the face-saving cheque. In December 1993 he parted company with BHA and fans rejoiced. However he had done some good transfer business over several years and helped keep our club viable. There were also new stadium proposals, which perhaps received concerted and justified opposition but would not have left us homeless. A certain irony exists whereby those who relieved Lloyd of executive decisions quickly took BHA even further down a short Goldstone Lane to disaster. Hinshelwood and Lloyd kicked off a programme of developing youth players and that was something which continues to date.
BHA consistently turned out half decent youth teams since Withdean became our local pitch. A number of these kids came through to figure regularly in first elevens and they obviously have been coached to high technical specification. However we actually want to be a version of Championship hammers and not a mere League 1 anvil - hence a revised scouting regime. They say footballers brains are in their boots, well perhaps some of our baby-faced pro's and scholars should enrol for a psychology course at Sussex University. They'll be beating heads against a nearby red brick wall otherwise, as imported 'clever' players forever fill team-sheets on that aforementioned road to Falmer and beyond. Is it important young men of our county get heads into gear, apart from randomly racing around and using quick feet? Maybe ask Peter Taylor, he'd often deliberately thought U21 training things through.
BHA must be considered a true future Championship contender, although waiting time may depend on overall squad strength. There are plenty of smaller clubs that do gain entry to tier two but those similar 'Yeovils' of this country find it so much harder to stay put. Time can tell if young pro's like Lynch, Cox, Robinson, Rents, Elphick, Fraser, Gatting, Sullivan, Fogden and Chamberlain can themselves make a quantum leap to a higher division. Individually some of these should be around when we play Wolves, Ipswich or Burnley again. However it is unlikely they can represent one side collectively at that level, even if it is very close to home.
Michel Kuipers
Former Dutch Marine Michel Kuipers played in all fixtures in '07/8. Not so during '06/7 when ex-no.1 (renumbered 16) Kuipers, a man allowed to handle the ball under rules and regulations but only in pre-match practice, made only 14 apps. Hot Palace youngster Scott Flinders had signed for reserve loan goalie duties and then stole into numero uno, making 'one' seem a tad uninformed - from his union colleague's uniliteral perspective. Kuipers probably wonders what actually happened to leave him left alone yet again, when Gods of football miraculously moved those proverbial goal posts. He has however been in this predicament before, on more than one occasion.
In '05/6 dour Scot Mark McGhee had a goal-keeper problem or two and eventually more. Kuipers was recuperating from injury when that third third Championship campaign kicked-off. A certain Wayne Henderson arrived direct from Aston Villa, on day one at Derby to keep goal for Brighton. The youthful Irishman said, 'I'm ambitious, I want to make a name for myself as a number one. I'd like to think Brighton could be somewhere I could achieve that.' Inside the opening month a very tall young Frenchman had also come abroad and signed for a years stint in vying for now international custodian's gloves. Florent Chaigneau came over from FC Rennes but without a lot of competitive experience, at that time being just twenty one Chaigneau didn't merely dream of a nightmare at Shrewsbury in the League Cup, as Brighton conceded three there in extended cavalier knockout style. Six weeks into the season Alan Blayney from N Ireland, also joined via Southampton and effectively became number two between the sticks. Blayney then deputised when Henderson returned to Villa right at the end of October. Kuipers meanwhile had made a comeback in reserves and trotted out for Albion in their festive Boxing Day fixture at Withdean. Blayney too had departed as 'on-loans' expired, while Chaigneau resumed warming the bench for a third keeper, in lieu of any further 'entente cordiale' appearances. On a New Year's Day trip to Southampton, after a team-bus altercation concerning manager McGhee and striker Knight, Chaigneau got to replace Kuipers under the cross-bar at unforgiving St Mary's. Five days later he proffered a goal-mouth Gallic shrug, following a tame exit from an FA Cup round3 tie at Withdean - as McGhee despaired yet again on the hostile Sassenach south-coast of Sussex. Amid these multi-national comings and goings, Kuipers kept goal for two adjacent fixtures before Henderson was reinstalled permanently. Brighton boy Richard Martin took over as bench man, Chaigneau quickly reduced to a forlorn Frenchman, McGhee was the henchman come hangman and who'd be a forgotten Dutchman? McGhee always selected a sub goalie in his match-day sixteen and for '06/7, Henderson assumed king-pin no.1 and Kuipers made no.16 - ironical huh, when unused no.13 was considered unlucky. You know the rest to date.
Previous shenanigans of an in-front of the net kind, ensued during '04/5, following Kuipers shoulder injury. A giant goalie from Blackburn reserves played for Brighton at Leeds in a pink jersey. This instant impact lasted only three games for David Yelldell, as fourteen days in Jan-Feb highlighted an off colour on-loan fashion statement. Yelldell had an American father but after little glory, saw more stars than stripes at Albion. Rami Shaaban was his immediate replacement and also had foreign connections He was eligible to play for Sweden and did so in last year's World Cup. However, prior to a short engagement at Brighton, he was recovering from serious injury at Arsenal. Shaaban played the next six games through Feb-Mar, including four consecutive near catastrophic defeats. Brighton fell from a healthy position before the run-in to dispute a desperate dog-fight for survival. Alan Blayney was drafted in to stop the rot and try and keep a crucial clean sheet for Brighton to finally get the point. He did save a couple of penalties and saw us to safety. Ben Roberts eventually had been forced to retire due to persistent back pains and Blayney was thought of as a likely Championship goalie for consolidating next term.
Kuipers and Roberts had shared handling formalities throughout '03/4 until FDM survived a horrific car smash in late November. Michel was admitted to hospital but sustained relatively minor injuries. Another kid keeper, Ross Flitney from Fulham had been called in as cover for two injury prone custodians and made a couple of appearances. Steve Jones took over for a brace of matches away from home, when Brighton really struggled to accumulate points on the long road to Wales that term. Roberts got back to fitness as the push for a play-off place intensified. Coach John Keeley had even been 16th man over mid-season periods but eventually Kuipers became back-up for an all important run-in and play-offs.
Ben Roberts initially visited Brighton as a stand-in after Kuipers was injured in an FA Cup r3 tie at Norwich in that fateful '02/3 relegation campaign from division 1. He turned out three times and impressed enough for Steve Coppell to want him permanently in div 2. Meanwhile Dave Beasant did the 'do' until a cliff-hanger of a finish at Grimsby on the first Sunday in May. He was so old, Keelo refused to coach him but brought up a constant supply of reinvigorating sports drinks, that were intravenously drip-fed prior to springtime Saturday afternoons - allegedly!! Goal-keepers seem to go on forever so there is still time for FDM to get his old numerical allocation and continued first choice on the team-sheet back. Possibly just in time for next season's anticipated if not expected success - but in that great football pyramid, including those holding their hands up, who can really tell?
Dean Hammond
Dean Hammond joined Colchester for 250k in the January transfer window of 2008. He was a home grown player who came through ranks to be an influential member of Wilkins '07/8 squad but moved on before signing a revised contract offer.
In December 2006, Cheltenham Town had gone back to Gloucestershire very late on a Saturday night having been defeated at Withdean by an 11th hour penalty. Player of the year in '06/7, Dean Hammond got a brace of goals that evening. His coolly taken spot-kick completed a consecutive but ultimately rare home win to push Albion into the top ten. Brighton seemingly could double their average tally as expected and then a few bonus points would send us into play-off contention as in '03/4. Er, no. Robins eventually did go bobbing along, while Seagulls merely defecated in their own nest.
In May 2004, Brighton fans were preparing to get into play-offs, then hoped to knockout opponents Swindon and go see their heroes run out as winners at the Millennium Stadium. Hammond had not figured in that plucky super squad, which was worthy of a shot at regaining Championship status. Latter units were a long way off such fanciful aspirations. Anyway, Hammond had been a stalwart in a useful reserves side that strolled through to contend the Sussex Senior Cup final. A string of half decent performances in their Combination league as well, reflected the driving force that was Hammond and Lee in mid-field. Unlike his Sussex born colleague's career afterwards, Dave Lee was never able to break into the first eleven on a regular basis and was released by Mark McGhee. Brighton seconds contested for silverware against Worthing FC and led from an early penalty on May Bank Holiday Monday. For over an hour the result hung in balance as West Sussex seasiders went for it. They had been runners-up in Ryman div1 south and appeared well organised. On 73 minutes a superb move down the right flank resulted in a high ball into the centre. From around the D, Hammond smashed a volley goalwards. The ball went into a bottom corner and if it had happened in a p-o decider at Withdean, the place would have erupted on cue. It was a fantastic goal that won Albion the cup, although when Hammond held it up there was something of an anticlimax without typical noisy away support on hand.
The following season of '04/5, Hammond was in and out of the first team but finally established his credentials as a local lad done good. Very late in that campaign to hold on to a Championship place, he got two goals against West Ham at Withdean in a precious 2-2 draw. Both were headers and the second came in the last minute from a Carpenter cross. By the next game, no. 45, Albion had accumulated 50 points and needed one more to ensure continued status, which was still considered success, if actually not quite suitable consolidation. Hammond had made the grade and went on to make 40 appearances in the Championship of '05/6. Brighton were relegated on Easter Monday as McGhee's misfiring, misplaced and mismanaged charges lost yet again at home. Hammond got sent off for two bookables after 80 minutes to prematurely end his season. This fortuitously expired before he witnessed the team's last day dire display versus Stoke City. That marked a required evolution - if not exactly to say revolution for '06/7. With 46 apps and 11 goals he became regarded as an experienced player in his prime and important to future success. DH got to wear the captains armband and established as a goal-scoring midfielder. His loss during the middle of a possible play-off season in '07/8 did make a difference to continuity of results expected from a settled side.
Past Players
Alan Curbishley
Alan Curbishley was manager at West Ham, having replaced Alan Pardew when those blowing bubbles burst down at Boleyn Ground and Green Street was covered at length in tabloid brown stuff. Hammers had previously failed to somehow close out the FA Cup final of May '06, when a right old east-end knees up in Cardiff turned into a sickening second Wembley nightmare scene. It had been going from bad to worse since, whilst a new sugar daddy entered the Boardroom promising a sweet smell of success. Alf Garnet would have turned in his municipal grave, as even a hardened cynic might just believe, oi yeah, actually, money can buy everyfing.
Brighton played Charlton on 8 May 2001 in our own friendly cup final to celebrate winning the 3rd division title in our 100th year. It was also a testimonial for Malcolm Stuart and Jock Riddell, for years of 'over and above' service to Albion. Alan Curbishley had worked wonders at Charlton in their return to the Premiership that season and got them into the top ten. He had been at the helm since 1990, initially with Steve Gritt for a partnership that lasted five years. As an Albion player, Curbishley made 132 appearances before joining Charlton as coach. He had started at West Ham, coming through ranks of their Academy, so knew a bit about the place.
As a kid, Curbishley (whose name is Llewellyn) was spotted for potential and made an impact for both England schoolboys and youth teams. He was in the side for West Ham at the 1975 Youth Cup final. As a creative midfielder, he played nearly 100 times at Hammers and also got into England’s U21 squad. In 1979 he went to Birmingham and enjoyed a successful spell back in division 1. A busted knee and moves to Villa and Charlton saw a slight blip but he helped Athletic up to top flite football. Barry Lloyd brought Curbishley to the Goldstone in 1987 and a go at Third Division tactics. However, he proved to be inspirational as a playmaker and Albion regained div2 status after that one season, with 84 points for 2nd place. As a manager, Curbishley twice took Charlton into the Premiership. After establishing Addicks there since 2001, he took leave of absence last term and sat back for an inevitable phone call from that fickle finger of fate. We assume having witnessed a lengthy stadium merry go round at the Valley, which included a short ground share with West Ham, Curbishley understandably passed on the unfulfilled Falmer farce, when instincts told him an old colleague was young enough to walk in his footsteps. Perhaps a lack of money shouldn’t really be expected to buy everything.
In case you didn't remember, West Ham were once thrashed 6-0 at Reading. Big-time Charlies, Prem prima donnas and fragile super-egos were some of the more polite comments aimed in the direction of Hammers line-up. They'd allegedly put more effort into a wee small hours binge at Faces nightclub than that faceless performance over ninety minutes. Curbishley said, 'I'm very disappointed'. He had gone from hero to zero but was carrying a can for the big Bentley brothers who started believing their, WHU are you, 'oh wow, twenty gees a week' hype. Big money and bling, arrogance and bad attitude had sent them on a downward spiral that even an eighty five million investment mighta failed to prevent crashing and burning like Icelandic lava in full flow. Meanwhile Curbishley had sixteen games to sort it. He did, so goes up there with Steve Coppell as a bloke Brighton fans admire, whatever happened while we were fleetingly in his still shell-shocked company. Btw, we’d also like given a little money just to buy something as well.
Past Managers
Brian Clough
Brighton fans will recall a Sept 2004 visit to the City Ground alongside the River Trent, where there were flowers. Brian Clough had died a week previously and opposite Forest's club shop was a cellophane covered sea of blooms, all sorts of football mementoes, other trivia and also shirts. One of these was of blue and white stripes, as a touching tribute to his inspiring though brief excursion to the south coast, over thirty years before. The Chairman responsible for bringing such a big name to boost lowly Albion was Mike Bamber. Sadly, he too passed on but is remembered as prime mover and instigator of BHA's glory days. Clough deserted to Leeds after nine months of only popping over from the midlands, to stay in hotels and Brighton sued. In an out-of-court settlement, a year after raising Sussex hopes to fever pitch, the Messiah admitted letting down, 'the best Chairman I ever worked for'. Bamber had given Him total freedom, carte blanche but perhaps not enough money to eventually turn Albion into a full member of the elite. There was Boardroom talk over drinks, of a new ground but the Borough Council could hardly be described as being onside or remotely supportive. Inevitably it became a dream that slipped away but not finally put to rest. Of course, there will always be football's ups and downs over time. Bamber subsequently presided over our club in division 1 and a FA Cup final. Clough simultaneously took Nottingham Forest to a peak of European success. They were then reduced to League 1 status like little old us. Hey, it's still better than those gory days, ain't it? Although for decade after long twentieth century decade, an overriding assumption prevailed - Brighton definitely had potential.
Dick Knight has kept faith with Mark McGhee after seeing modern managers of Prem calibre like Micky Adams, Peter Taylor and Steve Coppell come and go. This FC had big ambitions, probably higher than those of on-the-make seventies and Falmer is very much top of a current agenda. Yes, potential is alive and well and living temporarily at Tongdean Lane, BN1 5JD, surrounded by beautiful parks, sumptuous residences and suburban affluence. Money abounds but for BHA, seemingly paid out as rent for a cramped, converted athletics arena and utility sports complex. The answer to our twenty first century conundrum is all to do with wrong location, relocation and right location. On 24 July 1999, Nott'm Forest were first visiting team to grace the pitch at leafy Withdean. However you wanted to view it, they were a big club and it had been a very long time since we'd entertained such a salubrious outfit. A tad downhill for the Reds since them on-the-up nineties, with relegation a huge shock. Nevertheless, possessing a fan base easily equal to most Championship upper class, they 'should' get right back in there sooner, rather than later. Albion would kill to get half their average gate, although most of our long-suffering devotees are much more accepting of lower league fare than Forest faithful, who without mercy have 'murdered' a number of stop-gap managerial victims. If somehow finding out the mortal truth, Clough would maybe have a turn or two in his grave.
FA Cup experiences
Dean Wilkins faced another 'first' in Nov '06 and didn't want to be knocked out by it. Over four previous seasons Brighton only had to compete in the FA Cup round 1 once, in '03/4 as a League 1 side. Our record in this prestigious competition is not great during the Withdean era, considering we were three times playing in your actual Championship. Albion had not gone beyond round 3 and as in the League Cup, also tripped up against lesser sides apart obviously from stronger ones. On FAC1 Saturday in 2006 Northwich Victoria from Nationwide Conference made the journey to Withdean, which is slightly further than Aldershot, Woking or Crawley and certainly vastly different in terms of a pure football ground. It was by all accounts be an entertaining spectacle - see reports.
In the previous season '05/6, Coventry came to our comprehensive sports complex and snatched victory, to be included in the draw for round 4, while a 6700 audience looked on. Brighton had suffered from what Mark McGhee called the Withdean effect, where even near 8000 sized crowds fell well short in more ways than one. Together with an equivalent to league relegation form, we feebly went out to a one - nil reversal. Goals had been hard to come by and writing was scrawled on an inadequate suburban stadium wall, 'wot, no goal scorer?' The truth remained that there wasn't any money to buy one. Micky Adams went back to his brand new shiny Ricoh Arena, planned a sky blue Premiership future and felt sorry for old mates. Lewes District Council meanwhile sought a Judicial Review in the High Court and a black cloud of depression hung above Brighton & Hove on that dreary January '06 day in our winter of discontent.
What a difference a year makes. A day out in London, even post Xmas & New Year is still to be savoured and Brighton fans had gone to White Hart Lane in '05 by the odd five and a half thousand. Spurs supporters hot footed to Tottenham and 36000 turned up, which at £30 to £50 a seat is an awful lot of dosh. Albion took on Prem giants following some half decent results for '04/5, keeping us safely above the drop zone. Almost in reaction to dismal home surroundings, Brighton love playing in big stadia and often produce a relative rise in standard. Spurs allowed Seagulls time and space to soar and so we saw a very useful performance, in a cut and thrust cup atmosphere. With eight minutes left it showed one apiece on the board and a replay was definitely on. Then a piece of brilliance from one of several Internationals in white and navy blue, gave those metropolitan big boys a path to progress. BHA got beat but felt far from down and out. There was hope for a positive gathering of momentum, to go push ahead and establish in FL's second tier.
In '03/4 it involved a round 1 trip to Lincoln in a colourful fall during November, a week after Mr McGhee had taken the manager's job and seen his charges scrape a draw at autumnal Peterborough. A debacle similar to those old Goldstone FA Cup shocks prevailed as Imps ran in three for one against. An unimpressive FAC record thus continued in front of an incredulous new boss. He said, 'I think it unacceptable for any team to lose to another from a lower division'. Brighton had alarmingly lost their way when Steve Coppell resigned in October and seasonal changes were afoot. McGhee stated on recovering from a suckers knockout blow, 'I will look thoroughly at younger players in the club. If there are any good enough however young, I'll not be afraid of playing them'. So rolling dice had been thrown which we wished would subsequently reveal all the right numbers.
The first time Brighton had reached the Championship in '02/3, we were drawn away in round 3 at Norwich, three weeks after pinching three points there in the league. It had been a bonus Xmas present on Boxing Day '02, when Albion survived a second half battering to lead a charmed life in our area. An action replay almost followed in the cup tie with Seagulls flying into a lead just after half time, rather than before as in that league match. Suddenly the tape broke and chances ended up in our net, where as they'd done everything but in the original festive meeting. In fact a floodlight failure had postponed a yuletide schedule from Sat 4 Jan to a Tue eve k-o contest, ten days later. Steve Coppell's philosophy assumed a level of performance would determine where the team would relatively be towards end of a very tough season. He was trying to turn relegation certainties into survivors and although making it happen, couldn't be expected to regularly go beat top ten outfits - especially in cup competitions.
Brighton had been on promotion parade for a second successive season in '01/2, when Peter Taylor was our gaffer. At the halfway stage we were in third place in League 1, having slipped off top slot through a number of recent draws. FA Cup round 1 had seen Shrewsbury dispatched 1-0 at Withdean. Another home tie for round 2 resulted in Rushden & Diamonds going out by 2-1 and both scraps were witnessed by 5500, which was around 1000 less than for a Nationwide sponsored fixture. Championship consolidators Preston came down from North End to Sussex by the sea for a round 3 work out. They had undergone a resurgence, rising from League 2 in '96 to win League 1 in 2000. In 2001 PNE reached a play-off final and were a kick in the shirt, or rather spot from the Premiership. Those who braved chilly weather in suburban B'ton on a Tuesday night, watched a clash of a good team against class opponents. On the Saturday before, Brighton had incurred only a third season's defeat up at Wigan, which came after a two week break due to prolonged South Downs snowfields. In order to make the grade at higher level, we had to demonstrate competitiveness. Albion missed a penalty when already one - nil down and bowed out to a late second soft giveaway to Lilywhites. Seagulls had been grounded by a higher flying outfit and also taught a valuable lesson in differences between desire and rigid examination, aspiration and apparent level of reality.
There was a desperate need for Wilkins current young squad to play in and thereby experience as many knock-out rounds as possible. Round 2 beckoned like a December beacon, lighting a road to glory or premeditated giant killing. A heart breaking defeat at Southend in the League Cup, revealed what fate can unexpectedly twist into any competition - as long as you're still left in the next draw. Eat your heart out Fergie! It may be jumping the gun but we really, really would like to start each New Year included on the list for round 3. Somewhere filled with 30000 plus seats would be quite a nice place to visit again for 5000 Brighton fans - like West Ham.
AWS, LDV, JPT etc
At a convenient time near to the end of the last decade, Brighton came to play at Withdean as a division 3 side. Millwall seemed to be a perennial division 2 outfit and so never the twain shall meet, except for knockout competitions. In December 1998 Millwall hammered Horton's 'heroes' team 5-1, at Priestfield in the Auto Windscreens Shield. A little later, our Goldstone glory ex-player went off home to Port Vale and Jeff Wood took over, plus get the sack shortly after. Then Micky Adams began to knock a reborn Albion eleven into shape for the new millennium. Millwall arrived to play on a night in December 1999. That occasion was an AWS round1 tie and was one of five straight home games in an extended fortnight. No true Brighton fan could forget the last match of that horrendous sequence, when Rochdale incredibly won 4-3. About 5000 turned up on one of the wettest evenings a south coast venue could provide for pre-Xmas outdoor entertainment. Brighton had also lost an FA Cup round2 replay 1-2 to Plymouth, on the last night of November. Initially 10 days earlier, they'd drawn 0-0 down at Home Park. There were 7400 in the west country and 5700 at W'dean for our return tie. Previously in div3 fixtures, Lincoln had gotten a 2-2 draw witnessed by that same 5700 faithful on a Tuesday night, seven days beforehand. Following this, on Saturday 27 Nov watched by a near 6000 sell-out, Northampton gave us a footballing lesson and left a new sports complex worthy 3-1 winners. The only victory in that period was against Millwall 1-0, in front of a mere 2400 paying punters. Those stay at home types missed a real treat. Hart grabbed a last minute winner, his first goal for seven appearances as centre forward. Team - Walton, Watson, Crosby, Carr, Hobson, Campbell, Rogers, Oatway, Aspinall, Hart, Ramsay. Round2 was away at div2 Bournemouth, where 500 B'ton fans saw Seagulls k-o'd 1-0 in front of 4300 at Dean Court - or Fitness First Stadium turned 90 degrees.
See '07/8 archive for 5 home fixtures in a row!
In August 2000 B'ton met Millwall again in the League Cup, over two legs home and away. Albion lost 1-2 at W'dean with 6000 present. Lions looked a good unit and smashed two in after mistakes in defence. Their quality of finishing was Championship standard and a real eye opener to BHA ambitions. Watson drove a free kick through an eleven man wall strung across their six yard box for a very bizarre score. B'ton worked at it but unfortunately couldn't level the tie. Team - Cartwright, Watson, Cullip, Crosby, Mayo, Freeman (Jones), Carpenter (Rogers), Oatway (Melton), Brooker, Hart, Zamora. For our equivalent league 2 campaign of '00/1 B'ton were defeated in 3 of 4 initial fixtures, to end August in 21st, or the berth immediately above a bottom three. It was almost a spectre of those bad old years at Goldstone & Gillingham. Millwall were hoping to improve on play-off places from their last term 5th position finish.
Up at the Den, Albion showed they had got their act together at last. Over 750 die-hards pushed the SE16 London gate to er, 5200 - well, it was a work day in September. A first half wonder strike on the stroke of break time put Lions one ahead and 3-1 on aggregate. It was all Albion in the second 45 min, that they hoped to extend by another 30. Seagulls pulled one back from a Jones tap in, following up good work by Brooker. However, an equaliser wouldn't come but not for want of trying. Team - Cartwright, Watson, Cullip, Wicks, Mayo, Rogers (Brooker), Carpenter, Oatway, Jones, Hart (Thomas), Zamora.
Seagulls flew through their league campaign on the back of that performance in docklands. A small step for the fledgling chicks but a giant swoop for the big bird eight months later. They eventually joined Millwall in a Championship equivalent in 2002. Millwall were also promoted in 2001, to division 1 after a new manager came in and revamped their fortunes - yes, a certain Mark McGhee.
The AWS competition had morphed into LDV vans trophy, where Albion met more div2 London opponents by name of Brentford in round2 of Jan 2001. Withdean had been a quagmire on New Years Day, when Southend dropped in to do a div 3 double over us. B'ton's loss on the opening afternoon of that season was seen by massed ranks of 3500 away fans. At this corresponding home debacle, 6500 popped along to see footy farce on a mud pile. The pitch was re-laid and Brighton took their homeless LDV tie over the Kew Bridge to get it done and dusted. Bees beat Seagulls 4-2 on penalties after 2-2 aet, when 2400 got into late, then later Griffin Park. But hey, we've never had much luck at their 'compact' place up river or generally in west London. Check the LVD round 3 result versus QPR in Dec 2003 for confirmation. Brighton took 1600 to Loftus Road with 7500 there in total. Albion gave a good account of themselves but were knocked out 2-1. By some sort of coincidence McGhee had been appointed BHA manager a little over a month prior as Brighton had just slipped up 1-0 at Bournemouth, then crashed 4-0 to Brentford on another futile night in the metropolis. We returned to Shepherds Bush for a League 1 match in Jan 2004 with 1500 supporters in a 17800 crowd. Albion battered Rangers in a second half blitz, though couldn't get a goal to alter a losing 2-1 scoreline.
A couple of recent defeats in Nov '06, seen in the context of AWS & LDV k-o ties as above, probably didn't indicate a cause for concern in Bermondsey's JPT QF evening dust up. Brighton and Millwall had seen enough of one another over the last couple of seasons to have compiled huge portfolios. Historically we'd give it a good go and that helped league form as a spin off. At least it's not too far into Sussex on the express train home, that's a bit of a knockout too.
See Swansea & Cheltenham reports for '07/8 ties.
League Cup evenings
Concerning the League Cup, BHA's run has been pedestrian to say the least. But hey, it's always an evening out - topical in late summer at Withdean. In '07 BHA got ko'd in round1 at Cardiff 0-1 and in '06 initially got past Boston 1-0 at W'dean. Albion then went out in R2 at Southend 2-3 after leading by a single goal with minutes left to play. In '05 we saw an August night humiliation in R1 away to Shrewsbury 2-3, after being ahead with ten minutes left to count down. In '04 we bombed in R1 again, at home to Bristol Rovers 1-2, in a twist of fate. Although taking an early lead from a Butters nut, Albion conceded two inside half an hour to almost ludicrous defensive errors. A crowd of four thousand could then, for all the difference another hour made, have an early exit - just like our er, cup heroes. In '03, prior to other LDV/FAC shenanigans, we reached round2. Brighton were drawn away first to Bristol Rovers, edging past them 1-0 at the Memorial Stadium. A spectacular over-head kick for the winner by McPhee, sent us into R2 - a memorable stat. Up at distant Middlesbrough and watched by ten thousand, Brighton went down 0-1 aet for a small taste of Premiership fare, Riverside style. The previous season '02 was also full of hope. BHA 'cruised' past Exeter 2-1 aet at Withdean, whilst in the midst of a league, long losing run. However, reality had set in when trounced by Ipswich at Portman Road for a September R2 elimination. Hammond, on only his second appearance, pinched an eighth minute lead. Virgo got to start a first game of that tumultuous div1 campaign. By half time Town were ahead and though the score remained unchanged Albion, local kid prospects and all knew yet more defeat at 1-3. A kind of reverse scenario applied to R1 of '01 at home, when in div2 we hammered then div1 Wimbledon (who?) 2-1, with two Zamora vital statistics. It fell apart when Prem outfit Southampton, came to our place and spanked us 0-3 - in those terrible hours of 9/11. On that day the world changed, a new order of events unfolded with each year and around this time, through football we remember.