Darlington - Away
Season 2 (A) 28/10/00 - 2-1 ~ Jones, Steele
In some ways it wasn't too disappointing for Brighton fans to realise they were going to be in div3 again, as that hopeful homecoming season of '99/00 finished with mid-table mediocrity. Really, we were just grateful to be watching Football League in a suburb of town, rather than somewhere outside Sussex. Expectation for fans of Darlington though had been somewhat higher and came as something of a shock to find it was yet more of the same this season. As with BHA, the club just north of Scotch Corner had plans to build a twenty-first century stadium and for Darlo it was sooner rather than later. For the record, roll on 2003 but promotion - who knows?
An allocation of 700 tickets was sent to Brighton and apparently 'sold out'. Unfortunately there were ongoing problems with railway tracks on the day and travel was hectic. A few more than 500 made it to Feethams, which had been revamped, if not to say partly rebuilt from 'good old days'. It was typical autumn weather that any Withdean south-stander could engage with. Micky Adams said, 'roads were just as chaotic as the trains so my thanks to those who made the trip. From the noise made it sounded like even more.' Kuipers had a good game, which was just as well in the circumstances. He is a big guy but agile and gets down fast when put to the test. Jones put Albion ahead in awful conditions. The pitch was half decent and so home b&w kit wasn't getting too muddy. Darlo equalised, stabbing in during a cut and thrust match as each side tried to put opponents to the sword. Super-sub Steele came on and got his first goal and Albion's winner. Zamora was off-key due to a virus and Brooker took his place to turn provider for Steele, as Brighton tried to play football, get forward and create chances. Adams said, 'we enjoyed a fortunate win. You have to say we weren't at our best but luck evens itself out over the course of the season.' Whatever - BHA had been beaten only once in twelve since a poor start, so were making their own luck now!
Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Wicks, Mayo, Hart, Rogers, Carpenter, Oatway (Steele), Jones (Melton), Zamora (Brooker).
Div 3 (League 2) P 16 . W 10 D 2 L 4 . F 27 A 14 . Pt 32 Po 2
Season 1 (A) 28/8/99 - 1-1 ~ Hart
Advantages of longer, warmer days at beginning of a ten-month season tend to be put to the test when a motorway journey of 300 miles is undertaken. For obvious reasons it was worth starting out very early and 'relaxing' before the game, knowing everything was kind of in timeless reverse afterwards. Anyway a trip to Darlington on a Bank Holiday weekend was still attractive for 450 hardy and intrepid Brighton fans on that long road. In the previous season, Darlington had finished with mid-table anonymity but were now bookies favourites to go up this term. A Mr Big had latterly come aboard to stir local populace into black and white fits of excitement and publicise promise of a new stadium. There were thoughts that other agendas might be under the project table but only time would tell. Meanwhile Brighton's own illustrious chairman and chief exec were formulating dedicated plans. Mr Knight had got full-time services of ex-McAlpine's, Martin Perry and he headed a team to blueprint a community stadium site at Falmer. He would also be responsible for marketing our club in the twenty first century as well as being 'caretaker' for Withdean. Perry said, 'we've come a long way in two years but there's still a lot to do. The Falmer application is extremely time consuming. We've set an ambitious target of three years and depending on the planning process believe we can meet it.'
Darlo's ground at Feethams was a typical old northern venue, where they actually wanted to keep that Tin Shed stand at the cricket ground end. There had been other changes and away fans had gotten a similar outlook from opposite Quakers fans, behind Safeways. Oatway got sent off for something slightly more than shopping bags. Apparently on a warm afternoon he'd got hot under a new Skint shirt collar. There was other posturing that might have benefited combatants by a cooling dip in close-by river Skerne, including Hart who did his bit with a goal and a yellow card to boot. Albion hung on with ten men and Adams went to seven 'defenders' but two up front - just in case.
Walton, Watson, McPherson, Crosby, Campbell, Wilder, Rogers, Oatway, Thomas (Johnson), Freeman (Newhouse), Hart (Cameron).
Div 3 (League 2) P 4 . W 2 D 1 L 1 . F 9 A 3 . Pt 7 Po 8
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Darlington - Home
Season 2 (H) 16/4/01 - 2-0 ~ Carpenter, Zamora
Before Easter, ongoing points tallies and academic positions at top of the div3 table suggested Brighton fans could be watching a promotion clincher at Withdean on Monday. It was a lunchtime kick-off so you couldn't imagine too many would be merely merry already, when turning up knowing Albion had gained promotion on Saturday. Results went our way but BHA had won impressively down at Plymouth and changed expectation into jubilation for gathering crowds homing in on the Tongdean Lane sports complex. Those that witnessed victory in the West Country and then realised we were up after a fabulous ninety minutes, nearly had a true taste of a moment that mattered. It wasn't instant delirium but something that sparked post match celebrations as a sort of massive bonus to the day. Brighton scored twice early in that contest so the winning goal actually hadn't more significance in a season full of winning sequences. There wasn't a pivotal point in play when the ball entering oppositions net sealed our destiny and released an outpouring of emotions not universally seen since 1997 at Hereford. At Withdean there was a party of sorts but it couldn't compare to immediate gratification, felt by response during intense action at a football match in real time.
Darlington did the decent thing and lived up to their nickname of Quakers. They proved true friends and clearly 'understood' when performing in the presence of a whole spirit at our unholy habitat. Two goals in a couple of minutes enforced the will of footy Gods, or fickle finger of fate for agnostic fans. In five years time it would be in records as a 2-0 win and to some extent fairly routine as others in this fantastic season. It was as if there was a dichotomy between obtaining bland results and experiencing wonderful reactions to their consequences. Albion hadn't hit hundreds of goals and beaten other clubs out of sight all season. It had been a progression where often we tipped the balance by one goal in our favour. Akin to Plymouth squad festivities a lap of honour was enjoyed, by both team and fans and it was impossibly difficult to say who got more satisfaction. Psychologically it was a positive tribal thing.
Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Crosby, Mayo, Hart (Thomas), Rogers, Carpenter (Melton), Oatway, Brooker (Jones), Zamora
Div 3 (League 2) P 41 . W 26 D 6 L 9 . F 68 A 31 . Pt 84 Po 2
Season 1 29/1/00 1-1 ~ Hart
Alan Cork said, 'if we continue to compete as we have at times, results will come and so will goals. This is a chance to get a run together, then set standards and build foundations for the future. At this level you've got to win the battle before you can win the war. You've got to put chances away and that's one area where we'll be looking to sharpen up. We've got the players to do it and are one of the highest scoring side in the division.'
Darlinton came down having pushed on for a promotion spot since the halfway stage at New Year. Their board and management had money to spend and seemingly enough to make dreams of a new ground reality. Darlo finished in mid table in '98/99 and did the double over us, including a mauling at Priestfield. This was during a bad spell for Albion in the bleak winter of '99 when losing six on the trot. By the time spring came, Dick Knight's vision was becoming a nightmare and he woke up just in time. Micky Adams got on board with ideas of a refit and getting BHA into higher echelons. These two clubs with correct backing had potential to climb lower leagues but staying up there was a different matter. Other outfits like Swansea, Plymouth, Hull, Peterborough, Orient and perhaps Southend were probable candidates but a lot depended on their future development, including ground reconstruction or a complete new stadium.
Cork's battle of Withdean proved prophetic as on a worsening pitch, both teams plugged away for over an hour goalless. It was a bit like typical fourth tier football for long periods where run of the mill players might score but... Darlo went one up and yes, this was reality in a city suburb that wasn't ideal but a true reflection of what we were. Adams was doing his brains and Knight had 'every confidence' in his manager. Hart did what he was paid for and in yet another div3 roughhouse grabbed an equaliser. From heights of green plastic seating, it wasn't really much different to last year.
Walton, Watson, Cullip, Carr, Crosby, Mayo, Freeman, Rogers, Oatway, Hart (Thomas), Pinamonte (Ramsay).
Div 3 (League 2) P 8 . W 9 D 9 L 10 . F 39 A 33 . Pt 36 Po 14
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