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Previous trips to the Regency town had ended at the Goldstone Ground. That had long disappeared by 2003, with Brighton leaving there in 1997; spending two years at Priestfield, (a round trip of 140 miles for a home game!); before returning to play at the Withdean Stadium. An athletics stadium with temporary seating installed for football, it simply is the worst place I have ever wached football. Quite appalling. In two visits the only saving grace was that it didn’t rain – the thought of getting drenched and than having a 250 mile drive home is too much to contemplate!!

Putting aside the ground, we travelled to Brighton in October 2003 more in hope than expectation. Brighton were 2nd in the table, level on points with leaders Plymouth. We were firmly in the relegation zone, with only 2 wins, (both of those on the road at Peterborough and Swindon); and the Board had reacted by parting company with Carlton Palmer 5 weeks or so previously. In the interim John Hollins had been in charge, until Sammy McIlroy had been appointed 9 days before the trip to the South coast. He had started off with a point against Notts County but there then followed a 3-1 home defeat by Colchester. So it was definitely more hope than expectation.

McIlroy unveiled Matt Heath, a centre back on loan from Leicester, and he certainly gave some stability to a defence which had conceded 17 goals in the previous month. The game remained as a stalemate until 10 minutes or so from time. Aaron Wilbraham seized on a loose ball in the area and slipped it past Brighton keeper, Kuipers. The travelling contingent from SK3 went into raptures, albeit that it was observed from 40 yards or so from behind the goal. Such was the ‘benefit’ of watching at the Withdean….

I have travelled to Brighton five times, three to the Goldstone and two to the Withdean. This was the only victory. I imagine ti will be a long time before we get to visit their new stadium. How the fortunes of the two clubs have gone in opposite directions since last playing them in 2010.

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Memories of the Goldstone Ground Memories of the Withdean Stadium

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THE GAMES

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Where the date is in bold click for highlights of the game

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	Date	Venue	Ground	Competition		F	A	Att:
Sat	07/11/92	a	Goldstone Ground	Barclays League Division 2 (Tier 3)	L	0	2	5,742
Sat	13/03/93	h	Edgeley Park	Barclays League Division 2 (Tier 3)	D	0	0	5,298
Sat	22/01/94	h	Edgeley Park	Endsleigh League Division 2 (Tier 3)	W	3	0	6,657
Mon	02/01/95	a	Goldstone Ground	Endsleigh League Division 2 (Tier 3)	L	0	2	8,862
Sat	22/04/95	h	Edgeley Park	Endsleigh League Division 2 (Tier 3)	W	2	0	3,789
Mon	01/01/96	a	Goldstone Ground	Endsleigh League Division 2 (Tier 3)	D	1	1	5,694
Sat	23/03/96	h	Edgeley Park	Endsleigh League Division 2 (Tier 3)	W	3	1	5,765
Sat	25/10/03	a	Withdean Stadium	Nationwide Football League – Division 2 (Tier 3)	W	1	0	6,171
Sat	28/02/04	h	Edgeley Park	Nationwide Football League – Division 2 (Tier 3)	D	1	1	5,038
Tue	25/11/08	h	Edgeley Park	Coca-Cola Football League – League 1 (Tier 3)	W	2	0	5,201
Sat	02/05/09	a	Withdean Stadium	Coca-Cola Football League – League 1 (Tier 3)	L	0	1	8,618
Tue	26/01/10	h	Edgeley Park	Coca-Cola Football League – League 1 (Tier 3)	D	1	1	3,636

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