Brighton Away: BFTG

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

I'm still fuming about your pm to Libertine.

[BrightonEye]

Some good comments here, and I think I understand where you're coming from. On the subject of stadium design, I'm wondering how many of you walked all the way round the Amex? If so, you'd have seen that it's a totally asymmetric building, with each stand very different from its neighbour. That's because, being built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it had to conform to extraordinarily demanding restrictions on maximum roof height in each area, in order to harmonise with the surrounding downland contours.

The result is a stadium which, while being totally unique, features end-stands of a size that no Brighton fan would have chosen. Despite all that, we like to think we can still crank up the noise all around the ground when it really matters.

On the transport front, most Brighton fans have come to regard waiting a maximum of 20 minutes for an eight minute journey centre to the city centre as quite bearable. (Compare with West Ham. Or Wembley?) And seasoned Albion regulars know that if you stay on for half an hour, having a drink with your mates, you can just walk the 300 yards to the station and get straight onto a train. A win-win situation.

Unlike Saturday.

[LUX]

have to say I exclude Brighton Eye from my negative view of BHA (internet) supporters.

I've a colleague over here who follows them too. He's OK.

[SHORT AND CURLY]

I actually enjoy going to Brighton away. Much better than dumps like loftus Road
The ground and facilities are very good and despite what is mentioned here I have found the rail service to Brighton /Lewes excellent. (Yesterday we queued and waited about 10 mins for a train to Lewes) Takes me a lot longer to get away from the Madstad.
I would also add that BHA fans on the whole are the same sort of family fan base that we have. In the pub before hand and after on the train they are all chatty and not in the slightest bit arsey.
The only down side yesterday was the £32 ticket price.

I look forward to going back next season (Lets face it neither of us are going anywhere fast)

I will beat Leeds on Tuesday and I doubt I will be making the same comments.

[Will95]

4th visit to the AMEX and excellent as always.

Don't remember the game if I'm honest though ended up bleeding after our goal though

AMEX is a superb stadium and the wait's aren't actually that bad. Definitely one of my favourite aways. The quietest I've ever heard their home fans there though. Stewards were a great crack as well, the police on the other hand were a bit arsey!

[3points]

That's because, being built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

That's surely a comedy quote? It's built next to a university campus. All you can see from the A27 is the stadium and the uni buildings, so why would you make such an arse of the design and have no decent sized stand behind the goal in the North end, but an enormous stand completely out of keeping with a ground with a 32,000 capacity. Very strange

[Winchester Royal]

That's because, being built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

That's surely a comedy quote? It's built next to a university campus. All you can see from the A27 is the stadium and the uni buildings, so why would you make such an arse of the design and have no decent sized stand behind the goal in the North end, but an enormous stand completely out of keeping with a ground with a 32,000 capacity. Very strange

From my knowledge, it was either build it like that or carry on playing at Withdean. They've put a decent sized stadium there given what they had to contend with, but given the general attitudes from Brighton fans of 'tinpot' and 'plastic' when discussing Reading, it's all a bit ironic that they new play in an out of town 'bowl' stadium with 15,000 new fans themselves.

[Maguire]

Brighton fans won't like to hear it, but I think BHA are a very similar club to RFC, just a few years behind.

The stadium's fine. Has its obvious plus and minus points but overall it's not at all bad.

[3points]

From my knowledge, it was either build it like that or carry on playing at Withdean.

not disputing that was the case but feel it is a little ironic that they've forced the club into building a ground to fit in with the surroundings, when it clearly stands out like a big grey sore thumb. But it's still decent and I like the seats, and I thought the transport was good

[BrightonEye]

That's because, being built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

That's surely a comedy quote? It's built next to a university campus. All you can see from the A27 is the stadium and the uni buildings, so why would you make such an arse of the design and have no decent sized stand behind the goal in the North end, but an enormous stand completely out of keeping with a ground with a 32,000 capacity. Very strange

Okay, some facts. If you look at the map - or better still, go and see it for yourself - you'll notice that Village Way marks a very sharp boundary between modern development (ugly Uni buildings, sleek stadium) and open, rolling downland. On Saturday you could see a flock of sheep grazing just a couple of hundred metres up from the Amex. From the A27, you'd of course see none of this.

Stand sizes? The West Stand was only made possible - and permissible - by excavating four storeys down into the chalk. The North and South ends had to be shallower because of the fall of the original landform down towards the railway. It really wasn't just thrown together, you know!

And after a 14 year wait with no proper ground, Albion fans these days are as happy as a pig in the proverbial!

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Negatives: Blackman not good.

I thought Blackman played quite well when he was on the ball, had some good runs and was happy to go forward.

[brighton_royal]

That's because, being built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

That's surely a comedy quote? It's built next to a university campus. All you can see from the A27 is the stadium and the uni buildings, so why would you make such an arse of the design and have no decent sized stand behind the goal in the North end, but an enormous stand completely out of keeping with a ground with a 32,000 capacity. Very strange

Okay, some facts. If you look at the map - or better still, go and see it for yourself - you'll notice that Village Way marks a very sharp boundary between modern development (ugly Uni buildings, sleek stadium) and open, rolling downland. On Saturday you could see a flock of sheep grazing just a couple of hundred metres up from the Amex. From the A27, you'd of course see none of this.

Stand sizes? The West Stand was only made possible - and permissible - by excavating four storeys down into the chalk. The North and South ends had to be shallower because of the fall of the original landform down towards the railway. It really wasn't just thrown together, you know!

And after a 14 year wait with no proper ground, Albion fans these days are as happy as a pig in the proverbial!

And rightly so. It's a great place IMO and your fans deserved it. I remember the legal wranglings to get it and I have to say it could hardly have worked out better for a club in the position you were.

[Mr Angry]

That's because, being built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

That's surely a comedy quote? It's built next to a university campus. All you can see from the A27 is the stadium and the uni buildings, so why would you make such an arse of the design and have no decent sized stand behind the goal in the North end, but an enormous stand completely out of keeping with a ground with a 32,000 capacity. Very strange

Okay, some facts. If you look at the map - or better still, go and see it for yourself - you'll notice that Village Way marks a very sharp boundary between modern development (ugly Uni buildings, sleek stadium) and open, rolling downland. On Saturday you could see a flock of sheep grazing just a couple of hundred metres up from the Amex. From the A27, you'd of course see none of this.

Stand sizes? The West Stand was only made possible - and permissible - by excavating four storeys down into the chalk. The North and South ends had to be shallower because of the fall of the original landform down towards the railway. It really wasn't just thrown together, you know!

And after a 14 year wait with no proper ground, Albion fans these days are as happy as a pig in the proverbial!

I was working in Brighton during those days when John Prescott was screwing things up for BHA on a colossal scale, and I find some of the comments on here pathetic; FFS, this is a club who had their ground sold without having a replacement site lined up let alone a new stadium, who then had to play in places like Gillingham for Years before coming back to a shite athletics stadium, and having to contend with local and National politicians and NIMBY's trying to thwart them at every turn, to where they are now, with a fantastic and unique stadium and one of the better away fan experiences that you can have.

BHA are currently one of the better examples of an English professional football club, and for that they should be applauded.

[Royal & Ancient]

Well said Mr.Angry.
As, it seems many years away now, one of the signatories to the petition towards the new stadium I am pleased for the Club and its long suffering supporters. They were very badly treated for many years.(Could it happen to us given the ownership problems?)
And, having seen the difficulties raised by the National Parks in even having gateposts changed it would not surprise me if the sheep from down the road have an entitlement to graze the pitch!.
Unfortunately I am now too old to make the trip but I suspect that the supporters do not view the Withdean with the sentiments that we have for Elm Park!!

[LUX]

how old are you

[Wycombe Royal]

BHA are currently one of the better examples of an English professional football club, and for that they should be applauded.

I agree with most of what you wrote, however when their fans are as smug, arrogant and self important as what many of theirs appear to be then they will always attract negative comments.

[The Rouge]

I actually enjoy going to Brighton away. Much better than dumps like loftus Road
The ground and facilities are very good and despite what is mentioned here I have found the rail service to Brighton /Lewes excellent. (Yesterday we queued and waited about 10 mins for a train to Lewes) Takes me a lot longer to get away from the Madstad.
I would also add that BHA fans on the whole are the same sort of family fan base that we have. In the pub before hand and after on the train they are all chatty and not in the slightest bit arsey.
The only down side yesterday was the £32 ticket price.

I look forward to going back next season (Lets face it neither of us are going anywhere fast)

I will beat Leeds on Tuesday and I doubt I will be making the same comments.

real confidence right there..

[Hoop Blah]

ALF - 5- did nothing except get Greer sent off. Made a meal of the 2nd challenge and stayed down while ref booked him. Not sure he had a single chance, though our midfield have problems seeing his runs between the centre halves and full backs

So why is Adkins telling them to launch balls into the box from wide. He's not going to win many header, is he?

Actually he had a free header from about 6 yards out early in the second half that he should have buried. Very much like the one he missed in the FA cup game.

There wasn't as much launching in the box as last week. We were clearly trying to work it into the box more, and with Drenthe's subtlety on the ball we actually did it quite well. Had enough chances to win the game.

You don't have to be six foot to win a header in the box. What you need is good movement and good delivery from whoever is providing the cross.

Glad to hear that Hector is getting good reviews for his performance. I've not been totally convinced in the past but I hope he gets a little run in the side to see if he's up to it. Having Hector, Pearce and Morrison as centre halfs next season would be interesting and Hector can provide something the others don't so it would be great if he can take this chance and proves he is capable at this level.

[SHORT AND CURLY]

I actually enjoy going to Brighton away. Much better than dumps like loftus Road
The ground and facilities are very good and despite what is mentioned here I have found the rail service to Brighton /Lewes excellent. (Yesterday we queued and waited about 10 mins for a train to Lewes) Takes me a lot longer to get away from the Madstad.
I would also add that BHA fans on the whole are the same sort of family fan base that we have. In the pub before hand and after on the train they are all chatty and not in the slightest bit arsey.
The only down side yesterday was the £32 ticket price.

I look forward to going back next season (Lets face it neither of us are going anywhere fast)

I will beat Leeds on Tuesday and I doubt I will be making the same comments.

real confidence right there..

Typing skills

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Wycombe Royal wrote: however when their fans are as smug, arrogant and self important as what many of theirs appear to be then they will always attract negative comments.

is that not the same of most clubs including our own!!