RTG’s totally and utterly (we hope) indispensable guide to this season’s away grounds.
THE OPPO – Brighton & Hove Albion
DATE – Saturday 12th February 2005
KO TIME – 3.00pm
Saturday’s game takes Sunderland supporters travel to Brighton for the first time in over fifteen years, and our first ever visit to the Withdean Athletics Stadium.
THE GROUND – The Withdean Stadium, Brighton – click here and here for maps of the area – the circle shows where the ground is.
The Withdean Stadium seats only 7,000 supporters in total, with approximately 700 visiting supporters behind the east goal. And it’s uncovered seating – so if it rains, you’ll get wet (online weather forecast here).
EVERY match is all-ticket – a condition of the agreement made with the local council when the club moved to the ground; SAFC allocated tickets based on loyalty points so if you haven’t got one by now, you won’t be getting one at all. There are no cash sales at all on matchdays.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT TRAVEL WITHIN THE BRIGHTON AREA!
Along with your match ticket, you should have received a voucher that you can use for either free or discounted travel for the final leg of your journey. There is an ‘exclusion zone’ for one mile around the ground and football supporters will not be able to park within that zone – but the travel voucher will pay for your Park & Ride bus journey to and from the ground.
GOING BY CAR?
A1 south then M1 south (or M18 > M1 if you prefer). Stay on the M1 till jcn 6A then pick up the M25. Stay on the M25 until jcn 8 and take the M23 then just head for Brighton.
Note: You will NOT be able to park within one mile of the ground! The club requests that drivers use either of the dedicated football park and ride services:
* Mill Road, off the A23/A27 junction
OR
* Mithras House, Lewes Road
After parking you catch a free bus to the ground – you just need to show your match ticket. The first buses to the ground leave at 12.30pm.
After the game, go to the pickup points on London Road to get a bus back to the appropriate car park. The last buses back to the car parks leave London Road 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Full details here.
GOING BY TRAIN?
SMB regular GavMackem says “Due to engineering works next weekend all trains stop at Three Bridges and there’s a bus replacement service running to Brighton from there. It’s going to add an hour onto the journey minimum, each way, so be warned.”
Get up to date train times on 08457 484950.
A.L.S. COACH SERVICE
A Love Supreme are providing their usual coach service down to Brighton. The cost is £30pp and coaches leave the ALS shop (opposite the Stadium of Light) at 5am on the day. To book, either phone or fax 0191 565 4422 (Mon-Fri 9-5 and matchdays) – credit and debit cards accepted. Or go to the ALS shop and pay in person. Or reserve your place online – either email [email protected] to tell them you want to book a place, or click here to book and pay online.
Reservations and refunds deadline 48 hours before departure.
STOPPING OVER?
Premier Lodge, North Street, Brighton, tel 087 0990 6340
Travelodge, Preston Road, Brighton, tel 0870 191 1517
Quality Hotel, West St, Brighton, tel 01273 220033
Or click here for further ideas.
SCRAN AND BOOZE
Some food is available inside the Withdean but NO ALCOHOL. The Sportsman pub at the rear of the north stand is amenable to away supporters but it’ll be busy. Alternatively go into central Brighton for food or drink beforehand, or there are pubs close to Brighton mainline rail station.
LEND US A FIVER I’M OUT OF CASH
Plenty of cash machines in Brighton town centre.
LAST SEASON
4th out of 24 – promoted to The Championship via the playoffs, beating Bristol City in the playoff final.
THIS SEASON
18th out of 24 (@12.2.05)
P33 W10 D8 L15 F27 A42 Pts 38 GD -15
LAST MEETINGS
30.10.04 Sunderland 2 Brighton 0
05.10.91 Sunderland 4 Brighton 2
24.02.90 Sunderland 2 Brighton 1
25.11.89 Brighton 1 Sunderland 2
29.04.89 Sunderland 1 Brighton 0
26.11.88 Brighton 3 Sunderland 0
NEW STADIUM
Brighton are in the middle of a public enquiry as to whether or not they can build a 22,000 seater stadium at Falmer – but local residents have set up an action group to protest against the idea. Last year Brighton and Hove City Council approved an application from the club to install 2,000 temporary seats and play there for three more years.
But after a local resident spotted the legal loophole surrounding the council’s failure to give a reason for the verdict, the process must start again.
The club will be allowed to carry on holding games at the ground while the new application is dealt with, which is expected to take a few weeks.
More news on Brighton’s quest for a new stadium at the Clubs In Crisis website.
Credits: Brighton & Hove Albion official website, Soccerbase, www.multimap.com, BBC, AccuWeather, Gavin McAneney.
