Interview with Palace fan Kevin Day and his thoughts on The Albion

[Half Man Half Biscuit]

I interviewed Kevin Day today from MOTD2 on Thursday. The whole interview can be found HERE but I thought you might be interested in this question specifically:

Do Palace still consider Brighton to be their No.1 rivals? My generation certainly do. I think there are some younger fans who aren't quite as vehement because we rarely get to play them and because Steve Coppell managed there as well, but for me and my mates, the mere mention of Peter Ward and Brian Horton will get us angry.I did the voice over for the Palace Centenary DVD and at the premier in a packed Fairfield Hall, the first sight of Alan Mullery had the place in uproar. Luckily the director very cleverly added a graphic of cartoon devil's horns growing on his forehead so anger changed to laughter.

It's a strange rivalry because not only is it long distant it's also relatively new. One old chap I met tried to tell me it dated back to gang fights in the '30s but it really only started after a long running cup tie in 1976 when we were both in Division 3. It bemuses most people but the worst football violence I have ever seen was at Palace Brighton games.

That said of course, Brighton fans were very quick to express support when we were in trouble and I had a fantastic night headlining one of their benefits to raise money for the Falmer campaign. Obviously I had to explain a lot of the clever jokes to them.

 

[public school boy]

Never heard of him. Is he the son of Robin or Mervin?

 

[Martinf]

Never heard of him. Is he the son of Robin or Mervin?

No. David Van.

 

[Gwylan]

Doris?


I know I'm getting a bit senile but I think this idea that the Palace and Brighton rivalry stems from the 1976 cup tie is a myth. I remember travelling up to London for those games and there was a definite edge, It is a relatively new phenomenon but I do think it was slightly before those games.

 

[Icy Gull]

Doris?


I know I'm getting a bit senile but I think this idea that the Palace and Brighton rivalry stems from the 1976 cup tie is a myth. .

1st Albion game I ever went to was vs Malcolm Alison's top of the table Palace (75 or 76?). Albion won 2-0 but there were no Seagull chants and there were loads of Palace in the South Stand. The ground was packed to bursting and as far as I remember it was just a great atmosphere with no under current of imending violence. Fast forward to the Stamford Bridge Cup replay and every game thereafter and the atmosphere was always charged but with a nasty atmosphere around the grounds before and after the games.

I think the Mullery/Venables era was when the rivalry really took off and the Cup replay at Stamford Bridge IS what really gave it wings

Just my two pennyworth.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

and do you know where he lives? Queens Park Road that's where. Brighton's not so shit after all eh!

 

[Half Man Half Biscuit]

Never heard of him. Is he the son of Robin or Mervin?

This is his CV which is pretty impressive - for a Palace fan anyway.

 

[Gwylan]

Fast forward to the Stamford Bridge Cup replay and every game thereafter and the atmosphere was always charged

I remember travelling up to that too and being very, very wary - more so than the average away game. That's why I think the rivalry preceded that replay, it was definitely edgy before that game.

 

[daveinprague]

There was quite a few Chelsea fans in with the Brighton supporters that day as well.
After the game, there were two groups of fans heading in different directions...a large mob of Brighton off down Fulham Broadway chasing Palarse fans (which ive seen several Palarse supporters try to deny...ho ho), and a slightly smaller crew trying to make their way to the referees changing rooms to get hold of Challis.

 

[The Large One]

That said of course, Brighton fans were very quick to express support when we were in trouble and I had a fantastic night headlining one of their benefits to raise money for the Falmer campaign. Obviously I had to explain a lot of the clever jokes to them.

That was a 40 Notes Fund gig.

Fantastic night that was too.

 

[The Large One]

Cracking interview BTW.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Enjoyed reading that, good stuff.

I found this bit interesting (something we've probably all long since known):

"He [Strachan] also highlights another problem for [TV] pundits: opinions. He managed to voice opinions without necessarily insulting a player, but partly because of fears about losing access to clubs and partly from natural reluctance it is really hard to get the sort of opinion on screen that you will sometimes hear off it."

So basically, the bullying approach of people like Fergie and others who have banned MOTD over the years (Allardyce, Redknapp off the top of my head) has worked. The pundits tone down their views so as not to lose access. Doesn't say a lot for the managers, clubs, or the Beeb.

Also, Day is a bright bloke and a very good comic. He must know how shit that Corden programme really was, deep down he must wish he'd never got involved.

 

[Half Man Half Biscuit]

The Large One and Tooting Gull - Thanks for that chaps. Really appreciated

 

[glasfryn]

This is his CV which is pretty impressive - for a Palace fan anyway.

Oh him!

 

[Brightonfan1983]

I interviewed Kevin Day today from MOTD2 on Thursday. The whole interview can be found HERE but I thought you might be interested in this question specifically:

Do Palace still consider Brighton to be their No.1 rivals? My generation certainly do. I think there are some younger fans who aren't quite as vehement because we rarely get to play them and because Steve Coppell managed there as well, but for me and my mates, the mere mention of Peter Ward and Brian Horton will get us angry.I did the voice over for the Palace Centenary DVD and at the premier in a packed Fairfield Hall, the first sight of Alan Mullery had the place in uproar. Luckily the director very cleverly added a graphic of cartoon devil's horns growing on his forehead so anger changed to laughter.

It's a strange rivalry because not only is it long distant it's also relatively new. One old chap I met tried to tell me it dated back to gang fights in the '30s but it really only started after a long running cup tie in 1976 when we were both in Division 3. It bemuses most people but the worst football violence I have ever seen was at Palace Brighton games.

That said of course, Brighton fans were very quick to express support when we were in trouble and I had a fantastic night headlining one of their benefits to raise money for the Falmer campaign. Obviously I had to explain a lot of the clever jokes to them.

Good words. He's always struck me as a top bloke. Good on him.

Very good read btw!

 

[Mackenzie]

That was a good read. Day comes across really well, despite being the 'enemy'.

Cheers HMHB

 

[Wozza]

I live near him. He was nice to my son in the pub one day.

 

[sams dad]

I think the Brighton/Palarse rivalry started after the opening game of the 74/75 season when we played the scum at the Goldstone. They brought a big following and there was a fair bit of trouble before the game. The bad feeling just seemed to escalate after that and I can remember a poisonous atmosphere at Shitehurst the following season with some fighting on the terraces, and at East Croydon station after the game.

 

[Notters]

I'm not generally in favour of violence at the footy, but is it foolish to think mildly exciting what may happen when 3,000 palace are in town before a match at Falmer?

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

There was quite a few Chelsea fans in with the Brighton supporters that day as well.

Not surprising as we took over The Shed that evening