I'm 60 next May. My reference point is:
"gonna fight fight fight for the Albion, till we win Division 3". Archie McCauley, Freddie Goodwin, Pat Saward, Saturday in the South Stand, midweek games in the West terrace.....
I missed most if not all the games in old Div 1 owing to circumstances. But I saw all the league games at Gillingham and, for the first several years, all th Withdean games.
I found the Amex to be such an upgrade from the Goldstone, with its comfy seats, clean and accessible toilets, 360 degree roof and permanetly green grass pitch, I found it hard to not weep with joy every time I set foot in it during our first season there.
The idea of having a fair chance of settling in the top division (after a few seasons of Burnley-style yoyo, perhaps) to me is staggering.
I remember the days when there was 11-14 thousand in the Goldstone, and the signing of a geriatric former Busby Babe filled me with excitement ('oo oo'). I remembr when the North was 'taken' by six noisy Gillingham supporters who plonked themselves halfway up behind the goal.
It was still Fantastic, but when you are used to Frey Bentos steak and kidney pie, even the idea of fillet steak is alien. Now its about whether the steak will be cooked badly, well or just right. Amazing.
