Anyone out there still prefer The Withdean?

[clippedgull]

On a nice sunny day with the breeze rustling the trees behind the South Stand, Withdean was ok.

 

[Winker]

Could do with an icecream van outside the Amex, there was nothing better on a cold winter's day than to sit in a slimy seat and enjoy the perverse pleasure of a '99' before the game.

 

[Skaville]

I miss the proper burger and chips for £5. the Amex food is awful and expensive!

Now you mention it, sauage and chips at Withdean was pretty good.

 

[Smithy]

Late goals on the running track was pretty good but thats it.

 

[goldstone]

I don't miss Withdean, who in their right mind would, but I do still miss the Goldstone.

Loved that walk across Hove Park, standing on the NW terrace, the whole atmosphere of the place, being close to the pitch, jumpers for goalposts, all of that stuff.

There was also something special about being a smallish club, usually the underdog ... now most people think of us as a big club and that takes some getting used to.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Speaking of which, anyone out there still prefer Priestfield to the Amex?

 

[Return of the Rev]

I remember a couple of threads on here at the start of the season from fans who seemed dissolutioned by the seemingly drastic change in surroundings. Some saying they missed many things such as midweek away games at old-school "proper grounds" or the "us against the world" feeling when we were still fighting for our new ground & perhaps felt something missing after fighting for so long.

Personally, I think everyone has their own priorities on the perfect match day experience & if that's how you feel, then fair enough. As a bona fide JCL (supported the Albion since 2000, so never experienced the Goldstone I can safely say I have never looked forward to match day more in my life!! I just wonder if there are still fans out there that have stuck to their guns & stayed away, or whether it was just a knee jerk reaction to a strange environment & have since embraced football all over again?

 

[Exiled in Exeter]

Not that I miss it, but this is still my desktop background:

 

[Deleted User X18H]

It was useful that I lived a 20 minute walk from Withdean but overall I can safely say that I do not miss it.

This.

 

[bomber130]

I do but then again I am blind

 

[chucky1973]

i miss sitting in the south stand at Withers and being able to say hello to Gullys girls at HT on the "concourse" behind the stand..........this is of course before they became famous.

 

[JOLovegrove]

I still don't know what JCL stand for, so does that instantly make me one?

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

I still don't know what JCL stand for, so does that instantly make me one?

JCL stands for Johnny Come Lately.

Anyone who has only been supporting the club during its upward trajectory of recent times is a JCL. Nothing wrong with that IMHO. Just that the strength of their support has not been tested.

Anyone who has ever known the bad times at the club and still carried on supporting the team is not a JCL.

 

[Hillian1]

I do not prefer Withdean in any way shape or form, I do however miss:

Being able to get straight on a train after the games.
And the childlike excitement when emerging from the footpath from Preston Park station and walking down the hill being able to see the pitch, especially night games under lights, the crowds gathering, the noise from the PA system, the smell of burgers wafting through the air.

Apart from that, NOTHING.

 

[Return of the Rev]

I still don't know what JCL stand for, so does that instantly make me one?

JCL

 

[Sheebo]

Where's 'The Withdean'?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

I miss the Ice Cream Van. Nothing better than an early (or late) season game, sunny day and a 99

Apart from that, Withdean was S**T!

 

[Return of the Rev]

Going to withdean more now than when the albion played there!

 

[Commander]

Had a season ticket at the Goldstone, had a season ticket at Priestfield, and had a season ticket at Withdean. None of them are as good as the Amex. The Goldstone was great, but it was only great beacause it was ours. I started going in 1989, and to be brutally honest it was actually a bit of a dump of a ground by then. Priestfield was shit, but I personally enjoyed more than Withdean, especially after the novelty of the club moving back to Brighton had worn off. I don't think I ever really enjoyed going to Withdean, and went less and less as the years went on.

I'm absolutely loving the Amex, I look forward to every game. The atmosphere is great, as far as modern football goes anyway, the view is great, the whole experience of being able to have a pint before, during, and after the game is great, and the team is the best Brighton side I've ever seen.

The people who preferred the days at Withdean are generally those weirdos that lower league football attracts who like to think they are part of some exclusive club and who think they are mates with the Chairman. They might as well go and watch Lewes instead. In fact, they probably will eventually.

 

[Commander]

And the childlike excitement when emerging from the footpath from Preston Park station and walking down the hill being able to see the pitch, especially night games under lights, the crowds gathering, the noise from the PA system, the smell of burgers wafting through the air.

I never had that. Every time I walked down that hill, all I ever thought was "This is shit, I cannot wait to get out of here".