Falmer - Why?

[Gosling]

Sorry if it's been done to death on these forums already, but I'd really like to know why Falmer is so important for you guys. (Oh, and yes, I was at the Withdean). From what I've seen it's life or death for BHAFC as to whether or not you get your new ground.

As a complete outsider I would say that if you're in that much trouble you're going bust irrespective of planning permission &c.

That's why I'm confused. Is BHAFC really in that much trouble? Is this situation as bad as the David Belotti episode or worse?

I speak as a supporter of The Greatest Football Team The World Has Ever Seen™ , Crystal Palace FC.

Are things really as bad as you guys are saying? , because I would be genuinely sad to lose my clubs number one rival team.

 

[albiongirl]

Well if you click on the main link Falmer central the answer is there!!!

 

[Easy 10]

This should explain it.

Ever since the sale of Brightons Goldstone Ground in 1995 by
unscrupulous businessmen, out to make a buck on the sale of the site
to retail outlets (the old Goldstone site now houses, amongst other
things, a Comets, Toys R Us, and a Burger King), the club and its
fans have been battling in a constant struggle for survival. The
Albion somehow managed to retain its League status by the skin of its
teeth (goal difference !) the season the ground was sold, but two
miserable years in exile followed playing at Gillinghams ground,
while new chairman Dick Knight fought to get the club back to
Brighton.

After extensive negotiations, and under numerous stringent
conditions, in August 1999 the Albion were eventually allowed to
return back to Brighton and play at a rented athletics track known as
Withdean Stadium. This was under the provision that it would be a
temporary arrangement, as the facilities at Withdean, although
upgraded by the Albion, were totally inadequate to sustain a Football
League club in the long term. Withdean has a capacity of 7,000, and
is made up of temporary stands on two sides, with no roof covering,
and one small roofed stand along the side of the pitch. It is tightly
hemmed in by a nature reserve and residential housing. Upon moving to
Withdean, Dick Knight and the Chief Executive Martin Perry,
initiatated a comprehensive planning application for a new
state-of-the-art, 22,500 all seater purpose-built community stadium,
to be constructed in between the Brighton and Sussex Universities, on
a disused field immediatly next to the A27 at Falmer, on the
outskirts of Brighton.

Despite the careful design of the stadium to blend in with the
environment, and innovative plans to allow use of the stadium with
the minimum of disruption, the residents of the nearby Falmer
village, along with Lewes District Council, objected to the plans. In
2001, the project was called in for a full Public Inquiry. The
Inquiry eventually commenced in February 2003, where both sides
presented their arguments for and against the clubs plans. Detailed
studies of all aspects of the plan were presented and backed up with
evidence by various experts, from transport, lighting, impact on
wildlife, parking, etc. The Inquiry was finally concluded in October
2003, and the Government Inspector went away to compile his report
and recommendatons for John Prescott to make a decision on whether or
not to give the go-ahead to the stadium.

On the eve of the decision on the stadium plans, and to our horror,
the Local Planning Inspector at the Inquiry, Charles Hoile, has
released a report saying he feels that the Falmer site is unsuitable
for the stadium. Ignoring the extensive and exhaustive professional
evidence to the contrary, presented at the Inquiry by a series of
experts, Mr Hoile suggests that the club instead explore the
possibilities of several other sites (one including Withdean) which
were already thoroughly investigated and rejected as totally
unworkable during the planning stage. Mr Hoile goes on to cast doubt
as to the real need for a purpose-built stadium for what he
dismissively refers to as a "provincial city's professional
football club". In doing so, Mr Hoile is discarding the wishes
of almost 45,000 people who voted "yes" to the
stadium plans in a referendum (a two-thirds majority), and is flying
in the face of an 11-1 majority vote in favour of the plans by a
democratically elected council.

If Mr Prescott goes along with Mr Hoile's observations, then the
consequences for Brighton & Hove Albion will be utterly dire. This
will undoubtedly mean that Brighton & Hove Albion will cease to exist
in the very near future. The limitations at Withdean are well
documented, and the financial and logistical restrictions placed on
the Albion at this temporary home mean that the club would simply not
be able to sustain itself. After 103 years, professional football in
Sussex would be lost forever. It is absolutely crucial that, unlike
Mr Hoile, Mr Prescott take into account the facts that have been
presented at the Public Inquiry, before arriving at his decision.

The fate of Brighton & Hove Albion is now in John Prescotts hands.
Make no mistake, we will live or die by the decision he arrives at in
the near future over the granting of the Community Stadium. Right
now, hundreds and hundreds of Albion fans are busy writing and
emailing letters to John Prescott, imploring him to give the plans
the go-ahead, and not to merely base his decision on Mr Hoiles
questionable findings. I am writing to you to further raise the
profile of our plight, increase peoples awareness of what this is all
about, and to ask for your support in whatever ways you can offer. If
you can find the time, please please write to Mr Prescott in support
of the plans for Brightons new stadium. Post messages on your clubs
messageboards. Make the fans of your club aware of our situation, as
this could happen to any club, anywhere. The address is:

Mr John Prescott
26 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2WH

or email

planning.general@odpm.gsi.gov.uk


Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any message to Mr Prescott,
no matter how brief, could help our cause SO MUCH.

David Rider, aka Easy 10
(Lifelong Brighton fan and North Stand Chat poster)

 

[berkshire seagull]

Sorry if it's been done to death on these forums already, but I'd really like to know why Falmer is so important for you guys. (Oh, and yes, I was at the Withdean). From what I've seen it's life or death for BHAFC as to whether or not you get your new ground.

As a complete outsider I would say that if you're in that much trouble you're going bust irrespective of planning permission &c.

That's why I'm confused. Is BHAFC really in that much trouble? Is this situation as bad as the David Belotti episode or worse?

I speak as a supporter of The Greatest Football Team The World Has Ever Seen™ , Crystal Palace FC.

Are things really as bad as you guys are saying? , because I would be genuinely sad to lose my clubs number one rival team.

Christ take a run and jump you gypo

 

[Eddie the Seagull]

Have you been living on the moon the last month??

Tosser.

 

[Gwylan]

Well done Berks and Eddie; that's the way to garner support from other clubs.

So, our tactic on National Falmer Day is to travel to other clubs and abuse their supporters?

 

[Icy Gull]

I think that the question being asked is that things must be critical if non approval of Falmer will result in the demise of the club. It is a reasonable question and one that I would imagine many fans of other clubs might ask.

Personally I'm not convinced that it would , as I do not believe that the fans would let this club fold. It would be an incredibly depressing scenario and we may end up struggling in div 3 again or even getting relegated to the conference.

Where we would play is the biggest problem and a No to Falmer will result in the certain death of the Albion as major player in the lower divisions. It will also kill any chance of establishing ourselves as a Div 1 club able to flirt with the Premiership. The end of BHA - I think not.

I could of course be totally wrong.

The main difference between the Archer/Belloti years is that we were being assett stripped in those days. We now have, given the expenses incurred, minimal debts, a chairman who is Brighton through and through but no ground. Interesting to think that Palace no longer own their ground, albeit dramatically bigger than ours, and yet seem to cope.

 

[ditchy]

If Falmer does not materialise ,how much longer are we allowed to stay at withdean ?..As i see it we would at best be a div 2 club with 6000 gates and no real future prospect of getting any higher .

 

[Yorkie]

I think we have 2 more seasons at Withdean.

Then I would imagine we would have another fight on our hands to even stay there as the residents were assured it was only a temorary measure.

How would Eddie & Berks feel if our only option to stay alive would be to ground share at Selhurst?

 

[Lush]

Thanks for your support and offer of help on National Falmer Day, Gosling. Will phone you today with all the info and looking forward to meeting you on Sat.

Berks and Eddie - get to a f***ing game yourselves or sod right off.

 

[Yorkie]

Well said Lush

It does come to something when fans of other clubs help out more than our own fans.

That is not to reflect on our fans who are unable to help due to other commitments.

 

[mona]

Well done Berks and Eddie; that's the way to garner support from other clubs.

So, our tactic on National Falmer Day is to travel to other clubs and abuse their supporters?

Does Berks ever watch much football? He claims that he never goes to Withdean. He'd probably not miss the Albion that much. He can always abuse Palace fans as a Reading fan.

 

[Gosling]

Berks and Eddie have given exactly the sort of response I might have expected by coming on here (and to be fair your guy Biscuit got a lot worse than that when they went on the Palace boards to drum up some support for this). I assure you it's water off a duck's back.

The reason I asked was that it hasn't really been explained to me yet why it's Falmer or bust. In fact, Icy Gull's response kind of fits with the way I had viewed the situation.

 

[Easy 10]

Blimey. I think thats the first time I've seen Lush use the f-word.
Well justified though.

 

[The Wookiee]

Sorry if it's been done to death on these forums already, but I'd really like to know why Falmer is so important for you guys. (Oh, and yes, I was at the Withdean). From what I've seen it's life or death for BHAFC as to whether or not you get your new ground.

As a complete outsider I would say that if you're in that much trouble you're going bust irrespective of planning permission &c.

That's why I'm confused. Is BHAFC really in that much trouble? Is this situation as bad as the David Belotti episode or worse?

I speak as a supporter of The Greatest Football Team The World Has Ever Seen™ , Crystal Palace FC.

Are things really as bad as you guys are saying? , because I would be genuinely sad to lose my clubs number one rival team.

Is this bloke taking the PISS

 

[Yorkie]

Even a division 3 or Conference side would need a ground.

So as we won't have Withdean in two years time then where do we go?

We do not have the finances for another legal wrangle and you can be sure that wherever we try and build, there will be NIMBYS so I think Icy Gull's scenario is on the optimistic side.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Re: Re: Falmer - Why?

Is this bloke taking the PISS

Or maybe he just doesn't know.

Why do you think that suporters of other clubs really care that much about us. Yes, the Albion are the be all and end all in terms of supporting a club to us but they are not to others.

He's just come on here asking an very good question about the severity of the situation.

In answer to it I would say that the Falmer decision is like the last day of the season in 1997 at Hereford. The Hereford striker is brearing down on goal, his choice could decide whether we sink or swim. This is where Prescott is now, he scores we go bust, he misses and we live to fight another day.

Let's all hope he misses, eh?

 

[Braders]

Re: Re: Re: Falmer - Why?

Or maybe he just doesn't know.

Why do you think that suporters of other clubs really care that much about us. Yes, the Albion are the be all and end all in terms of supporting a club to us but they are not to others.

He's just come on here asking an very good question about the severity of the situation.

In answer to it I would say that the Falmer decision is like the last day of the season in 1997 at Hereford. The Hereford striker is brearing down on goal, his choice could decide whether we sink or swim. This is where Prescott is now, he scores we go bust, he misses and we live to fight another day.

Let's all hope he misses, eh?

well said

 

[Easy 10]

Good analogy Chappers.
As for Gosling - I'm just glad other fans ARE taking an interest and making an effort to find out what its all about. Just because we've lived and breathed this bloody Public Inquiry for what seems forever, doesn't mean everyone else knows whats going on.

I can't believe people are coming on here with a "YOU WHAT ?" type attitude towards questions about Falmer. We NEED people to show an interest for christs sake, so its pretty bloody stupid to start dishing out abuse when they come on this board asking for info.

I despair sometimes

 

[Bwian]

Re: Re: Falmer - Why?

Is this bloke taking the PISS

When are people like you ever going to realise that to other clubs' fans, the trials and tribulations of BHAFC does not occupy their minds every day as it does for us at the moment? We are just another team in the list of football results-no matter how much campaigning we do. The fact that we have to be out around the country tomorrow telling football fans exactly why we need their help illustrates that point perfectly. They don't know about us!

Are you aware of all things going on at CPFC? If you had a genuine, sincere question about them you'd go somewhere where their fans go and ask them wouldn't you?

One of their fans asked some reasonable questions about us, wasn't taking the piss yet three of you turn on him!!! Unbelievable.

Get this into your heads-BHAFC is unimportant to other teams' supporters. We need their support more than they need us. If some of them come on here seeking information the best way to get their support is to abuse them-NOT!