If older Brighton & Hove fans had their way, the Albion would still be playing their home games at the Goldstone Ground. Situated on Old Shoreham Road in Hove, the Goldstone Ground served as Brighton & Hove’s home stadium from 1902 to 1997 before its controversial sale by the board amidst rising club debt and possible bankruptcy. Today, this famous ground has been transformed into a retail park known as Goldstone Retail Park, accommodating retailers such as Next, Tesco, and Marks & Spencer. In this article, we will explore how the Goldstone Ground became the home ground for the Seagulls, its significance as the heart and soul of the club, and the circumstances surrounding its sale.
A Brief History
The site where the Goldstone Ground once stood was owned by Goldstone Farm, which used it as a cattle grazing field. In 1901, John Clark approached the Strafford estate to lease the land. He then proceeded to construct an eight-foot perimeter fence, turnstiles, and a 400-capacity stand with changing rooms. Clark offered the ground to Hove FC, who was at the time looking for a stadium ahead of the 1901-1902 season, for an annual rent of £100 and 50% of takings exceeding £200. In September 1901, Hove FC played their first-ever match at the Goldstone Ground against Clapton.
The Albion Took Control
At that time, Brighton & Hove were using the County Cricket Ground. But when their field was unavailable, they sought permission from Hove FC to play a friendly match against Southampton at the Goldstone, which they won 7-1. A few months later, Hove FC approached the Albion for ground-sharing, which they agreed to. However, Hove FC decided to return to their former home, Hove Rec, in 1904, making the Albion the sole tenant of the Goldstone Ground.Renovations
Once Hove FC had left, Brighton & Hove started making improvements on the ground. First, they bought a wooden stand that could hold up to 1,800 spectators. The club also installed many open-air bench seats and constructed more turnstiles and entrances to the stadium. In 1920, they extended the West Stand northward to accommodate 300 more people and built new dressing rooms, offices, and a boardroom. Brighton & Hove renovated the West Stand further in 1930 and added more terraces to the upper part of the East Bank. This was followed by the construction of the first North Stand at the Goldstone. However, the stadium suffered significant damage during the Second World War, so severe that the entire roof had to be removed and replaced. After the war, the club remodelled the terraces and added new toilets and turnstiles. They also elevated the northwest corner to make room for an additional 2,000 spectators. By 1953, all standing areas had been converted into terraces.Iconic Matches and Records at Goldstone
Many memorable Albion games took place at the Goldstone Ground. Perhaps the most notable one was the match against Fulham in December 1958, in which Brighton & Hove won 3-0. The London-based club had earlier defeated the Seagulls 3-1 in a reverse fixture. That match pulled the highest crowd to the Goldstone stadium, with 36,747 people in attendance.Brighton & Hove played a total of 2,174 football games at the Goldstone, winning 1,194. In its 96 years of existence, the stadium received up to 22.9 million people, with an average attendance of 10,500 spectators per game.