Build A Bonfire

[ShamWow Vince]

I just finished reading this book and was astounded at the unity the fans created to try and save the future of this club. Was wondering if anyone had any personal stories from that time or any pictures not seen in the book!

It was a tremendous read

 

[smudge]

50 pages I reckon.

 

[WhingForPresident]

You're a legend vince!
Shame that hooker bit off your tongue..

 

[Martinf]

I think we showed those in power just how much we love this footie club. The organised (and not so organised!) protests made them sit up and listen. Any young 'uns reading this - just remember those fans who were arrested and banned in the fight to save BHAFC. It's not just Dick Knight and Tony Bloom (God bless im) who saved this club - it's the thousands of Seagull supporters who signed petitions, wrote letters, went on marches, attended meetings, joined in pitch invasions etc etc.

(*starts to blub as the memories of those dark days come flooding back).

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

I would say i was about 5th over the wall in the west stand at the Carlisle game chasing Bellotti's arse out of the directors box.

 

[Brovion]

I've got no individual story to tell, like many others I was just happy (and proud) to be a humble footsoldier in the BISA army.

I like to dip into 'Build a Bonfire' and 'More than Ninety Minutes' every now and then (and also read the 'Half Time at Hereford' thread in NSC Gold). Then I like to look at Jack Straw's latest photos of Falmer being built. Bloody hell that first match at Falmer is going to be emotional.

 

[Billy the Fish]

If I had to pick a moment I'd say it was the Mansfield boycott game. I was stood on a wall behind the West stand, watching between the gap between the west and the north. There were a few people up there and we were relaying information to a few others on the ground.

Anyways, a bit of movement in the East stand caught my eye and I could see people emerging at the top of the terrace, so I shouted the news the people were getting in and everyone just bolted up old shoreham road. I've never seen a group of blokes run so fast

 

[stupendor]

I would say i was about 5th over the wall in the west stand at the Carlisle game chasing Bellotti's arse out of the directors box.

That was a defining moment. It was uncertain whether or not that fucker would show, he left it later than usual to take his seat hoping to slip in unnoticed. Within seconds he was fleeing and guys like BRIGHT ON Q were only one wall away from him. After that we knew we'd never seem him at the Goldstone again and the team became the priority during the games and the belief we could overturn the deficit and stay up. It still makes me angry thinking of the brazen arrogance he showed in taking his seat and the rage that came to the surface of the passionate 22 year old contributing to what must have been a scary moment for him. How I wish you'd made it BRIGHT ON Q.

 

[FamilyGuy]

. ........Bloody hell that first match at Falmer is going to be emotional.

As I said to my mate in the pub the other day "grown men will cry, and I will be one of them."

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Was there ever a more effective and organised football club protest? Has there been one since? It set the standard for mobilising fans - those of BHA and other clubs.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

I think we showed those in power just how much we love this footie club. The organised (and not so organised!) protests made them sit up and listen. Any young 'uns reading this - just remember those fans who were arrested and banned in the fight to save BHAFC. It's not just Dick Knight and Tony Bloom (God bless im) who saved this club - it's the thousands of Seagull supporters who signed petitions, wrote letters, went on marches, attended meetings, joined in pitch invasions etc etc.

(*starts to blub as the memories of those dark days come flooding back).

Absolutely.

 

[k2bluesky]

The atmosphere in The North Stand that last season was fantastic, a mix of hatred for those who tried to destroy the club while trying to keep us out of the conference with amazing vocal support, some of my best times on the terrace anywhere and the last few games, if you didn't get there 30 mins before kick off, you didn't get in - sadly the advent of seating means those heady days are unlikely to return - f**king seats I HATE them, lord F**king taylor=dickhead

 

[attila]

For me the Mellor march was definitely a stand out moment (among lots!) Loads of Brighton fans parading through Archer's sleepy little village explaining in graphic detail to his neighbours and the local pub landlord exactly what kind of arseh*le was living in their midst. Playing 'Sussex By The Sea' on the fiddle while standing on his wall was probably a mistake though, sorry
The follow up visits to his house were a laugh as well. FIVE of us in Paul Samrah's car, parking discreetly some distance away, plodding up a hill to be confronted by ridiculous numbers of police with back up units on standby. 'Sorry, lads, he's gone away for the weekend....'
Bring on Falmer.

 

[glasfryn]

As I said to my mate in the pub the other day "grown men will cry, and I will be one of them."

me too and if I'm fit enough I'll be there

 

[janee]

such memories

My mum running across the pitch to chase Belotti at the Carlisle game!! (that always reminds me of how much everybody got it!)

Dragging up Wembley Way with a collection bucket to raise the campaign funds after going to the FA HQ to protest first

Being escorted back to the station in a police wagon from Mellor and the police telling us we were great! (although the b**stard wasn't there!)

That rush pouring through the gates half way through the match after the boycott and the players looking chuffed to bits!

Thank God - cos the footie was terrible!

 

[Working class pride]

1. York city home when the goal posts came down (cant see that happening at old trafford)
2. Fans United - the whole concept was new. The signs up the motorway and into Brighton. The "just like watching brazil" song - yes folks that is where it started, not Barnsley as some of the press thought a year later.
3. Hereford at home (I think). The fireworks went off and everyone walked out. A door then left mysteriously open in the west stand and fans got inside
4. Bellotti being chased out the ground was looking back incredible but then was expected (a bit different to man u waving a yellow and green scarf in the air!)
5. Orient at home - the stupid gesture by the o's player and some lads from the north stand running after the o's player to ask not so politely if they wanted to do that again, which almost then cost us points that would have sent us down.
5. The Hereford away game. For many reasons, some not even football.

 

[philsussex]

Wanna buy this book.

Going for £37 on amazon - seems a lot but then again I spend this on a shirt without giving it a second thought.

 

[Skaville]

Wanna buy this book.

Going for £37 on amazon - seems a lot but then again I spend this on a shirt without giving it a second thought.

It's ten times better than a crappy football shirt

 

[Billy the Fish]

Was there ever a more effective and organised football club protest? Has there been one since? It set the standard for mobilising fans - those of BHA and other clubs.

A bit OT, but I think Charlton before us did a pretty good job as well.

 

[Grassman]

Yeah, Charlton did a good thing with their Valley Party candidates in the local elections, but we took it a few more stages forward. Not through the ballot box but on the ground, getting in Bellottis and Archers faces constantly. That march through London before Fulham away was great. But the way everyone got together, regardless of political allegiences was truely awesome.