withdean v priestfield debate?

[Return of the Rev]

TBH I PREFERRED GOING TO GILLINGHAM TO A PROPER STADIUM,THAN SITTING IN THE WET AT AN ATHLETICS STADIUM,ANYONE ELSE PREFER THE GILLINGHAM YEARS?

 

[SK1NT]

I liked the withdean.

My brother got his testicles tangled up there and had to go to hospital after running on the track after at a firework display there hes was only 7 years old or something...

 

[Triggaaar]

Preferred not having to drive so far, but obviously preferred a proper stadium. But didn't like the low crowds at Gillingham. On balance, Withdean.

 

[Miami Seagull]

Absolutely not. Priestfield was definitely the worst couple of years of the whole period between the Goldstone and Falmer. I was a season ticket holder there and every match was a nightmare to get to and from. Few matches live in the memory there, Colchester (4-4?) was my favourite and even that one is a non-alcohol fuelled blur. Never believed, prior to Priestfield that we could have dropped so low. Withdean may not have been a great venue but it did its part in the regeneration of the club and as soon as we moved there the mood changed - and with it results on the pitch. I have to say though that based on everything that is in place now...it was worth all the pain!

 

[Daffy Duck]

I hated Gillingham. Not so much the ground, but that bloody awful journey there and back on a double-decker bus, usually to see us lose.

The bacon rolls were smashing, though.

 

[Icy Gull]

The only thing I liked about Gillingham was being able to park right outside the Gordon Road stand for evening games. Oh and the Jamaican patties from the chippie up the road weren't bad either.

I was quite fond of Withdean, especially early and late season.

 

[Husty]

Ignore

 

[Icy Gull]

Ignore

Thousands did

 

[Storer 68]

I really missed having to spend four to five hours travelling to a "home" game, as opposed to spending 20 minutes travellimng to a game at hime

Withdean was fine.

Priestfield was horrible

 

[blue2]

Absolutely not. Priestfield was definitely the worst couple of years of the whole period between the Goldstone and Falmer. I was a season ticket holder there and every match was a nightmare to get to and from. Few matches live in the memory there, Colchester (4-4?) was my favourite and even that one is a non-alcohol fuelled blur. Never believed, prior to Priestfield that we could have dropped so low. Withdean may not have been a great venue but it did its part in the regeneration of the club and as soon as we moved there the mood changed - and with it results on the pitch. I have to say though that based on everything that is in place now...it was worth all the pain!

As above What was it 160 mile round trip for every home game many on a double decker bus awful experiance

 

[Wardy]

In some ways I still miss Withdean. I love the Amex and I love the fact we are attracting loads of new fans. I know that this is a new chapter in the life of Brighton and Hove Albion and I am looking forward to the next stage of the journey. However there was something about Withdean, every time I walked under the arch and through the turnstile I thought I am part of the few, I am part of the club. This is the only way I got through some games. Especially when the weather was crap and the football was worse.

 

[catfish]

How anyone could prefer going to that shithole in Kent I'll never know.

 

[BensGrandad]

The ground at Gillingham was far better and being that much younger I didnt mind the drive from Midhurst but as I got older I preferred the short hop to Withdean but the journey was the only thing Withdean had in its favor

 

[Deleted member 2719]

I liked the Priestfield from the point of view just the hardcore ever went,the fans that made the trip were proper Brighton til i die fans and that i do miss but realise we do have to have the 80% fickle fans along for the ride at the Amex, but they can become irritating at times.

Withdean was great in that we were back in sussex but that was about it.

Priestfield 2 Withdean 1.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

It really was a town full of dog s**t.
Withdean was OK and we had so much success there.

 

[albion534]

Don't know how some people can call priestfield a proper stadium

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Don't know how some people can call priestfield a proper stadium

Your right of course, but with a roof and being able to stand, it trumps Withdean IMO.

 

[LowKarate]

Gillingham years:
Pros: Fans who were 100% behind the club (not that others weren't, but those who had made the trip always were), Roof over the stands, Terraces to stand on, Cricketers pub was quite good.
Cons: Poor football, poor crowds, poor bovril (one week they actually spooned marmite into a cup and poured hot water onto that; needless to say it didn't dissolve).

Withdean years:
Pros: Successful football (some years), home town with more fans. Good Bovril.
Cons: Seats. Getting dripping wet in the seats. Not enough room in the seats. Taking ages to get out of the seats at the end of the games. Hated those seats generally.

On balance for me Withdean was better. I think the bovril made the difference.

 

[Husty]

Thousands did

 

[u'vebeenamexed]

No. Withdean is missed (for some things) while I do not miss going to Gillingham in anyway.