Kuipers Supporters Club
Well-known member
The draw gods have pulled some magic out of the hat for this group as we bring you the first as well as the last competitive matches at The Theatre of Trees
First game at Withdean, 6-0 vs. Mansfield Town, 1999/00 Division Three
Saturday 7th August 1999, Att: 5,882
After two years in exile on the Kent coast, Albion were coming home, albeit to an athletics stadium likened by Huddersfield manager Lou Macari to the kind of place you would stumble across on a preseason tour of Norway. The test run a few days previously against Nottingham Forest had gone according to plan This, however was the real thing . New ground, new manager (Mickey Adams) new squad, new everything, except of course us the fans …
Could it have gone any better? No, not really . The sun shone, we partied and local boy Darren Freeman scored a hat trick on his debut as Mansfield were sent packing, substitute Aidan Newhouse weighing in with a pair along with a solitary strike from Rod Thomas.
“A sunny comment late summer's afternoon stroll along the London Road with a pint on route at the Ladies Mile instead of the interminable grey drive to Gillingham. Unfamiliar surroundings and brought to life by unexpected free flowing football and a goal rush for good measure. After years of drab desperation this felt like the first time there might be light at the end of the tunnel. A bit of a long tunnel, but hey we're nearly there . Oh my God, I might cry" (Paul Mitchener)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYJkYoEfnHk
Last game at Withdean, 2-3 vs. Huddersfield Town, 2010/ 11 League One
Saturday 30th April 2011. Att: 8.416
315 competitive games later, Huddersfield Town were the final visitors to Withdean, providing Poyet’s side with a guard of honour as we walked out as League One Champions. The weather was as glorious as it was back in 1999, the sun was beating down as the curtain closed on our Withdean chapter.
The game, which ended in a last minute defeat, is also remembered for the iconic moment after the final whistle, when Withdean residents unfurled a banner wishing us luck at our new stadium. If you think back to the opposition we faced as part of the YES/YES campaign and the anger of some Withdean residents in 1999, that was a truly lovely memory.
From the BBC:
Daniel Ward scored a late winner against Brighton to keep Huddersfield in the hunt for automatic promotion.
Benik Afobe fired the Terriers ahead early on, before Liam Bridcutt headed against the bar for the Seagulls.
Ashley Barnes scored the rebound for the hosts when his penalty was saved after Elliott Bennett had been fouled
Afobe slotted in to put the visitors ahead but Matt Sparrow levelled with a low drive, before Ward fired in late on to win it for the Terriers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZr9qBvD_0w
3-2 vs. Leicester City, 2008/09 League One
Tuesday 28th October Att: 6,282
A famous Albion comeback, against a Leicester side who would be champions of League One at a canter. The game lives in NSC Folkestone not because our side contained, Kevin McLeod, Robbie Savage and Steve Thomson but instead as it led to the infamous ‘Just back from the Leicester game’ thread, which is true NSC GOLD.
‘what a load of shit it was i left at half hime we was lucky to be 2-0 down, sulivan who? he reminds me of mark walton allways in no mans land?
Adams out
there was about 100 or even more who left at half time’.
https://www.northstandchat.com/showthread.php?135539-just-back-from-the-leicester-game
With Albion 2-0 down at half time, some decided to leave, one unlucky poster put his thoughts on here. Cue an Albion comeback, Bradley Johnson grabbed a brace before a last minute Jack Hobbs own goal. Truly glorious stuff.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7684028.stm
0-0vs Swindon, 2001/02 Division Two
Saturday 13th April 2002, Att: 6,870
Championes again! The second time Swindon make the list, the game itself wouldn’t have lived long in the memory if it had not confirmed Albion lift a league trophy as Champions at Withdean for a second year in a row. A goalless draw had the champagne corks popping again, a truly remarkable achievement .
From the BBC:
Brighton failed to beat struggling Swindon but still clinched the Division Two championship.
Bobby Zamora had a quiet game for once, although he forced a fine save from Swindon goalkeeper Bart Griemink in first-half stoppage time.
Both sides created several clear-cut opportunities but lacked a decisive cutting edge to their play.
Brighton were handed the title because nearest challengers Reading and Brentford were both held to draws.
Brighton: Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Morgan, Mayo, Brooker, Carpenter, Lewis, Nathan Jones, Zamora, Webb. Subs: Oatway, Gray, Hadland, Lee, Pethick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MfdZs2A94U – Swindon game starts at 12:46
First game at Withdean, 6-0 vs. Mansfield Town, 1999/00 Division Three
Saturday 7th August 1999, Att: 5,882
After two years in exile on the Kent coast, Albion were coming home, albeit to an athletics stadium likened by Huddersfield manager Lou Macari to the kind of place you would stumble across on a preseason tour of Norway. The test run a few days previously against Nottingham Forest had gone according to plan This, however was the real thing . New ground, new manager (Mickey Adams) new squad, new everything, except of course us the fans …
Could it have gone any better? No, not really . The sun shone, we partied and local boy Darren Freeman scored a hat trick on his debut as Mansfield were sent packing, substitute Aidan Newhouse weighing in with a pair along with a solitary strike from Rod Thomas.
“A sunny comment late summer's afternoon stroll along the London Road with a pint on route at the Ladies Mile instead of the interminable grey drive to Gillingham. Unfamiliar surroundings and brought to life by unexpected free flowing football and a goal rush for good measure. After years of drab desperation this felt like the first time there might be light at the end of the tunnel. A bit of a long tunnel, but hey we're nearly there . Oh my God, I might cry" (Paul Mitchener)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYJkYoEfnHk
Last game at Withdean, 2-3 vs. Huddersfield Town, 2010/ 11 League One
Saturday 30th April 2011. Att: 8.416
315 competitive games later, Huddersfield Town were the final visitors to Withdean, providing Poyet’s side with a guard of honour as we walked out as League One Champions. The weather was as glorious as it was back in 1999, the sun was beating down as the curtain closed on our Withdean chapter.
The game, which ended in a last minute defeat, is also remembered for the iconic moment after the final whistle, when Withdean residents unfurled a banner wishing us luck at our new stadium. If you think back to the opposition we faced as part of the YES/YES campaign and the anger of some Withdean residents in 1999, that was a truly lovely memory.
From the BBC:
Daniel Ward scored a late winner against Brighton to keep Huddersfield in the hunt for automatic promotion.
Benik Afobe fired the Terriers ahead early on, before Liam Bridcutt headed against the bar for the Seagulls.
Ashley Barnes scored the rebound for the hosts when his penalty was saved after Elliott Bennett had been fouled
Afobe slotted in to put the visitors ahead but Matt Sparrow levelled with a low drive, before Ward fired in late on to win it for the Terriers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZr9qBvD_0w
3-2 vs. Leicester City, 2008/09 League One
Tuesday 28th October Att: 6,282
A famous Albion comeback, against a Leicester side who would be champions of League One at a canter. The game lives in NSC Folkestone not because our side contained, Kevin McLeod, Robbie Savage and Steve Thomson but instead as it led to the infamous ‘Just back from the Leicester game’ thread, which is true NSC GOLD.
‘what a load of shit it was i left at half hime we was lucky to be 2-0 down, sulivan who? he reminds me of mark walton allways in no mans land?
Adams out
there was about 100 or even more who left at half time’.
https://www.northstandchat.com/showthread.php?135539-just-back-from-the-leicester-game
With Albion 2-0 down at half time, some decided to leave, one unlucky poster put his thoughts on here. Cue an Albion comeback, Bradley Johnson grabbed a brace before a last minute Jack Hobbs own goal. Truly glorious stuff.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7684028.stm
0-0vs Swindon, 2001/02 Division Two
Saturday 13th April 2002, Att: 6,870
Championes again! The second time Swindon make the list, the game itself wouldn’t have lived long in the memory if it had not confirmed Albion lift a league trophy as Champions at Withdean for a second year in a row. A goalless draw had the champagne corks popping again, a truly remarkable achievement .
From the BBC:
Brighton failed to beat struggling Swindon but still clinched the Division Two championship.
Bobby Zamora had a quiet game for once, although he forced a fine save from Swindon goalkeeper Bart Griemink in first-half stoppage time.
Both sides created several clear-cut opportunities but lacked a decisive cutting edge to their play.
Brighton were handed the title because nearest challengers Reading and Brentford were both held to draws.
Brighton: Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Morgan, Mayo, Brooker, Carpenter, Lewis, Nathan Jones, Zamora, Webb. Subs: Oatway, Gray, Hadland, Lee, Pethick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MfdZs2A94U – Swindon game starts at 12:46
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