How do other fans see our club?

[Simster]

Because of my age, I've always considered Albion to be in the same sort of bracket as Pompey and Palace but obviously the decades of having no home and before that an amateurish board have eroded our club's status to the outside world. But I was reading some Millwall fan a few weeks ago taunting a Donny fan with "enjoy the likes of Crewe and Brighton".

Jesus christ. Millwall are a f***ing noddy tin pot club with shit support, yet seemingly even their fans think we're a bit like Crewe, Gillingham and Bournemouth. Then again, even half of Palace's support these days couldn't care less about us. And that's just WRONG.

I'm really looking forward to Falmer if only to see the club's status elevated to what I consider "proper" football club status. And I'm hoping 23,000 seems woefully inadequate within ten years of the place being built - as could well be the case.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

Most youngsters associate us with the pre-Goldstone days, ie crowds of 5k and languishing in the lower leagues with a joke of a stadium. Hence why most 20 something Palarse fans and lower find our rivalry laughable.

So yeah, Gillingham and Crewe level til the stadium's built I'd say

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

bum bandits.

 

[Buzzer]

bum bandits.

what he said.

 

[paulie]

I'd say that clubs like Gillingham and Brentford tower over you. Beating Southend is akin to winning your cup final.

It's a shame cos I remember when you were in the big league and had major crowds. But 23 years of finishing below Palace means many younger fans don't care.

ps I do and you are a big club in that your's is the first result I look for.

 

[Icy Gull]

tin pot and they're not wrong as we are at the moment


Withdean has an enormous influence on how other fans see us and is close to being the worst football stadium in the league for atmosphere and a football stadium feel.

 

[Willow]

If ever I have a conversation with an armchair football fan and I tell them which team I support, their normal reaction is laughter followed by disbelief!

Disregarding the past and the future, I would lump us in with the likes of Colchester and Hartlepool at the mo.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

but there is NO way Gillingham and Brentford "tower over us." And beating Southend is not like winning a cup final

Reel 'em in ........................................

 

[Yoda]

ps I do and you are a big club in that your's is the first result I look for.

Aww! Bless.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

I concur with Simster's view on BHA. In my head I've always felt us to be in the bracket of the Forests, Derbys, Palaces, Sheffield Utds, Norwichs if it was an even playing field (which it hasn't been for some time for us). Millwall rarely exceed 10k at home, and only sellout when Chelsea bring the other 10k, and I certainly view them as a smaller club than us and the aforementioned. As for teams like Crewe, Gillingham and Bournemouth, unquestionably less significant than us on an even playing field. As for Paulie's comment re: the Gills and Brenford!!! I'd like to think we'd be matching your less than impressive sub 18k crowds were we in a position like you to be challenging for the top flight.

 

[Ex Shelton Seagull]

I've always thought that us and Millwall were pretty much on the same level. Had success in the 80's with a couple of seasons in the top division, reached an FA cup final (except we actually turned up for our appearance), both have a committed hardcore of support with a large number of floating fans who turn up for the big games. Main difference is that their fans wear more pink than ours.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

I'd certainly say we were on a par with the likes of prem Blackburn & Bolton and wcould be better than Wigan & Reading, if you compare how well these clubs were supported when we played at the same level.

 

[Brovion]

I'm not going to argue that we're a bit of a joke but there is NO way Gillingham and Brentford "tower over us." ...

'Tower over us' may indeed be a bit strong, but currently they are bigger than us. With our current infrastructure (playing at a rented athletics track) and current level of support (5k) we are a decent Conference club playing two leagues above our status. And if we were in the Conference we would be behind clubs like Oxford.

Like Simister and others in my heart I see us on a par with Palace, Pompey, Norwich, Blackburn, Ipswich, etc - and I see us as bigger than the likes of Wigan, Reading and even Fulham. But the reality is we're not and we haven't been for a long time. I don't expect fans (especially younger ones) of ANY other club to see us as anything more than a two-bob, mickey mouse outfit.

But with a decent ground ...

 

[Questions]

My son wants a Arsenal shirt. What do I do ?

I cannot keep telling him about the glory days. Its like a Hans Christian Andersson fable to him.


We have always been bigger than Millwall though.

 

[Seagullible]

like to think of us as a good Championship sized club with the ptential of someone like Wolves or WBA. I still see our status as above Reading and Wigan but we are not on an even plain with our current set up. Give us Falmer and we'll be back up there

 

[Deductions]

Soft southern benders who dont deserve to play massive Leeds

 

[Nemesis]

Soft southern benders who dont deserve to play massive Leeds

This thread has been crying out for a moron and right on cue........

 

[Yoda]

Soft southern benders who dont deserve to play massive Leeds

Which is why we'll be playing you for the 3rd season out of the last four then?

 

[e77]

But we have been sensibly run financially. When Falmer comes on stream we can become a very good Championship side without breaking the bank.

Our youth policy can't be described as tin pot!