Is Withdean That Bad?

[Ninja Elephant]

Didn't some refer to it as "Fortress Withdean" whilst we were doing well, it seemed a happy enough place then. It really is down to how well the team does. What will happen if God forbid we lose as many at home when we move to Falmer, will it be said to be cursed, built on an ancient graveyard? No it's just about the feelgood factor & that's been hard to come by over the past few seasons.

I also think that it was the novelty of the place in the early days that helped. It was different, and it was Brighton. We didn't mind so much, the place seemed ok to start with but as we gradually had another season after another there, the mentality changed and people just got sick of the queues for the buses, and the frequent soakings. It's to be expected, after all this time.

Things will be better at Falmer, it's a proper ground for one thing. It's just putting up with the Withdean for the rest of this season, and all of next. I think the club should make the last season at Withdean a real celebration of our time there, and make it a more attractive place to go and visit.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I also think that it was the novelty of the place in the early days that helped. It was different, and it was Brighton. We didn't mind so much, the place seemed ok to start with but as we gradually had another season after another there, the mentality changed and people just got sick of the queues for the buses, and the frequent soakings. It's to be expected, after all this time.

Things will be better at Falmer, it's a proper ground for one thing. It's just putting up with the Withdean for the rest of this season, and all of next. I think the club should make the last season at Withdean a real celebration of our time there, and make it a more attractive place to go and visit.

But again places like Derby and Stoke are in the Middle of nowhere.

But your idea about celebrating the time there is a cracking one

2 championships and a promotion is worth celebrtating.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

But again places like Derby and Stoke are in the Middle of nowhere.

But your idea about celebrating the time there is a cracking one

2 championships and a promotion is worth celebrtating.

And Darlington, they're ridiculously sized ground is a mile out of civilisation, apparently (I'm relying on what I've been told). I would imagine that the infrastructure of the Derby and Stoke grounds is better than the Withdean.

We should celebrate. It meant alot when we first moved in there, the 2 years in Gillingham were grim, at best. I think the club could do alot worse than trying to get a carnival atmosphere going, as much as possible. But with the tannoy system, and the reliance on the weather, it's not easily done.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

And Darlington, they're ridiculously sized ground is a mile out of civilisation, apparently (I'm relying on what I've been told). I would imagine that the infrastructure of the Derby and Stoke grounds is better than the Withdean.

We should celebrate. It meant alot when we first moved in there, the 2 years in Gillingham were grim, at best. I think the club could do alot worse than trying to get a carnival atmosphere going, as much as possible. But with the tannoy system, and the reliance on the weather, it's not easily done.

It could be down with simple things like a game count down till falmer

 

[Guy Fawkes]

It isn't that bad, had we been stuck there perminently after returning from Gillingham then i very much doubt we'd get so much rubbish spouted about how bad Withdean is, it could be because we have a new stadium due and that it has taken too long to secure this and start work there. If we had 6+ years at Withdean and then started to think about and plan for a new ground and the completion date was the same, then i believe there wouldn't be so much moaning about Withdean.

When we returned to Brighton, everyone was just happy to have the team back here in Brighton, the facilities etc were not an issue. The club has done whatever it could to make it as good as possible for the fans, but as they couldn't envisage it taking so long to get Falmer, they didn't want to waste money on unnessessary facilities like a roof on the south stand(which i think is what causes the main complaints about Withdean)

Withdean is used as an excuse for not going to games by some, but you don't go to somewhere like a cinema and come out moaning about the seats, food and drink, the toilets or location but pay attention to the action infront of you, So why do people do this at Withdean? I think it's more football fatigue in general.

Too many games watching the Albion? or because there is so much on TV nowadays that it's hard for the Albion matches to live upto (Skill wise etc) and also means that they have unrealistic expectations for our matches and players (that they should play like a Man U or Liverpool etc) so they see the matches and our players as very poor.?

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Is that any worse than going to old trafford for example and sitting in the gods?

Yes because Withdean doesn't have any stands close to the pitch to help boost the atmosphere. Old Trafford is such a big ground you can't have all the seats tight to the pitch

 

[HseagullsH]

I like Withdean

 

[fleet]

Hey it is near my parents house so easy to park there

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Yes because Withdean doesn't have any stands close to the pitch to help boost the atmosphere. Old Trafford is such a big ground you can't have all the seats tight to the pitch

But you are probably as far away from the pitch in the gods at old Trafford as you are at the back of the Withdean stands, the difference is that there arn't those few rows at the front but you can still get a decent atmosphere going IF people could be bothered (we have done it before many a time at Withdean) - How does a few extra rows of seats create an atmosphere?

You get an elevated view meaning you get a decent view of the action with minimal obstructions, so why is this seen as a negative?

Or is it partly due to not being allowed to stand? we could stand at the Goldstone, we could stand at Gillingham, but as the rules for Football stadiums has changed to prevent this, we are unable to stand at Withdean. is it because that is a new rule and no-ne is used to it and therefore uses it as an excuse not to try to create an atmosphere?

 

[Billy the Fish]

Plainmoor is much better than withdean. You don't get soaked when it rains.

 

[Chief Wiggum]

Like a fanny?

Is that a Welsh ground?

 

[Jamie]

Having gone yesterday Torquay's ground is an utter dump... I really dont see how Withdean is worse?

Im not saying Brighton dont need a new ground, however there are plenty of worse grounds out there.

from what i saw on tv, you get a roof at Torquay and there is not a running track between you and the pitch so Torquay must seem like Old Trafford compared to Withdean!

 

[Giraffe]

The HUGE difference between our ground and other "crap" grounds is the lack of a roof over all stands. Even the North Stand one is too high to help the acoustics.

A roof over the South Stand would make a vast difference to the atmosphere in the ground.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Obviously the Withdean ...

No, no, no and a thousand times NO! It has and will never be called 'the Withdean'.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

The HUGE difference between our ground and other "crap" grounds is the lack of a roof over all stands. Even the North Stand one is too high to help the acoustics.

A roof over the South Stand would make a vast difference to the atmosphere in the ground.

Like Rotherhams' Don Valley stadium?

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Obviously the Withdean isn't ideal and we'd rather not be playing there but no, it's not that bad. It's just an excuse for people not to go. The pitch is in good condition (most of the time), the food is no better or worse than the majority of other places, and it's in a much prettier setting than most others. But there's an air of negativity about the club in general, and Withdean is just the easy target. I think a few people need reminding it's not a purpose built stadium, we're just making do.

Happily, in a couple of years it won't be an issue.

Completely agree

Withdean was never going to be a perminent solution, but surely its better than having to go to Gillingham every other week to watch our team until Falmer is ready?

I go to watch my team play and support them, not because i want to sit in a "nice" stadium or for the quality of food etc that people use as an excuse to moan about the club.

We only have a small number of games left before Falmer, (34 Home league games and ?? cup matches) we should be using this as an excuse to get behind the team and show our support at Withdean and to enjoy the countdown to moving into our shiny new purpose built stadium, rather than wish we had "a roof at Withdean" or whatever "reason" people want to use to not go and/or moan.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Completely agree

Withdean was never going to be a perminent solution, but surely its better than having to go to Gillingham every other week to watch our team until Falmer is ready?

I go to watch my team play and support them, not because i want to sit in a "nice" stadium or for the quality of food etc that people use as an excuse to moan about the club.

We only have a small number of games left before Falmer, (34 Home league games and ?? cup matches) we should be using this as an excuse to get behind the team and show our support at Withdean and to enjoy the countdown to moving into our shiny new purpose built stadium, rather than wish we had "a roof at Withdean" or whatever "reason" people want to use to not go and/or moan.

Exactly, spot on. Anything is better than the Priestfield (Barrel, is it ok to refer to Priestfield as "the"?) trek and the dire football we saw there, while we're talking about our days in Gillingham we should also point out that was the worst Brighton team I hope I ever see in my life. We're established a level higher now and don't have to watch such poor football after travelling the 2 hours to get there in the first place. Comparatively, Withdean is a wonderful place. But still not what we want, and I can understand people being fed up with it.

But, 34 league games left there!

 

[Trigger]

The toilets are ok at Withdean, that's about all I can say... Mind you, it amazes me that we have a huge amount of complete buffoons that can't read the big signs on the toilet doors that say IN and OUT.