Is Withdean That Bad?

[Kinky Gerbil]

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.

 

[Marc]

there are worse grounds, but is withdean bad?...in a word Yes!

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

there are worse grounds, but is withdean bad?...in a word Yes!

Is that because of the team, fans or the facilitys? When Brighton had a winning team it was OK, but now its rubbish...

 

[Marc]

I hated it when we were winning never liked the place but obviously a million times thankful we came home to there and not stayed at Gillingham!

 

[clarkey]

Is that because of the team, fans or the facilitys? When Brighton had a winning team it was OK, but now its rubbish...

However, when we had a winning team we werent envisaging still being there in 2010. See your point though. Poor football does exacerbate the issue.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

I will always have an over-riding feeling of happyness when I look back at the decade at Withdean. The title winning and promotion seasons have seen to that. But as a ground itself, when it is cold and wet there can't be many places more miserable.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I will always have an over-riding feeling of happyness when I look back at the decade at Withdean. The title winning and promotion seasons have seen to that. But as a ground itself, when it is cold and wet there can't be many places more miserable.

But if your winning 3-0 Im sure its nowhere near as bad?

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

But if your winning 3-0 Im sure its nowhere near as bad?

Would Torquay be such a bad place if you went there and won 3-0 everytime? The game itself will always dictate how much you notice the surroundings it's being played in.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Would Torquay be such a bad place if you went there and we won 3-0 everytime? The game itself will always dictate how much you notice the surroundings it's being played in.

True, I just think that withdean is seen as such a dump because the team is pretty poor.

I dont recall the withdean card being played as much while the team was in the Championship, Ok that was 2 seasons ago but still...

 

[Trigger]

Even when we were winning every game in the lower division it didn't feel like you were at a football match when sat at the Withdean, the whole atmosphere is completely strange and it just looks odd, for me personally it has never felt right.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Even when we were winning every game in the lower division it didn't feel like you were at a football match when sat at the Withdean, the whole atmosphere is completely strange and it just looks odd, for me personally it has never felt right.

Like a fanny?

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

True, I just think that withdean is seen as such a dump because the team is pretty poor.

I dont recall the withdean card being played as much while the team was in the Championship, Ok that was 2 seasons ago but still...

That's when people start quoting the "Withdean fatigue" factor.

If we were pushing for promotion then no there wouldn't be many people complaining about the ground. As you say, we're doing badly so it's another point to moan about. In the early years Withdean was meant to give us an advantage which made it the supposed Fortress.

 

[Trigger]

Like a fanny?

You leave my aunt Fanny out of it!

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

That's when people start quoting the "Withdean fatigue" factor.

If we were pushing for promotion then no there wouldn't be many people complaining about the ground. As you say, we're doing badly so it's another point to moan about. In the early years Withdean was meant to give us an advantage which made it the supposed Fortress.

I dont go because its rubbish football.

I went a lot for a few seasons up to the last mcghee season in the championship, but the football/standard of teams down at the withdean has gone down a long way.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

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.

 

[sam86]

I liked Torquays ground

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

If the stands were next to the pitch rather than having a track separating them, then it really wouldn't be a bad ground at all.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

If the stands were next to the pitch rather than having a track separating them, then it really wouldn't be a bad ground at all.

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

 

[willingdon_seagull]

I didnt mind Torquays ground to be honest.
Do I like Withdean? No I hate everything about it regardless of whether we have been winning or more recently putting in some lacklustre performances. I would still rather go to Gillingham every week and be able to watch football under a roof with a pretty damn good atmosphere!

 

[Spanish Seagulls]

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.