Address:
Withdean Stadium, Tongdean Lane, Brighton BN1 5JD
Telephone
No: 01273 695
400
Web Site:
www.seagulls.premiumtv.co.uk
What's it Like?
Up to 900 away fans are in the
West Stand, a small, temporary stand, like at a golf course. It’s
uncovered and open to the elements, could
sun-cream be needed? Fans are well away from the pitch with a grassed area and a
running track between the stand and the pitch, so the view is pretty bad.
Cost of entry, by ticket only is £23.50 for adults;
£15.50 for senior citizens; £14 for children under 16 and students (NUS card
needed). The price includes a travel voucher for discounted travel on buses or
trains. If you fancy making it a weekend of it, book accommodation as far in
advance as you can, as Brighton is one of the Londoners favourite weekend
getaway hotspots.
Directions, Parking &
Train
Leave the M4 at J4b to join the
M25, follow signs for Gatwick airport, leave it at J7 to join the M23. The M23
becomes the A23 all the way into Brighton. There’s no parking within a mile of the ground, because
of match-day restrictions. There are two Park & Ride sites, at Mill Road, off
A23/A27 (Please note that this site can only be accessed from the A23/A27
turn-off at Patcham, and by driving west up Mill Road), and at Mithras House,
Lewes Road. Again, the travel vouchers included with the match ticket can be
used for bus travel. By Train: The nearest railway station is
Preston Park, about a 15 minute walk from the ground. The station connects with
trains from London Victoria, Kings Cross & London Bridge (Victoria is more
expensive to travel from). Come out of the station and walk to the bottom of the
hill, turn LEFT along the A23 for the stadium or RIGHT for ‘The Preston Brewery
Tap’ pub. After the game there’s a football special to take you back to the town
centre.
Pubs and Grub
'The Sportsman’ at the back of the North Stand is open
before the game,
but expect it to pretty busy in there. Home and
away fans mix in there, usually with no problems. Another option is ‘The Preston Brewery Tap’ (BN1 6SA), a
mile away on the A23 and is football friendly, but very crowded. Outside
Brighton Mainline Station there are quite a few pubs as well as the town centre.
The Evening Star (BN1 3PB) is a CAMRA pub. No alcohol is served at the ground.
Alex reckons “REVENGE” is a good night out if you’re making a weekend of it.
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What the
Seagulls Fans Think
Brighton fans were nearly unanimous in that the worst thing about their club was
the Withdean. They can’t wait to move to Falmer in 2010. ‘Vulture’ says
“Best thing about this club - the fans and chairman. Prediction - If you have
gone up as champs a Brighton win. If you need a point or a win to go up a Swans
win. Brighton will come 8th at the end of the season. Good luck in the
championship next year. Peter Grummit say “Best thing, the away support -
noisy, committed and a great bond with the players. Score v Swansea: 2-2 draw.
If we finish in the top 10 it will represent excellent progress and, given our
emerging young players such as Tommy Elphick, bodes well for the future. Good
luck in the Championship, we all hate Baadiff from our days beating them in the
lower leagues”. Marc says “The best thing about the club, I love
them so everything about them is the Best! Prediction for the game against the
Swans is a draw. Brighton will finish at the end of the season in 10th. Nick
Clayton of Worthing reckons “Best thing is the fans; home and away, through
the good times and the bad. My prediction 1-1, finishing 8th. Large Al
says “Best thing it’s a good family club, with excellent community programmes
(the best in the country), and approachable board, an ever-improving squad and a
bunch of fickle, yet happily noisy supporters. Match prediction: If you need the
win, you'll get it. If you're already champions, a handsome win for us. If we
need to win to get into the play-offs, a handsome win for you; other than that,
a draw. There, I think that's all the bases covered. Season's finish of 10th, I
said at the start of the season, and I'm sticking to it. John King of
Southwick says “The best thing about the club is togetherness, we got through
the bad times, thanks to the fans of ALL clubs who helped. Prediction - Heart
says Albion win, head says Swansea win confirming Swansea as champions. Brighton
will finish at the end of the season? - 9th or 10th. Good luck in the
Championship”. Alex says “The best thing is the fans are fantastic both
supporting the club and rallying to fight our cause for Falmer. Also they do
amazing things in the community. Prediction for the game against the Swans?
Honestly I think we will lose this but would love it to be the weekend the Swans
are confirmed as league champions as this would make a fantastic atmosphere for
would could be your last trip to Withdean! Brighton may finish 6th, would love
to make the playoffs but I don’t think we are ready to go up this season. Good
luck for the championship.” Bas reckons “The best thing about the club is
the thousands of dedicated fans that saved the club. The worse thing is
apathetic locals who are quite content to watch Premier rubbish on the box.
Prediction is that the Swans are slain by the mighty Seagulls. Brighton finish
at the end of the season? - 1st. Oh, has that gone? 8th then. Finally, Al
Bion (really name?) Our superb fans are the best thing about the club, who,
whether young, old, rich, poor, fought together to save our club creating a
special bond between the club and it's fans that is so evident at away games
especially. The worse thing is other fans thinking we're poorly supported
because they don't understand the realities of playing every week at an
athletics track. My prediction for the game against the Swans is both teams
having something to celebrate at the end of the match. I’d have been happy with
mid table obscurity at the start of the season but now I've started dreaming of
a play off spot. |
