American Express Community Stadium - Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium
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Last Update:
December 2, 2024
Up close, the semi-circular roofs on the stands and the tubular supporting steelwork above them, are reminiscent of the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield. But on closer inspection, the similarity ends as Brighton’s stadium is a far superior ground, which inside is reminiscent of the KC Stadium in Hull.
On one side is the impressive-looking West Stand. This three-tiered stand, has a large lower tier, a small middle tier, and a medium-sized upper tier. The seating in the upper tier follows the semi-circular design of the stand, giving it an interesting effect. The team dugouts are located on this side, as well as an open press area, which is conveniently situated above the players tunnel on the halfway line.
Opposite is the smaller East Stand. This two-tiered stand had its upper tier added in the summer of 2012. The gap in-between the two tiers is occupied by the club’s administrative offices.
Both ends are also small single tiers of seating and have an electric scoreboard to the rear. One of these ends, the South Stand, has a hospitality area containing a number of executive boxes, which is situated above the seated area. The roofs over both ends slope down from the larger West Stand on one side to the East Stand opposite, giving the ground a different look. Apparently, this is so the stadium fits in with the rolling South Downs landscape. The stadium is totally enclosed with all the corners now filled with seating (these were added during the 2012/13 season).
One nice touch is rather than having lettering displayed on the seating, images of seagulls are included instead. What makes the ground particularly striking is the amount of transparent material used in the roofs of the stadium, apart from the supporting framework there is not a solid panel to be seen.
What was the Amex stadium called before?
The Amex Stadium used to be called the Falmer Stadium.
What is the Amex Stadium capacity?
The capacity of the Amex Stadium is now 31,876.
Away fans visiting Brighton’s ground are housed in the South East corner of the AMEX stadium. This area not only includes the corner section but also part of the East & South Stands lower tiers.
Around 3,300 fans can be accommodated in this area. As you would expect from a new stadium, the view of the playing action and legroom are both good. Plus the added bonus of padded seats is a rare ‘luxury’ should you wish to sit down at any point.
Food available inside the stadium include pies, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs.
The ‘go to’ recommendations for travelling fans are based in Central Brighton and come in the shape of the well-known chains Yates and Wetherspoons. As with most of their locations, you’ll find a decent offering of drinks and at a not extortionate price. The downside is the fact that you’re a fair distance from the Brighton ground.
At the stadium itself outside the North East corner, by the walkway to the Amex, there is a small Fan Zone, which away fans can visit. Apart from a small stage for music, the highlight has to be the mobile bars which offer a number of real ales; they are brewed not far away in Lewes. Otherwise, there is not much in the immediate vicinity around the stadium. Alcohol is also served within the stadium.
The best views at the Amex Stadium can be found either in the West Stand and East Stand. The upper tiers in both of these stands will give you a brilliant view of the action while the lower tiers will allow you to get close to the players.
As the stadium is relatively modern, though, it has been designed in such a way that there isn’t really a bad seat in the house. The bowl shape means that everyone, even those in the corners, have a good view of the pitch.
For atmosphere, the best place to buy a ticket is in the North Stand as this is where the noisiest Brighton fans typically sit. The family stand is at the opposite end, directly next to the away end.
Seating plan
Brighton’s ground, the Amex Stadium, is located at Falmer on the outskirts of Brighton, very close to the University of Sussex.
At the end of the M23, continue onto the A23, heading towards Brighton. At the roundabout which is the junction with the A27, take the A27 towards Lewes. After around four miles you will see the stadium on your right hand side. Leave at the A27 and take the slip road sign posted Falmer (B2123). At the top of the slip road turn right crossing back over the A27 and the entrance to the stadium is down on the right.
Where is the best place to park for Brighton FC?
There is no parking available for away fans at Brighton’s stadium itself, but coaches and minibuses will be allowed to park there providing that they have been pre-booked with the Club. Please note that there is a large no-parking zone in force around the area of the stadium on matchdays.
Park & Ride
The Club are encouraging fans to use the Park & Ride services located at three different locations; Mill Road (BN1 8ZF), Brighton Racecourse (BN2 9XZ) and Mithras House at Brighton University (BN2 4AT). Â Probably the easiest for away fans to locate is Mill Road, as it is just off the A23/A27 junction. However, this is by far the busiest of the three, so if you have time on your hands consider using one of the other alternatives such as Brighton Racecourse or Mithras House both of which are quieter. The capacity of Mill Road is 500 cars. The road is located next to a BP garage, which (if coming down from London) you will see over on your right at the top of the slip road off the A23.
The Park & Ride is open from 12 noon on Saturdays (with last departure at 2.30pm) and 5.30pm for evening kick offs. The last buses return from the stadium 90 minutes after the end of the game. The cost of the Park & Ride is included in the price of your match ticket. So just show your match ticket or proof of ticket booking (if collecting your match tickets from the ticket office at Brighton’s stadium). Please note that vehicles must removed no later than two hours after the game has ended.
Lewes Railway Station
An alternative may be to park at Lewes Railway Station Car Park (BN7 2UP) where there are around 200 spaces and then take the train from there to Falmer. The train takes just seven minutes to reach Falmer and the cost of the journey is subsidised by the club if the match you are attending is a league match.
The nearest railway station to Brighton’s ground is Falmer, which is situated right by the stadium. It’s three stops from Brighton Central Station on the line to Lewes and Seaford. Alternatively, you can avoid Brighton completely by getting a train to Lewes and changing there for Falmer.
Brighton Central Railway Station is over four miles away from the stadium. So either get a train, taxi or bus up to the stadium. Brighton & Hove Bus No 25 can be caught from Cardinal Square stop.
Visiting supporters are housed in the South Stand of the Amex Stadium, which is blocks S1B to S1F.
There are four reception areas at the stadium, at the North, South, East and West sides of the ground.
Bags over the size of A4 paper and motorcycle helmets will need to be deposited in our bag drop facility outside the South East entrance at a cost of £5.Â
A Park and Ride scheme, as well as free bus and train travel is in operation for both home and away supporters.
The anthem most commonly associated to Brighton is “Sussex by the Sea”.
If you know much about the UK tourism industry then you’ll be well aware that Brighton is a hot spot for staycations. If you’re planning on taking in a game at the AMEX Stadium then potentially an over night stay might appeal.
The Ruby pub & hotel is a decent bet for both boozing and catching your breath; with rooms from £90 per night along with free cancellation and being under one mile from Brighton’s ground it’s hard to grumble. Beyond that, you’ll start to push the boundaries of sensible walking distance but central Brighton is just a 10 minute drive away. There are loads of options for hotel stays here.
A full breakdown of the current pricing can be found on the official Brighton website.
As with most clubs nowadays, the ticket pricing at Brighton’s stadium, the AMEX Stadium, is tiered depending on the ‘grade’ of game you’re watching and the area of the stadium you sit in.
- Official Programme £3.50
When it comes to football, derby matches are one of the things most looked forward to. Brighton’s ground, however, is in a unique spot of not really hosting a bonafide grudge match. There are a few instances of ‘created’ derbies though.
Brighton vs Crystal Palace rivalry: The Brighton Crystal Palace rivalry is as ugly as derbies come for the Seagulls. Going back several decades, the two clubs came up through the football league together. That and the fact they’re only 40 miles apart has seen their meetings pick up a little bit more heat than standard matches.
Brighton vs Southampton rivalry: Is this match a true rivalry? No. The fact both clubs are based on the South Coast gives it a tad extra though. There is one problem, Southampton don’t consider Brighton a rival; they’re too focussed on hating Portsmouth.
Brighton vs Portsmouth rivalry: Can we just say ‘see above’? Essentially, it’s the same thing. Both teams are located on the South Coast so, officially, Brighton’s stadium hosts a South Coast derby. The two clubs are separated by 60 miles though and, again, Portsmouth hold much greater hatred for someone else – Southampton.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
With the Brighton ground becoming more established in the Premier League the demand for stadium tours are growing and the club don’t disappoint with regular public tours – and private bookings – available. Prices for the 2024/25 season are as follows:
- Adults: £25.00 (£20 for STH/Member)
- Under 18/Over 65: £15 (£10 for STH/Member)
- Student: £20.00 (£15 for STH/Member)
- Family of Four (2 Adults, 2 Under 18s): £70.00
Season ticket holders or MyAlbion+ members will get a £5 discount when purchasing a ticket for tours.
Tours should be booked in advance with the Club by calling 0845 8730251 or via the Brighton & Hove Albion website.
It is advised to book tours at least 48 hours in advance.
Record Attendance
At the Amex Stadium: 31, 746 v Chelsea – Premier League, 29 October 2022
At the Goldstone Ground: 36,747 v Fulham – Division Two, 27 December 1958.
Average Attendance
- 2023-2024: 31,543
- 2022-2023: 31,477
- 2021-2022: 30,943
- 2020-2021: N/A
- 2019-2020: 30,358
- 2018-2019: 30,426
In the past 25 years, Brighton have played their home matches at three different stadiums. Their current home is obviously the Amex Stadium; prior to that Brighton’s ground was the Withdean Stadium. They played their matches at the former zoo (yes really) between 1999 and 2011.
Prior to that, they’d spent near on a century at the Goldstone Ground, which was located in Hove. For a two year hiatus, Brighton’s stadium for home matches was the Priestfield Stadium that belongs to Gillingham.
In 2011, Falmer Stadium – aka the AMEX Stadium – became home with a capacity of 22,374. Within two years, that capacity had increased to 30,750. For the 2024/25 Premier League season, the stadium’s official capacity is just under 32,000.
In 2022, rumours circulated online that the club were considering renovating the Amex Stadium to increase the capacity. However, CEO Paul Barber swiftly played down the reports saying that the only capacity changes they have considered would be minimal (in the hundreds rather than thousands).
The club did confirm, however, that they were looking to upgrade the facilities around the stadium to improve the matchday experience for supporters.
It was announced that more covered spaces and expanded food and drink stalls were to be installed around the stadium in a bid to encourage fans to stay longer after each home match to keep traffic to a minimum after full-time.
The club then announced in 2023 that these new upgrades would also include a pre-turnstile bar at the Amex and tunnel club hospitality.
These changes were put in place at the start the 2024/25 season. As well as this, in March 2024, it was revealed that Brighton had put in a planning application for a two-storey fan zone just outside the ground. Brighton’s capacity now stands at 31,876.
On top of that, the other developments referenced by the club are general touch ups and refreshes to ensure the relatively young stadium stays vibrant.
Official Web Site:Â www.brightonandhovealbion.com
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Brighton & Hove Albion v Doncaster Rovers
Championship League
Saturday, August 6th 2011, 3pm
Liam Pearce (Neutral fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
After all the hype surrounding Brighton's stadium issues I was looking to see the end result first hand and experiencing their very first league game in their new stadium.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I was staying the weekend in the centre of Brighton so we used the train from Brighton central to get to and from the Amex. The train journey is approx eight minutes and was on an extremely crowded train which was very noisy with home fans singing. It was a good atmosphere. The stadium is right next to the station and the whole process was very easy with what I could see trains running up to the stadium at least every 15 minutes.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We spent a few hours drinking in one of the many pubs located around Brighton central station. The home fans were in great spirits. There were plenty of Doncaster fans drinking in the Evening Star and everyone was getting on. We also had a few drinks in a few pubs on a road that runs underneath the front of the station. Again very busy but friendly.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The stadium looks fantastic but then for the money they spent this wasn’t a surprise. Inside the ground I thought it was a shame that the stands behind the goal couldn’t of been bigger but the huge 3 tiered west stand is magnificent.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
Doncaster had the better first half and deservedly led 1 – 0 at half time. The second half was all Brighton and 2 late goals gave them the 3 points. The atmosphere was tremendous with three sides of the ground seemingly singing non stop throughout. Beer and refreshment queues were long but I’d hope they will improve over time. As you would expect from a new stadium everything has a new feel to it and the padded seats were comfortable and spacious. I would recommend the home made pies. Certainly the best food I’ve ever had at a ground and a nice touch to move away from the generic pies that get churned out at most grounds.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Afterwards we stayed in the ground for a few drinks for an hour(ish) and when we came out we more or less got straight on a train back to Brighton central and continued celebrating with the Brighton fans. One concern would be that I could see nothing in terms of segregation which while this was fine for Doncaster I could potentially see the short walk to the station being needed to be Policed with care especially when emotions would be running high.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Although the stadium is out of town , with a station being right next to it this means you can enjoy the great atmosphere Brighton has to offer and then just jump on a short train journey for the game. A fantastic day and hard to begrudge anything for the fans that have had many years hardship to contend with. Would love to go back with my team Bournemouth ASAP.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa
Premier League
Saturday 18th January 2020, 3pm
Nick (Aston Villa)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Sheffield Wednesday
FA Cup, 3rd Round
Saturday 4th January 2020, 3pm
Adrian Hurst (Sheffield Wednesday)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
My first visit to a game at Brighton since the days of the Goldstone Ground.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Fairly easy if a long drive from South Wales. Stopped for a couple of beers and food just outside Brighton before using their Park & Ride system to get to the Amex.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We were at the ground by about 1.30 so I walked round to the fanzone, which was limited and very sparse. No toilet facilities outside the ground so after a drink we headed into the stadium earlier than we normally would. The locals were very chatty and pleasant.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
I have been past the ground several times previously so knew what it looked like from the outside. I have never quite worked out how they had to put a ground in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no facilities nearby. The inside of the stadium was very nice, padded seats (first ever at a football game?), sizeable toilets and tea/Bovril at £1.90 which is considerably cheaper than our clubs pricing.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself wasn't great with limited goalscoring opportunities from both sides. After an hour of stalemate, we finally made the breakthrough thanks to a deflected free kick and comfortably held on for a fine 1-0 win.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was slow as we expected and we spent around 30 minutes waiting for a bus. Thankfully the crowd was lower than for the usual league game which helped everyone to disperse in a reasonable time. Once we got back to our car it was virtually straight onto the A27, then A23 and away.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day mainly thanks to the result, and we can now look forward to something similar in the next round!
Brighton and Hove Albion v Sheffield Wednesday
FA Cup Third Round
Saturday 4th January 2020, 3.01pm
Andrew Davidson (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
Brighton was one of the nearest grounds of the 92 I had not visited. Tickets were easy to buy and were a bargain at £15 in advance for all seats.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We traveled via East Croydon station to Falmer via Brighton. As we were very early there was no queue at Brighton for the connecting train.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a walk around the outside of the Amex and looked in the club shop. Everyone was very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
The stadium itself is beautifully designed is very modern but also quite unique in its eye-catching look. The away end and the other end stand are much smaller than the east and west stands. We sat in the latter, which provided excellent views.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself had a dull first half and a much better second period. The atmosphere was excellent with Wednesday’s fans getting louder as the game progressed! The stewards were helpful and I had just had a couple of reasonably priced diet cokes.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As we sat at the corner nearest the station, we reached it before any queues had formed. This time we changed at Lewes and were back at East Croydon by 6.20pm. With a larger crowd and from the other end of the stadium, this would have been more difficult.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The Amex is about the best medium-sized stadium I have been to. The stadium even has padded seats, what more could you ask for?
Brighton & Hove Albion v Sheffield Wednesday
FA Cup, 3rd Round
Saturday 4th January 2020, 3pm
Paulos (Sheffield Wednesday)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
I have been meaning to visit the Amex for some time. The new stadium is impressive. In terms of architecture, it is very unique in its shape which complements its countryside location.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled by train to Brighton station and then changed. It is at this point you have to pass through the security and barriers for the football trains to Falmer Station. It is only a 5 min train journey but it is necessary as the ground is not walkable for Brighton centre. It was well organised with trains departing for the stadium every 10 minutes. Return train travel from Brighton to Falmer is free if you are attending a Premier League match. We had to pay as it was a lesser FA Cup match.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We travelled as a family, as many fans do and I'll be. Honest, I found Brighton City Centre to not be particularly kids friendly. We got off at Brighton and looked for a pub to have something to eat and a quick beer. Nearly ALL the pubs around the station will NOT admit under 18's on a matchday! So we headed to the stadium. We got the stadium and headed for the indoor bar. To my shock, stewards said 'sorry no kids allowed in'! I couldn't t believe it. I've travelled all over the country with the wife and kids watching football and always been very welcomed at both stadium bars and local pubs…Not in Brighton! So be aware if you are travelling as a family.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
The stadium was impressive. However, the catering was appalling, as other reviewers have mentioned. The service was extremely slow and in the North upper stand there was no alcohol on sale at all which caused complaints from home fans sat in that end. I must say, another first for me….No alcohol in a home end of a football ground! The away end is very large and can accommodate 3k-4k. Padded seats are a bonus and plenty of legroom as you would expect in a new ground.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Sheffield Wednesday outplayed Brighton who went on to win 0-1. Stewards and policing was very friendly and relaxed. The ground normally takes 31,000 for a Premier League match but there was only 21,000 for this match so the upper tiers were closed. Brighton fans didn't have much to cheer about with their teams performance so the atmosphere was absolutely flat.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was awful! Trying to get thousands of fans onto the trains back to Brighton takes up to 60 mins according to the home fans I spoke with. I honestly don't know how they do this every other week! It is cramped, people are pushing each other to get forward of the queues, not nice. The grounds location in the middle of nowhere does not help at all. How 31,000 people getaway, I don't know as it was at breaking point with 21,000!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out. Sadly, it's not family-friendly at all. So if you have kids, just hope the weather is good as you will be outside for most of the day. Lovely stadium spoiled by poor catering and organisation of the catering staff. Sadly, I wouldn't return in a hurry.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea
Premier League
Thursday 1st January 2020, 12:30pm
DaveF (Chelsea)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Norwich City
Premier League
Saturday 2nd November 2019, 3pm
Martin Thirkettle (Norwich City)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton
Premier League
Saturday 26th October 2019, 3pm
Adam (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
I was looking forward to this game as it was another one to tick off the 92 and I had been wanting to visit the newly built Amex for a while now.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was in fact very straightforward as I took the train straight from Clapham Junction to Falmer via Lewes station. This was actually a very nice and scenic journey! Falmer Station is right outside the ground so a short walk thereafter.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I was slightly pressed for time as I arrived at the ground so was not able to do much before the game but I did see a few food stands such as fish and chips and Hotdogs outside. There were no signs of any pubs around the ground but beer was available from many areas! I did manage to buy one of the highly talked about pies (steak and ale) from the Amex and I must say it was the nicest pie I’ve ever had let alone at a football ground. This cost just over £4 and was worth every penny!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
The ground is very nice to look at both from the inside and out, it has a modern feel to it and fits in well with its surroundings unlike most modern grounds. The padded seats throughout the ground were a great bonus! I was surprised with how clean it was even in the concourse area so that is a credit to both the fans and staff at Brighton! The away fans are housed behind the goal on one side of the pitch with a clear view of the game and are surprisingly close to the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was very entertaining from a neutral point of view with Brighton going 1-0 up quite early on through a nicely taken free kick. From then on it was end to end football which lead to both sets of fans generating a great atmosphere. The Everton fans were outstanding throughout and able to have banter with the home fans! However i was slightly disappointed with the lack of noise from the Brighton support even when ahead in the game. Stewards seemed very relaxed which added nicely to the atmosphere around the ground. The concourse was very spacious in the home end and had TVs throughout showing Sky Sports News and there were many food and drink kiosks meaning queues were minimal in comparison to other football grounds I have attended. The game finished 3-2 to Brighton through a very last minute counter attack and this topped off what was a very good game! Do feel like Everton deserved at least a point however.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting back on the train from Falmer wasn’t the easiest part of the day due to the mass amount of people trying to squeeze onto a small platform but this was handled well by the staff and after a short while I was on the train back to Clapham!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall I enjoyed my trip to the Amex and would recommend others visit the ground if they get the chance! Both sets of fan s were friendly and passionate about their side which created a nice vibe around the area. The only let down of the day was the horrible weather with torrential rain from the off and to add to this I was in the front couple of rows of the stadium which were not well covered from the elements so I along with many others got soaked which isn’t ideal! Other than this I has a good day and look forward to coming here again in the future!
Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton
Premier League
Saturday 26th October 2019, 3pm
Pete Woodhead (Doing the 92)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa
League Cup 3rd Round
Wednesday 25th September 2019, 8pm
Andy Newman (Aston Villa)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Cardiff City
Premier League
Tuesday 16th April 2019, 7.45pm
Harpic (Neutral)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Derby County
FA Cup 5th Round
Saturday 16th February 2019, 12.30pm
Mark H (Derby County)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea
Premier League
Sunday 16th December 2018, 1.30pm
DaveF (Chelsea)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Tuesday 17th April 2018, 7.45pm
Paul Smith (Tottenham Hotspur Fan)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Coventry City
FA Cup 5th Round
Saturday 17th February 2018, 3pm
Frank Alsop (Coventry City fan)
Brighton v Bournemouth
Premier League
Monday 1st January 2018, 12.30pm
Paul Sheppard (AFC Bournemouth fan)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 23rd December 2017, 3pm
Mattie Rance (Watford fan)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton
Premier League
Sunday 29th October 2017, 1.30pm
Eric Spreng (Southampton fan)
Brighton and Hove Albion v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 9th September 2017, 3pm
Jacob Bishop (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Brighton & Hove Albion v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 9th September 2017, 3pm
Lee Jones (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City
Premier League
Saturday 12th August 2017, 5.30pm
Stephen Welch (Manchester City fan)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United
Football League Championship
Tuesday 28th February 2017, 8pm
Paul (Newcastle United fan)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Reading
Championship Football League
Saturday 25th February 2017, 5.30pm
Nathan (Reading fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
This was a big game for Reading as three points would help cement our play off position and still give us an outside chance of finishing in the top two, in which Brighton were currently sitting. I was also looking forward to visiting the Amex Stadium as it was my first time there.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the train. First from Reading to Brighton and then another train to Falmer Station which is right by the Amex Stadium. It was nice smooth journey down from Reading with no delays and it took just over 2 hours to reach Brighton.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had arrived early so decided to have a wander around Brighton City Centre and grab something to eat from a fish and chip shop. The Brighton fans TAHT I encountered were time and I chatted to a few about the game on the train from Brighton to Falmer.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
I thought the Amex Stadium was impressive on all sides. As it was a 5.30pm kick off we were able to watch all the other results come in.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
There was 2,000 Reading fans in attendance, the stewards were polite and friendly and the atmosphere was really good. Unfortunately the game was pretty awful from a Reading perspective. Reading started the game brightly, but after conceding on 35 minutes, the Reading performance dropped and Brighton added 2 more goals in the second half to make it a final score of 3-0. Luckily other results on the day helped maintain the gap between the top six in the league and the rest.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
This was the terrible part of the day. After leaving the stadium there was big queue waiting to get the train back to Brighton and it took nearly 50 minutes before getting on a train at 20:18. The train at Brighton going back to Reading was due to leave at 21:03, but was delayed 20 minutes or so by the Police, who were making sure that all the Reading fans had got onto the train. We didn't get back into Reading until 22:45.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Apart from the performance and train journey on the way home it was good day out and If I did go back to the Amex Stadium I would go by car or stay over night in a hotel in Brighton.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Leeds United
Football Championship League
Friday 9th December 2016, 7:45pm
Josh Townend (Leeds United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
I'd been last year and found the Amex Stadium to be the most impressive of all the grounds I'd been to. What it perhaps lacks in home atmosphere, it makes up for in general aesthetics and how welcoming it is for away fans. Last time I went was in the previous season when we lost 4-0, so I was determined to see a bit better this time around, especially given that our Manager Garry Monk had largely changed our fortunes.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled from my home in Cardiff, by Mega Bus to London and then got the train down to Falmer via Brighton. Falmer Railway Station is located right next to the Amex Stadium so there were no problems on this front. However at Brighton station, the train had been indicated as being a different route. This could've been down to a lack of staff with the Southern Rail industrial action but it did cause slight confusion.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As this was a Friday evening kick off, I had booked into a Bed and Breakfast for the night, so I went there first to drop off a few bits and unwind for half an hour or so, as it had taken me five hours to get there. After that, I headed straight to the ground. The home fans were friendly enough, there's definitely none of the intimidation you feel on most other away days (although I imagine different rules apply if you're of a Crystal Palace persuasion).
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
Although this was a second visit to the Amex Stadium my impression of it hadn't changed. It is a very impressive looking modern stadium, albeit its location is a little bit out of the way. I noticed this time that there are two bars on the away concourse; one where the entrance is and a smaller one just around the corner where fans closer to the corner make their way to their seats.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Our record at the Amex Stadium is, to put it charitably, utterly woeful and this game was no different. It was a pretty even game until Kalvin Phillips for Leeds, was sent off midway through the first half for a deliberate handball on the goal line, a decision few could argue with. So no complaints when Murray smashed in the first penalty. The second was more controversial. The Brighton player went down to easily for my liking and I've seen a lot of referees in the past just tell the striker to get up. Not this time, and the second penalty was also dispatched to give a final score of 2-0. I couldn't get a pie or a pint at half time for the sheer chaos that taking place in the concourse. The away contingent, as ever, were having a party (despite being a goal down) and let's just say I soon forgot about my craving for a pie! The banter continued into the second half, as we gave the Amex a unique rendition of Wham's Last Christmas, with the "someone special" changed for "Pontus Jansson".
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was fairly easy, I made my way back to the Bed and Breakfast on foot so encountered no real problems. Getting back to Cardiff the day after was fairly straightforward.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Another day which I still enjoyed despite the result. I'll definitely be back at the Amex Stadium next time to see us try and break our hoodoo on the South coast, and I won't stop going to this fixture until we have!
Brighton v Aston Villa
Football Championship League
Friday 18th November 2016, 7.45pm
Martin H (Aston Villa fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
This was my first ever visit to the Amex Stadium. As a matter of fact I never went to the old Goldstone Ground either, so this was my first ever trip to Brighton away.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled down by car from the Midlands to the South Coast. The plan was to park the car at Lewes Railway Station and then take the train to Falmer (the nearest station to the Amex Stadium). Due to lots of traffic on the M25/M23 the journey took the best part of fours. Nevertheless we got parked up at Lewes just before 6.00pm.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The original intention was to have a 'leisurely' couple of pints and a nice dinner in Lewes. However as we got there later than anticipated due to the traffic, it became a 'swift' couple of pints at the Lewes Arms (nice cosy local pub btw) and a speedy fish and chips at the local chippy which we ate quickly during our walk back from the pub to Lewes railway station. The train from Lewes to Falmer was jam-packed with both sets of fans. No issues at all as both the local fans and visiting fans were all friendly and in good spirits and looking forward to a good game. The train journey from Lewes to Falmer took about 7 or 8 minutes.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
Exiting Falmer train station you are immediately at the Amex Stadium. The entrance to the away section is at the far end of the stadium from the train station but is only a few minutes walk. The ground looked pretty impressive from both outside the stadium and certainly inside too. We had a good view from the away end situated behind the goal and the cushioned seats were a bonus. Not that many Villa fans used them as we were standing up for the most part.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a very good game. Not much in it during the first half. Nathan Baker put the Villa ahead with a header from a set piece (why didn't I back him? He was 100/1 to score the first goal!) and although we looked comfortable after that Glenn Murray equalised for Brighton with a quality finish right on half time. Second half was pretty much all Villa and we could (perhaps should) have won in the end, however the game finished 1-1. Overall, I was happy with a good performance and a decent away point against one of the better teams in the Championship. The atmosphere was also very good. The Villa fans were in good voice all the way through (some Brighton fans we spoke to after the game confirmed this too). The Brighton fans generated some good noise as well when they got going. It was a full house at the Amex Stadium for this game so the atmosphere was always going to be good.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We noticed that the queue at Falmer Station for trains to Brighton was much longer than the queue for trains that were going back to Lewes. So clearly we seemed to have done the right thing by parking at Lewes (rather than Brighton). However, although the trains to Lewes were scheduled to run about every 10 minutes, Southern Rail decided – for some unknown reason – to cancel three or four of these trains. Meaning that we had a 40 minute wait to get a train back from Falmer to Lewes. Chatted to some friendly Brighton fans while waiting for the train which helped to make the waiting time seem a little bit less. They were saying that Southern Rail often cancel trains without warning on this route and it is a regular feature when visiting the Amex Stadium, especially when its a night game. So be warned/prepared! Started the drive home from Lewes train station about 11.00pm and with no traffic on the road at this time of night, the return to the Midlands took only 2 and a half hours. Much quicker than the fours hours for the outward journey!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a really good evening at the Amex Stadium. Its a long drive from the Midlands, especially for a night game, but it was well worth it. Would definitely visit again. Especially if Southern Rail could get their act together!
Brighton v Aston Villa
Football Championship League
Friday 18th November 2016, 7.45pm
John Ward-Gwilliam (Aston Villa fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
Never been to the Amex Stadium before, so I was looking forward to it.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey down from the Midlands took over five hours due to an accident on the M25 which held up traffic. Other than that, we had no problems at all. We went to the Mill Road park and ride. It was very well organised and the bus took only 30 minutes to get to the stadium due to heavy traffic outside the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Due to delays coming down didn't manage a beer before hand but home fans very good natured and could have a laugh and a joke with.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
Fantastic ground and padded seats. Great acoustics especially when the fans get in full voice.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a great game even for the neutral. Superb atmosphere. Stewards first class and facilities good. The bar was even open at the end of the game. Cool.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Even though we had to queue for the park and ride you was going to it was very well organised and buses took priority over the cars. Would recommend the park and ride service. First class. Mixed with home fans as well. Good banter.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great day out even went to the sea front afterwards for fish and chips. I would give the whole day and the Amex Stadium 5 stars!
Brighton v Aston Villa
Football Championship League
Friday 18th November 2016, 7.45pm
David Reynolds (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
Travelling with two Northern based Villa fans it was my best chance to get a new, long distance ground ticked off with the least hassle and at a reasonable cost.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was fine until we left Brighton heading for Falmer via Mill Road park and ride which was when the travel chaos started. It took 2.5 hours to travel 6 miles at a snails pace with poor organisation by the park and ride staff.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
With not arriving at the ground until 7.30pm, I had just time to buy a programme and half-time draw ticket and then took my very comfy padded seat.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
The Amex Stadium is a very nice ground which is only six years old. Although with further extensions planned I think they need to look at transport arrangements as the transport infrastructure cant cope now never mind with more spectators.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a decent game between two in-form teams with a draw been a fair result. I had a chicken, leek and gammon pie which i won on the half-time draw ticket which also doubled up as a scratchcard where you could win a pie, coffee or programme.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Once we joined the lengthy queue for the park and ride we were soon back at Mill Road then onto the motorway.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Excellent day out in a brilliant city that I would consider visiting for a short break or holiday. the club and council really need to look at travel and parking arrangements as that was the only real complaint.
Brighton and Hove Albion v Reading
Football Championship League
Tuesday 15th March 2016, 7.45pm
Richard Stone (Reading fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Amex Stadium?
I wasn't particularly looking forward to the game itself – Reading had been on a dismal run of away games and had lost the FA Cup Quarter Final the previous Friday. It was my first visit to the Amex Stadium though.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled on one of the STAR (Supporters trust) coaches which offered good value. The coach was able to park in a large coach park 50 yards from the away entrance. NOTE: as others have said, there is no car parking at the Amex Stadium itself. The match ticket cost a hefty £30 (£31.50 on the night). This includes a £4 transport 'levy' which gives free travel on local transport to and from the ground. Actually, for 'levy', read 'tax' – as you have to pay this even if you don't use the local transport.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The coach arrived about 18:30. Rather pleasingly, you can walk right around the ground. Outside one of the stands (East?) there are a couple of food outlets and a real-ale bar. It was a cold March evening so everyone was wrapped-up well and the home fans and stewarding seemed reasonably friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
The Amex Stadium looks impressive and pretty big from the outside. Reading fans occupied part of the South Stand, behind the goal. I believe the away fans area can be extended to include the South East corner but this section was cordoned off for this game. The main 3-tier West Stand looks really impressive which makes the single-tier stands behind the goals look a bit truncated. The view was pretty good and, as others point out, the seats are padded. There was quite a visible steward and police presence but it wasn't over-bearing. I imagine that if the away fans filled their allocation then you'd end up standing, but not on this occasion.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Some effort had been made to acknowledge the away fans, with Reading FC crests and posters in the concourse. There didn't seem to be a huge amount of space, with one servery, but as there were apparently only 300 Reading fans it didn't seem crowded. I was a bit disappointed with the much-vaunted pies. The steak and ale had good pastry but the filling was chewy and tasted too sweet. A pie and a pint of beer was £7.50. The beer included lager, Guinness and two real ales on hand-pump. Annoyingly, there was nowhere to put your drink, other than on the floor. A few shelves on the walls of the concourse would not go amiss.
As for the game, another disappointing performance and a 1-0 defeat in a game we should have been able to get at least a draw. Brighton went second in the table after this game but I wasn't too impressed with them either. Brighton and Reading are clubs with a lot of similarities, so good luck to them anyway. There wasn't a huge away following, maybe due to the high ticket price. I felt a little remote from the game and the home fans at the other end seemed quite a long way away. Both sets of fans were quite muted and there was none of the normal 'chant' banter during the game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was a short walk back to the coach (up some steps) and getting away from the ground seemed pretty quick and easy. I noticed quite a number of people leaving before the end, presumably to beat the potential park-and-ride queue?
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed the experience – travelling on the supporters coach made access to and from easy.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Football Championship League
Friday 1st January 2016, 3pm
Richard Fletcher (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Amex Stadium?
I have an aspiration to get round the 92, so I saw New Years Day as the perfect opportunity to make the trip south. From what I had seen on television, the Amex Stadium looked very good, so I was looking forward to seeing it in the flesh.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey down from the Midlands was very straightforward, and the Amex Stadium was easy to find. However the parking situation at the stadium is absolutely abysmal. We were driving beside the stadium at 1:30pm, but didn't actually get through the turnstile until 2:50pm. The lack of information or guidance for away fans is terrible; easily the worst I've seen at any stadium I have previously visited. Eventually we made our way back into the city and stumbled across a park and ride. I recommend this to all away fans, as you will have no luck anywhere else.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We were hoping to get a bite to eat and relax, however the terrible parking situation meant we had no time to do anything except make our way into the stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex Stadium?
From the outside the Amex looks really impressive, arguably the best in the league. The stadium oozes quality. Once we made our way in, the stadium looks equally impressive from the inside. The Main Stand to our right wouldn't look out of place in the Champions League! My only question would be whether it is good idea to have such small stands behind the goal.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
All the facilities were very good, lovely padded seats, decent leg-room and a nice spacious concourse. The atmosphere as the teams came out was fantastic, however the crowd soon fell flat. Wolves effectively 'parked the bus' and won 1-0. Not the best game, but nice to win.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We ended up jumping a very large queue to hop onto the park and ride bus. If we had not skipped the queue, we probably would have been there until midnight. Traffic coming out of Brighton was surprisingly not bad at all.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great stadium, and very nice to win, but the stress of knowing where to park left me thinking whether it was worth it.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Ipswich Town
Football Championship League
Tuesday 29th December 2015, 7.45pm
Thomas Nunn (Ipswich Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Amex Stadium?
Simply it was a new stadium for me.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We decided to use the Mill Road park and ride, and finding Mill Road itself was fairly simple. We were the first car there, and directions for how to use it (as it is literally just a road!) were virtually non-existent. However, when a kindly lady did assist us (by guiding us around a roundabout the wrong way…), the bus ride to the ground was smooth sailing.
What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We arrived at the ground early (about 6.30pm for a 7.45pm kick off), and the walkway around the ground was pretty much empty, so we decided to get the train into Brighton, which was a quick and easy trip. Once in Brighton, we got some food, had a little wander around, then headed back to the station. At the station, fans were herded like cattle into a fenced off enclosure whilst waiting for the train. When boarding, staff were constantly telling people to move down the carriage and let more people on, despite it being more cramped than the London Underground at rush hour! Arriving back at the Amex, went to get a beer from the beer tent only to be told they had run out!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Amex stadium?
The ground itself looks good, like many of the newer stadium, and the leg room and seats were comfortable.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was very good, two teams both wanting to win, although Brighton had much more possession, it was Town who won it in the 32nd minute with a Murphy goal from a very acute angle after a mistake by Lewis Dunk. The stewards were all fine, except for the one who deflated our giant beach ball during the first half. All the noise during the game came from the away end, the Brighton fans were mostly quiet despite the periods of their dominance which was disappointing..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was terrible! We walked up the steps which had a huge sign above saying "buses and coaches", only to be told we could not get through this area to use the Park & Ride. We then faced the wrath of thousands of fans because we were "going the wrong way" back down the stairs! We then waited for about 45 minutes to board the bus, but by the time we eventually got back to the car, most others had left so the drive home was easy.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Nice ground, poor logistics, great result! Would not come back to this ground unless it was for a "big" match e.g. the play offs.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Preston North End
Championship League
Saturday 24th October 2015, 3pm
Paul Willott (Preston North End fan)
Was I looking forward to this? Without a doubt!
As it fell into the category of a new ground to visit following our promotion the previous season, this was fairly high in anticipation even before the fixtures came out, and even more so as the season had developed and the Seagulls had become the runaway early leaders of the division. The only negative aspect about that is you can’t help fear a 4-0 drubbing , especially as we had struggled a little to adapt to Championship football, but fresh on the back of a 3-0 away win at fellow strugglers Charlton Athletic, it gave us all confidence that we could at least make a good game of it. On an entirely personal note, having driven along the A27 on a few occasions during the construction of the ground, it was going to be very enjoyable to sample the finished product.
Of course, with it being a new ground, one had to do some homework, and the many horror stories of both getting to the ground and then getting away after that I’d heard about did cause me some headaches, I must admit. After much perusing of other fans reviews and the guide itself I resolved to drive from my home in the Medway towns of Kent to Lewes, and from thence take the train.
This proved in practice to be ideal, as car parking at Lewes station for the day costs £6.10 which was a third of the prices being quoted for parking nearer the ground itself, and if you have already got your matchday ticket, then the cost of the train to Falmer is included. When you bear in mind that we had to cater for two cars as there was 6 of us altogether, then you’ll understand why I was so pleased with this option!
I also chose on the morning to avoid the motorways completely for a change, and took the far more scenic and direct route along ‘A’ roads via Tunbridge Wells. Although I have no issue with motorway driving; in fact I enjoy it, it nonetheless is a refreshing change to do some ‘normal’ driving for a change and it can also lead to more items for conversation with fellow occupants of the car ! It also brought into perspective for said occupants, my girlfriends elder two sons, the plight of the Brighton fans that had to endure such a journey for two seasons to see ‘home’ games as the club found itself temporary lodgings at Gillingham following the scandalous sale of the Goldstone Ground back in the mid 1990s.
In fact, the two lads seemed quite intrigued as I relayed the story that could well be entitled “the rise and fall and rise of Brighton’s football club;” how the club achieved top division status in the late 70's and stayed there doing quite well for some years, famously achieving an FA Cup final appearance where they took Manchester United to a replay under the watchful of eye of then manager Jimmy Melia and his quite attractive partner who was, errr, a few years his junior………I believe she plied her trade as a model of sorts, albeit perhaps not quite at the Paris catwalk level.
Sadly, the adventure of top flight football ended in 1983, the same year of the glorious cup final, and worse followed later in the decade with a further relegation to the third tier. If the home faithful thought that was bad, nothing could have prepared them for the 90s ; they fell into the bottom tier in 1996, and then the following season nearly fell out of the league altogether and would have done but for the last game of the season where a win at equally threatened Hereford was the key to their survival. They may have kept their league status, but they hadn’t managed to keep their ground sadly, and so for two seasons as earlier mentioned, they had to groundshare at Gillingham before a merciful return to home turf at the Withdean stadium. If the Withdean was at best, ill-suited to football, and at worst downright awful, at least it was back in Brighton. With it the fortunes on the pitch improved and promotion back up the league system started. Soon the club found itself back in the second tier of English football, but seemed too small to survive meaningfully there, yet too strong for the third tier hence a few seasons of yo-yo commenced. Finally, after years of legal and political wrangles, the new ground started to rise in the midst of the South Downs, and as of today, The Seagulls are an established second tier club with clear ambition for loftier climes.
Indeed, I was expecting to see a fairly big crowd well in excess of 20,000, and given the number of home supporters milling around Lewes station at approximately midday when we rolled up only confirmed my notion that the ground would be pretty full come kick-off. Once we’d solved the “crystal maze-esque” puzzle of how to extract a ticket for the car parking out of the one machine that was actually working, we wandered in search of a train for the one stop to Falmer and boarded the first one available.
The station at Falmer, assuming it existed before the football ground arrived, has been heavily and sensibly modified to cater for large crowds, and the ground itself is visibly immediately on leaving the station. As we wandered casually up towards the stadium, we noted the live rock band playing under a small gazebo, and it has to be said they were quite good. Appropriately the lead singer was wearing a Brighton scarf!
The Rock Band At Lewes Station
We completed a leisurely stroll around to the ground’s entrance for away supporters acquiring matchday programmes en route, and decided that we may as well enter and get settled in and give ourselves ample opportunity to deal with any seating issues. The food was good; a bit on the pricey side but as it was good I didn’t begrudge the money in the end ; everyone in our little group was very satisfied with their hotdogs and cheeseburgers.
One touch I really liked that I’ve never noticed before on my travels before was the prolific set of match day posters that had been put up around the interior of the stadium’s away section congratulating us on our 568 mile round trip and wishing us all a safe trip home. I felt a bit of a fraud really………I hadn’t calculated the mileage from Chatham , but it sure wasn’t going to be anything in the region of 568 miles! Nonetheless, a nice touch, and as we exited the ground after the match, a steward that was taking them down offered one to our youngest lad as a souvenir and I think that made his day!
The Welcome Sign
The stewards are worthy of a mention in general actually; we asked if there would be any flexibility with moving seats if our youngest two couldn’t see the action, and a senior steward promised to move us if required. As it happened, we had no problems with viewing the action, but five minutes into the match that same steward came to check we were okay which was very warming to know he’d not forgotten us and cared sufficiently to make sure our younger ones were enjoying the match.
The ground, on entering, doesn’t disappoint at all. Modern it may be, but it has individual character and I was very impressed, and that was even before we noticed that the seats were padded. What a far cry this was to the Withdean and the structure more akin to the 18th at a golf course that wobbled precariously, open to the elements. Being early entrants to the ground, you really get to taste that sense of build up as slowly but surely the stands start filling up, and they played a video of some of Brighton’s most glorious moments; including “and Smith must score!!” in the FA cup final, the legendary great escape of Edgar Street in 1997 featuring Robbie Reinelt, and then a fair few goals featuring a certain Bobby Zamora. Indeed, one got the flavour that they were rather excited about the recent return to their ranks of said star…….I hoped he didn’t get on the score sheet at our expense (again). Our eldest was very interested as the collection of clips played out, as it tied in with the history lesson I’d subjected the poor lads to in the car!
The Amex Stadium features a triple decker Main Stand to one side, which dominates the ground, with a slightly smaller two tier affair opposite, and the two goalmouth ends seem fairly similar. Floodlights are mounted on girder frames that sit within the outline of the stand roofs. I thought it was a spectacular ground, well designed, well thought out, and well worth the wait. Also well worth the £3:50 was the match day programme; full of interesting articles, and a whole section on “Retro Brighton” where they feature players and games from decades past ; some 26 pages of pure nostalgia and interest. I’m still thumbing through it to this day. There was even a section on old matchday programmes from back in the 1960s when the two sides met in a cup tie. The crowd, officially given as somewhere above the 24,500 mark didn’t take into account the seagulls cheekily watching for free from the roof of the stadium ; kind of appropriate really though, wouldn’t you say?
Main Stand
The match got underway with a real fervour of noise from both sets of fans; I’d have to say they’re one of the noisiest sets of home fans I’ve come across for a few years. Naysayers may detract and suggest “its just because they’re top of the league” but even so, it was great to have a real atmosphere in a newer ground. It was easy to see why they are currently leading the league ; they peppered us with a very stern test in the first 45 minutes and it was down to a some very measured defending, as opposed to desperate, that the score-line stayed at 0-0.
After the interval, we slowly seemed to grow in confidence as equally one sensed a little bit of frustration creeping into the home side’s play, and crucially it silenced the home crowd somewhat. The introduction of the legendary Bobby Zamora as a second-half substitute did little to rouse either the home sides play or the crowd for that matter. As we crept into the last 10 minutes or so of the match, I’m sure I wasn’t the only Preston supporter who believed we actually could push on and win the game, and on second half performance, it wouldn’t have been undeserved.
Our View From The Away Section
However, it was a game where only the defenders came out on top in the end; 0-0 the final score although a not inconsiderable number of both sets of fans had taken an early exit , doubtless to try and get ahead of the notorious congestion after the match. As we trudged out, and bade our farewells to the friendly stewards that had looked out for us earlier, we mused that we were a little disappointed not to have nicked the three points at the end; we’d definitely carved out some of the better openings as the match wore on, but hadn’t found that killer touch. Yet, if some-one had offered us a 0-0 before kick-off against the league leaders, lets be honest, we’d have taken it gladly ! With their record reading played 12, won 8, drawn 4, who’d have complained with a point if offered beforehand?
We joined the queue for trains to Lewes and were mightily pleased to be doing so as it was three times shorter than the queue for people wanting a train towards Brighton. We only had to let one train pass before we were on the platform, and in 6-7 minutes the next train arrived. We enjoyed some good chit-chat with home fans on the train whose opinion on the match was broadly similar to ours, and they were also quite complimentary about our support saying that only Sheff Wednesday fans had outdone us number wise or noise wise. Now, whether they were just saying that to be nice…….who knows? Within some 30 minutes of having exited the stadium, we were unlocking our cars and starting to head for home and a game of Mega-Monopoly!
East Stand
I’d thoroughly enjoyed the whole day; lovely stadium, well staffed, a good result, and best of all though, all the children had clearly enjoyed it judging from the questions and pleas as to when the next Preston match was that they could all come to! And how great to see the club that has been through such turbulent times, often struggling to get 6,000 through the gate at the Goldstone Ground now enjoying huge support well above 20,000 in a fitting stadium after all those years of hurt at the Priestfield and Withdean. Back in the early 90s once we’d been greeted with CS gas and chased down to Hove station; today we’d been treated like Kings. Some of us may be nostalgic about those terrace days; but at least we can take our families now and enjoy the match, so onwards and upward!
Brighton and Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 14th March 2015, 3pm
Aimee Henry (Wolves fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the Amex Stadium?
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Brighton’s shiny new stadium. I missed out on our previous trip, a 2-0 defeat which sealed relegation to League One, and also sealed the names of Dean Saunders and Jamie O’Hara into Wolves folklore, for the wrong reasons. I therefore really wanted to make the trip to watch a Wolves team we’re genuinely proud of.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We decided to use the club’s official coaches, as although it meant a very early start, it was a cheaper and easier journey than using the train. We left Molineux, bleary eyed, at 8:30am, and arrived at the Amex at around about 1pm, following a 45 minute stop at the services. I have to say, the moment that the stadium emerges into view, that it does looks fantastic. As the ground seems to be located in the middle of the countryside, to see a football stadium in amongst the hills is an awesome sight. There are plenty of park and ride options, but I didn’t see too many car parks in the vicinity of the stadium.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
The ground is in the middle of nowhere, so if you are after a pub, your best bet is to use the subsidised travel included with your match ticket to head into Brighton itself. We opted to stay at the Amex. There were several food outlets dotted around the ground, as well as a bandstand with live music. There is also a bar in the North Stand which is open to fans before, and after the game. The home fans were very friendly, meaning both sets of supporters were able to mingle without and trouble.
Main Stand
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
As I say, the sight of the ground leaping out from the shadows of the hills is quite something, and the stadium itself is modern and very impressive. It takes the form of a bowl, but the roofs dip at either end, which does make it look very pleasant.
You can walk all the way around the ground fairly easily, and something I really liked was the murals to former Brighton heroes, printed onto canvas and placed along one side. Being only 24, I wasn’t au fait with a lot of the names, though it was reassuring to see Mark Lawrenson, confirmation that he was actually a footballer, before turning his hand to awful puns and terrible shirts…
View From The Away Section
The away fans are located behind the goal, in the South Stand. The seats are padded, which is an increasing feature I’ve noticed at many football grounds. It’s nice, but as the away support tends to remain stadinging throughout the game, it doesn’t make so much of a difference. You’re fairly low to the playing area, which means you feel very close to the pitch, and it’s an excellent view. Situated on our left was the Main Stand, a huge, three-tiered effort, and the opposite side is an equally impressive two tiered stand.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
After a fairly open start, Wolves had the first real chance of the game, Benik Afobe wriggling away from Lewis Dunk, only to place his shot into the legs of David Stockdale. The ball rebounded to Bakary Sako, who thumped a low effort towards goal. Unfortunately (for us), Brighton’s captain Gordon Greer had anticipated well and was able to clear it. Brighton’s striker Craig Mackail-Smith missed a great chance with a header, and at the other end Afobe was again denied by Stockdale. 0-0 at half time was perhaps a fair reflection of the game, but both sides would probably be disappointed not to have scored.
Wolves failed to match their performance levels in the second half, and after Mackail-Smith was denied by the offside flag, the home side took the lead. We failed to clear our lines, and the ball broke to marauding full back Bruno Saltor. His low shot was accurate, but lacked any venom. However, our keeper Tomasz Kuszczak missed the ball completely, he may well have been unsighted, but managed to dive over the top of it, allowing it to nestle in the net.
The good news was, we weren’t behind for long. Rajiv Van La Parra broke free down the right hand side, before firing a low cross which was close to Stockdale. The keeper inexplicably managed to push the ball into the bottom corner, sending the away end wild. It was the Dutchman’s first League goal in Old Gold, and it owed a lot to some fairly average goalkeeping. As the clock ticked towards full time, it was Wolves who came closest to snatching all 3 points. Some excellent work from Nouha Dicko found Sako on the edge of the box. His thunderbolt was heading for the bottom corner, before Stockdale earned some redemption, and a point for his team, with a magnificent push round the post. A spell of pressure followed, with first Danny Batth then Afobe just failing to find the target with efforts, the latter of which with what turned out to be the last touch of the game. The final whistle went, leaving us to reflect on what felt like 2 points dropped, but could turn out to be a useful point in our quest for the Play-Offs.
The atmosphere was pretty good, the away end crackled throughout, and when the home team were on top, their fans responded accordingly. The stewards were very friendly, as were the Police, and always available to help. I had a gorgeous steak and ale pie, it was a pricey £4.10, but I’d argue worth every penny.
East Stand
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The coaches were parked right outside the away end, and it’s a walk up the steps from the away end to get back on the coach. We began our long journey home at 5:15, and got home at 8:30pm.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I really enjoyed my visit to the Amex, it’s immediately obvious why it’s seen as such a popular ground. The facilities were fantastic, undoubtedly of a Premier League standard.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest
Championship League
February 7th 2015, 3pm
Peter Walker (Nottingham Forest fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had always wanted to visit this stadium because it seemed to be a ground where a lot of thought had gone into the design, unlike a fair number of indentikit stadia that were built in the late 90's and early noughties. Also, I always have liked both the fans and city of Brighton so it was not too hard to justify to myself the cost and 400+ mile round journey to attend a game and stay the night.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We were staying in the centre of the city so used the train to get to and from the Amex. It was very easy to get to as it’s right by Falmer station with its own bridge and walkway straight to the stadium.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
As there is not much around the stadium. we went straight into the ground and took advantage of the wide concourses and above average catering facilities on offer, which had the Forest logos on as well as the staff wearing Forest T-Shirts too. Nice touch, as were the signs thanking us for making the long journey to support our team.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Very impressive, no expenses spared either, including padded seats, not that they were ever sat on! Fantastic views despite it being behind the goal. However the Amex Stadium looks a bit unbalanced as one stand is larger (being three tiered) than the other sides, but it gracefully sweeps down to both ends, where opposite us, the majority of the vocal Brighton support -or lack of it- seem to sit. As you can expect, the acoustics are great too.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was not an exact classic in terms of quality; Brighton have been struggling and Forest were having a dismal run of 3 wins in 24, meaning yet another manager departing. Brighton can consider themselves unfortunate to lose as they dominated possession but for once, Lady Luck was on our side. Atmosphere was quite subdued, maybe down to the two teams’ form. It got progressively better in the second half and I could imagine the stadium rocking in better times.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Surprisingly good as this was something I was worried about. There were big queues as expected but it was very well managed and we were back in Brighton by 1800 so no complaints.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Fantastic weekend in a fantastic city. Great stadium, thoughtful and appreciative home club and both a ground and city I hope to be visiting again many times again in the future.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Brentford
Championship League
Saturday January 17th 2015, 3pm
Ruairi Ward (Brentford fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
It was Brentford's first season in the Championship League, in my living memory as I am just 17. Brighton's ground, the AMEX has also recently been built and it was to be Brentford's first visit. To add to this, the stadium has had many positive reviews, thus a friend and I had singled it out as a possible away day from the start of the season, when the fixtures were announced.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Coming from London, the train seemed like the best option, however there were replacement bus services planned and thus I decided to take the Brentford supporters bus. It was very straightforward, leaving at 12 and delivering us at the ground by 1.30pm.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Having arrived quite early, I had a quick stroll around the area of the stadium only to find that it was literally in the middle of no-where, no shops, pubs or restaurants nearby. Thus, I headed straight in to see the ground before more fans arrived. I got a burger and drink for a slightly pricy £6 and watched the early kick off on TV's they had spattered around the concourse. Although, I did not speak directly to any Brighton fans enroute or around the stadium, they seemed nice enough and there was no trouble.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The AMEX is very modern and well built, standing as a solidarity feature in the countryside. It has three tiers on one side which is a rare sight in the lower leagues, especially for a Brentford fan to see. The away end is situated behind one of the goals, all one tier with a standard behind the goal view of the pitch, the higher up the better I would say. The seating is without doubt the best I have experienced at any ground though; it is padded which is a rare luxury but most importantly it has brilliant leg room. I often find myself squished in to seats at grounds uncomfortable, however at Brighton the seating is brilliant. The rest of the ground seemed nice and similar.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was entertaining. Brighton started well, forcing a number of saves off our goalkeeper, before a fortunate deflected goal gave us a half time lead. Chances came thick and fast in the second half before one of their players got a silly second yellow, allowing us the luxury of playing against ten men for the last 25 minutes. We missed several more chances but hung on for a valuable 1-0 away win. The atmosphere as a whole was pretty flat from the Brighton fans with us Brentford fans making most of the noise. The stewards were helpful and polite, with nice toilets although it did get quite crowded at half time!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game, it took a while to get out of the stadium due to a large amount of supporters all making their way through the exits. However, once out it was straight on the supporters bus and back to London.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, it was a good day out, the AMEX is a brilliant stadium, modern and comfortable. And of course to win there was the icing on the cake. I would recommend the Amex stadium, as a good day out.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Fulham
Championship League
Saturday November 29th 2014, 3pm
Dan Alexander (Fulham fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to this fixture as it was my first away game of the season and it was set to be a great atmosphere with 3,300 away fans travelling down to the South Coast. Also it was a chance to see former Fulham heroes Aaron Hughes and David Stockdale, who now play for Brighton and thank them for their service.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Making the short trip to Brighton was fairly simple. The traffic on the motorway was light and you can’t miss the stadium as it’s right next to the main road. We decided to use the free ‘park and ride’ from the racecourse. It was easy to find and we got straight onto a bus having parked in a field – which could get muddy in wetter conditions. The journey to the stadium was around ten minutes from the racecourse and the service drops you off at the stadium car park next to the away end.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
There isn’t much too do around the ground so we bought a programme before going straight on into the away end where we watched the early kick off on SKY. We didn’t get much of a chance to talk to home fans but they seemed friendly. This was most evident after the game on the bus back when a Brighton fan was very friendly and wished us luck for the rest of the season.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The stadium is very new and very impressive. It lies as a solitary feature in the countryside and is most impressive when viewed on the way out of Brighton city centre. The away end was as nice as any with a wide concourse, short queues at the food kiosks and A4 posters welcoming the away fans. The view from the away end is brilliant and the rest of the stadium looks fantastic from this viewpoint. The only downside was that the toilets struggled to cope with the large away following, leading to large queues at half time. Overall very impressive.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was very enjoyable. The first half was dominated by Brighton with them missing a few good opportunities. The Brighton fans made some noise in parts but the majority of atmosphere came from the away fans abusing Darren Bent. Having spent last season putting in abject performances for us he was one of few players to actually show any sadness at our relegation – he got a warm welcome! However it was Bent who got the first laugh scoring early in the second half. I don’t blame him for his celebration, running half the length of the pitch to cup his ears to the away fans, but it probably wasn’t the wisest thing to do. This led to some unsavoury scenes as a Brighton fan spat onto the Fulham fans from the hospitality boxes above. Unfortunately for him and the rest of his party, as a plastic bottle smacked off their glass box and abuse rained down, they were ushered back inside to watch the remainder of the match.
Fulham scored two goals to cancel out Bent’s opener. Rodallega smashed one in before a fortunate deflection off Christensen saw Bryan Ruiz’s shot find the back of the net. Cue delirious scenes in the away end as ‘Darren what’s the score?’ rang all around. Fulham held on for the win. A point would have been a fair result as in the first half Brighton were much the better side. The stewards were fine, not interfering much, allowing us to stand up for the whole match.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After clapping our players off the pitch we made our way back out to the car park to wait for the bus back to the racecourse. The queue was long and there seemed to be too few buses to deal with the number of fans using the service. After a wait of around 25-30 minutes we boarded the bus and returned to the racecourse.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An absolutely brilliant day out, the result always helps. I would argue that Brighton have the best stadium in the league: excellent facilities, good acoustics and brilliant view. A fantastic away day for any fan.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Ipswich Town
Championship League
Saturday March 22nd 2014, 3pm
Kieran Bleasby (Ipswich Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Since Brighton got promoted with the highly rated Amex Stadium I've always wanted to visit it. Although the previous two seasons had either been a date I couldn't attend or a night game so this season, all be it a Saturday in March seemed perfect. So as soon as the tickets were released, me and my mates didn't hesitate to get them.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Although we considered driving, we decided to take the supporters coach from Portman Road. The journey was fine with a half hour stop at Clackett Lane Services on the M25 where 99% of us hit the fast food stops or the toilets before hopping back on the coaches. The journey was smooth right up until we were about 2 miles from the ground where queues halted our journey for a good 45 mins with the ground in clear sight. On getting to the stadium, to my surprise it seemed like organised chaos, the stewards were doing a great job but the vast amount of coaches and what not around the car park made it difficult for transport to park. Still they were a right outside the away end which was handy.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
By the time we got into the ground it was only ten minutes to kick off. I would have loved to take a wander around and see the rest of the stadiums outskirts but after finally getting off the coach, our main priority was getting our seats and gearing up for the game. Home fans that we saw seemed friendly although as we were straight in/out we didn't see many.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
You can see the Amex Stadium from a fair distance if you come up the A27 and it just looks spectacular! Dominating the countryside skyline it looks quite something. Inside was also brilliant! The away end was spacious and best of all, padded seats! (even though I stood the whole game) The ground has been further expanded since its opening in 2011 and is dominated by the main three tiered stand to the left of where we the away fans were housed. The stand we were in behind the goal and the one opposite were identical but with the big screens/ corporate boxes/ fan-cam/ music, I was stunned! Quality stadium!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere without being biased came from our end almost the whole game! Brighton occasionally had their moments but it was poor considering it was a packed out stadium but with our end singing, it does make the day better! Stewards were very friendly and hats off to them they did deal with some muppets who had one too many causing aggro. Facilities were clean and very spacious but I didn't even attempt to buy food/drink as I'd already had stuff to snack on, on the coach. The game finished in a 2-0 win to us which was amazing! Coming for one of my first away games in a while with town and Brighton both pushing for the playoffs it was a big, well deserved win!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We didn't rush out as we were told the coach would wait till the traffic started to flow before leaving so after applauding the players we headed back to the coach! Once on, everyone was heading in the same direction so the journey back was very quick and smooth and our coach decided a stop wasn't needed so we were back in Ipswich at about 8.30pm.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Quality day out and a great stadium. The journey was made 10x better with an away win! Fully recommend going to the AMEX to anybody considering it. Even if the result isn't good I’m sure you'll enjoy yourselves. 10/10.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Huddersfield Town
Championship League
Saturday December 23rd 2013, 3pm
James Prentice (Doing the 92)
1.Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had wanted to get to get to the Amex ever since it was opened but had found tickets rather hard to come by. I earmarked a couple of possible fixtures when the 2013/14 fixtures were announced and, as Brighton put tickets on sale much earlier than many other clubs, I was able to reserve a seat plus book cheap rail tickets well in advance of the match. I have a few friends who had previously visited the ground and had been really impressed with the quality and design of the stadium, especially as the acoustics allow for an excellent atmosphere to be generated.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The day started very early, with a train journey from Lincoln to Newark North Gate before a change to a direct service to King’s Cross. After alighting, I made the short walk ‘next door’ to St Pancras before getting the next train for Brighton. As match tickets guarantee return travel within a specified zone (see the club website for details), it meant I was able to go into Brighton before making my way to the stadium for the match. The Amex is situated right next to Falmer station and virtually everybody seemed to make their way there by train.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…home fans friendly?
After arriving in Brighton I went for a walk down to the seafront and along the pier before taking a look in a couple of shops. The weather was inhospitable to say the least and it seemed like a good day to stay undercover if possible, so after buying a badge in the club shop in the centre of Brighton and having a quick pint at a local Wetherspoons, I made my way back to the station to get the next train back to Falmer. After arriving, I went for a walk around the Amex before going for a couple of pints in Dick’s Bar, which is a really pleasant and convenient place to have a drink before the game. The bar showed the lunchtime game between Liverpool and Cardiff and was serving pies as well as a good range of lager and ales.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
As at MK Dons’ ground, fans enter the Amex through a set of barriers rather than individual turnstiles, which seemed to keep the crowds moving well. After grabbing a pie, I made for my seat (in the North Stand) before taking in the inside of the ground for the first time. The design of the Amex is certainly impressive and even though the fans were relatively quiet for much of the game they were able to generate a fair bit of noise when feeling sufficiently stirred to do so. The two stands at the side of the pitch look pretty magnificent and imposing and the only disappointing factor is that the stands behind both goals look as though they could have been made slightly bigger, even two tiered, which would have improved the overall look. As a note of caution, make sure you take waterproof clothing if rain is forecast and you’re situated on the first ten or so rows closest to the pitch; fortunately my seat was at the back of the stand but I noticed that a number of people got soaked throughout the game because the roof does not extend right across to shelter fans sitting on the front rows!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
The game was a real borefest I’m afraid – 0-0 does seem to be the most likely score whenever I go to a match as a neutral! Both sides on occasions looked as though they might be able to take the initiative but as the second half wore on it looked as though both were content with a point. The Huddersfield fans travelled quite well considering that this weekend – the last before Christmas – is usually quite poorly attended – and were a credit to their club. My pie was quite tasty and the stewards were pretty anonymous, which is usually quite a good thing! The concourse in the North Stand was quite wide, which meant that there was not a great deal of overcrowding before the game and at half time.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Given that a late goal seemed highly unlikely I left with a couple of minutes to go and braved the wind and rain that greeted me as I made the short walk back to Falmer station. The crowds seemed to disperse pretty quickly and were well marshalled by stewards and police alike. One interesting point is that a lot of fans apparently stay behind after the game and enjoy a pint or two before going home; indeed the concourses stay open for some time after the final whistle, which allows fans to hang around and chat before leaving. There are even television screens that show the latest train departures from Falmer station so that supporters can get away exactly when they need to. After getting a train back into Brighton, a caught the next service back to London before then getting back into Lincoln for 10.40pm. A long day but one cannot put a price on ticking a new ground off the list!
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I had an enjoyable day out but I couldn’t help but think that it would have been better had the weather not been so awful. The Amex would be a great stadium to go to during the summer months or right at the end of the season and Brighton would be a good place to enjoy a weekend away should time allow. Whilst there are a couple of things about the ground that could be improved upon, it is a million miles away from Brighton’s former home at the Withdean and a lot of fans must still be pinching themselves that they are finally in residence at their new home. I would like to go back to the Amex at some point and was pleased to have made the visit. I would encourage fans to get there while they can, because the club appears to be upwardly mobile and has ambitions to play in the Premier League and tickets will be hard to come back if and when they make the jump into the top flight.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Middlesbrough
Championship League
Saturday October 20th 2012, 3pm
Blain Allinson (Middlesbrough fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
The Amex stadium was now one year old and I had heard from friends who had been to the previous season’s game at the stadium that it was very impressive and was a must to visit. Also at a time where we were getting the very last of the great British summer the Brighton game seemed a great game to go.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey wasn’t great at all to be honest and full of incident. It started with the alarm clock set for 5AM in the morning to give me a chance to get ready and have something to eat before we left. We travelled via the Middlesbrough club coach which was due to leave the Riverside Stadium at 6:30am however a group managed to be 40 minutes late meaning we didn’t actually leave Middlesbrough until after seven o'clock. After about three hours of a relatively innocuous journey we finally managed to stop at Leicester Forest service’s however due to the earlier delay where only given 20 minutes for a loo break and in my case grab a coffee from Starbucks. On arriving back on the coach it was discovered that something had been spilt it the toilet of the coach some kind of de-icer and had begun to seep through the overhead lockers this meant yet another unwanted delay. We eventually arrived at the Amex stadium (which isn’t actually in Brighton for the record its located in Falmer about 15 minutes outside Brighton?) at around 1:45pm and parking was very easy as we were on a registered club coach however I felt for anyone making their way to the stadium by their own means as the location and lack of car park space within stadium grounds was virtually none existent
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
The stadiums location ruled out a trip to a pub or chippy as such however we found home fans to be great one even stopped to change a £10 note for us so we could get a match day programme which was a lifesaver at the time as the programme kiosks where quite unorganised and weren’t prepared for any walk-ups who had anything over a £5 note. We had a walk around the stadium and went into the club shop with all of our colours on display and had some good friendly banter with the home fans and even the club mascot gully the seagull got involved which was quite funny at the time. Even after the game had finished it was very refreshing to have fans coming up to us and commenting on how well we defended one even said that we deserved to win the game which was a nice compliment.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The stadium located in between two hills and is it not at ground level which means that it is not something that you can spot from a mile away in fact we didn’t spot it until we were about one minute away. On first impression the stadium looked like another new build however actually arriving the stadium seemed to have character and charisma about it. The outside of the stadium was built up with trees and green which is a change to some of the concrete wastelands I have visited. Another unusual thing was as I said the stadium was not at ground level and had steps and a lift to actually get down to the stadium level when stood at the top of the stairs you could actually see inside the stadium. Once at stadium level we walked around the outside of the stadium and it was very interesting. They had a brick road similar to Middlesbrough’s, made up of bricks bought by fans with various messages on them and also giant signs as tribute to former players. We then discovered a rather big club shop easily the biggest I have ever been in by some distance however despite this there was still a pretty long queue to get in which we didn’t mind as it eat up some time until kick off.
On entering the stadium there was a mandatory search which is unfortunately a fixture in every stadium now due to some non-fans. The tickets where scanned by stewards and was straight through into the stadium. By now the concourse was heavily populated with fans watching the live sky game Spurs v Chelsea. The concourse was very spacious with plenty of bars and very hygienic toilet facilities. One feature I did notice was that the concourse was dimmed and lit in a red light this I am told is done in accordance with the visiting teams colours Middlesbrough obviously being red. On entering the stadium I was very, very impressed the stadium was very good however the magnificent two tier Main Stand was magnificent. The opposite East Stand was also a 2 tier stand and in another stadium would have been the stand out however the West Stand was amazing. The opposite home end the North Stand was very disappointing however it just seemed to be a very small square stand that in comparison to the rest of the stadium wasn’t worthy at all. However I am led to believe the corners at the North end are going to be filled just as they are at the South visitors end where we were actually sat and will surely make that end a lot better than it currently is and a lot more atmospheric.
West Stand
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
As the stadium began to fill after 2:30pm the stadiums atmosphere began to crank up. There was an attendance of around 26,000 at the Amex that day and it began to tell with the very loud Albion, Albion and seagull’s chants as kick off approached the 1300 that came the long trip from Middlesbrough contributed and responded with 'You are my Boro..' chants. The stadium PA system was also very loud which contributed and soon before kick-off they showed videos on the stadiums two screens showing the clubs best moments including their FA cup run in the 1980s. When the teams emerged from the tunnel they played Sussex by the sea which again cranked up the noise from the home end but I have to say the PA announcer got very excited when announcing the Albion team screaming and shouting especially when coming to announce the return of top scorer Craig Mckail-Smith.
View from the away section
The game started very cagey with both teams passing the ball around midfield well without really looking to go forward much however Brighton soon got on top winning a series of corner that where well defended by Boro however soon came a great chance for the home team when Dean Hammond headed over a great chance from about 8 yards. It was looking a great game for the neutrals with both sets off full backs bombing on into attack in particular Boro’s George Friend and Brighton’s Wayne Bridge making it an end to end game. However a massive stroke of luck came Boro’s way in the 21st minute when Boro’s Marvin Emnes picked the ball up in an innocuous position out by the near touchline however he was allowed to come inside and work the ball into a shooting position and via a massive deflection from Brighton centre half Gordan Greer wrong footed Thomas Kuschack in the Brighton goal and trickled into the net for 1-0 to the Boro.
The home team came roaring back looking for a response without really creating a decent chance however that chance came when Wayne Bridge broke beyond and played a ball across the area for top scorer Craig Mckail Smith who’s effort seemed destined for the top corner but for a magnificent flying save from Boro keeper Jason Steele. After that the first half petered out and the Boro went in 1-0 up. In the second half the home team came out flying from the off looking for the equaliser and began to push Boro back and back. The home had another great chance to level when Ashley Barnes got free in the area and brought a great save from Steele and Mckail-Smith somehow headed the rebound over the top Ashley Barnes forced a save from Steele and Buckley curled wide for the home team who had a host of nonsense penalty shouts waved away. Despite the pressure it was Boro who should have made it 2-0 two minutes from time when sub Ishmael Miller broke free and went one on one with Kuschack. Miller beat the keeper but also beat the far post. After four minutes of stoppage time agony for Boro fans the referee blew the whistle on a 1-0 Middlesbrough victory to a massive cheer from the away support
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As I said we travelled on the club coach so getting away wasn’t so bad to be fair but looking out of the window you had to feel for what looked hundreds of disappointed Brighton fans stood fighting to get onto a shuttle bus that ran from places around Brighton to the Amex stadium it looked like organised chaos and sorter answered a question that I had earlier in the match that around the 80th minute the home team where 1-0 down and pilling on the pressure and yet the stadium was beginning to empty almost like it was full time this scene explained it to me. Once away we soon got back onto the A27 on our long 7 hours commute back to Middlesbrough
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a great if very tiring day out to the South Coast that was made all the while by a great win over a team that at the time where above us in the league at the time. It was a very long day that started at 5AM in the morning and finished back at the riverside stadium at 12:30AM but it was worth it to see the Boro get 3 points with a very good defensive display. The Brighton fans and everyone connected with the club such as stewards where very welcoming and where great throughout the game as well. The stadium was very nice and was everything that I was told was and to be honest you couldn’t have asked for much more from the day. We are hoping to push for promotion this season however when and if the chance arises I would have no hesitations in re-visiting the Amex stadium.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Watford
Championship League
Tuesday, April 17th 2012, 7.45pm
Matthew Batchelor (Watford fan)
As we only live fifteen minutes away from the Amex, then it had to be a must see visit for us. Also, as we have some Brighton fans in our family, whilst me and my Dad support Watford, there were some bragging rights at stake too! Adding to the excitement was the fact that the stadium was a new one for and had many good reports.
We knew the parking at around the ground was very poor, so we decided to take the train to the Falmer station, which is adjacent to the ground. From there we walked out of the station and up to the away end. Apart from a few programme sellers there was nothing of note outside the stadium, not even a burger van!
At Brighton, you have to put your ticket into a barcode scanner (like Watford) to gain entry. As Watford had filled half of the South stand, it was busy on the concourse. We made our way to our seats to get our first look at the inside of the stadium. The opposite end, the North Stand, was almost identical to our stand. It was a single tier of seating running behind the goal. To our left was the West Stand, an impressive three tiered stand with executive boxes running between the tiers. To our right was the not so impressive East stand. The metal backdrop behind the seating areas of this stand was quite an eyesore, making it look unfinished. The P.A system, at times, was very loud and it was hard to make yourself heard to the person next to you. Also the floodlighting was poor, although there were plenty of lights along the roof of the stand – though they weren't very effective.
The game started well for Watford, with Sean Murray scoring from a free – kick into the top corner of the net. This made the 1,200 Watford fans very happy. Just before half time, Watford were awarded a penalty after a tackle from behind in front of goal and it was duly converted to make it 2-0 to the Hornets.
Though Watford tried to make an atmosphere, the acoustics were not particularly great in the away end. At the break we went to the toilets, which were clean and worked well. We finally got to the front of the refreshment queue, and asked for a steak and kidney pie and a drink, however when I started to eat I found that it was Chicken and Ham! At least, the drink was alright.
In the second half, Brighton took control of the game and started to pass the ball nicely down the wings. It was no surprise when they pulled one back and then went onto equalise towards the end. When Brighton had something to cheer about, they really made some noise. The final whistle blew and the game ended 2-2.
At the end we clapped the players for around five minutes. We were soon walking back to the station, where we were met by a very long queue, which took along time to get through. We waited around half an hour before getting a train back to Seaford.
Overall I found the game very entertaining and the ground was very good. I can't wait to go again next season. Come on u'orns!
Brighton & Hove Albion v Reading
Championship League
Tuesday, April 10th 2012, 7.45pm
Luke Rogan (Reading fan)
I booked my tickets for this match way in advance. I aim to visit at least two new grounds per season. The two I had picked this season were Doncaster and Brighton. Unfortunately Doncaster was called off as I was on the M1 passing through Leicestershire, so Brighton was to remain the only new stadium completed this year.
I had the day off so I took a car full of us down the M23 and parked near the City and enjoyed the beach in the sun. However, enroute to the ground – the problems began. In rush hour traffic, we found the “park and ride” (bought tickets from the club shop in the city centre – who didn’t know where the park and rides were, and only knew the names of the sites because they “over heard” someone mentioning them earlier in the day). The “park and ride” was simply a closed off road directly off the main round about where the A23 goes into Brighton. The spaces were limited and despite being hours early I just managed to get one of the last spaces. We then queued (after queuing in the car for a lengthy time for a space) for the shuttle bus to the stadium. After nearly breaking down on the way we finally got there.
From first glances, the stadium looks great albeit slightly Americanised. As we had food and drink already on the beach (recommended if the weather permits) we didn’t stop off anywhere near the ground (as it’s in the middle of nowhere).
I had heard about the local guest ale’s and the relevant club’s players or hero’s projected in the concourse. However, sadly this is just an empty gimmick. There was a small, hardly noticeable projecting of a photo taken from the home leg against them in the far top left corner and the guest ale was London Pride.
I headed to my seat early to soak some atmosphere and instantly regretted it. Although the stadium was impressive, the music playing had a “family day out” feel to it rather than a football match. The PA system was loud and irritating.
The game itself was a long old struggle for us. We had two shots on target, one of which was the goal we scored (on the 14th minute), the rest of the game was holding off waves of Brighton pressure. The home fans weren’t too loud but when they won the penalty it gave them something to cheer and the ground really does have potential for some cracking atmospheric matches. Fortunately for us, they missed and the ground grew quiet again.
After the game, we joined the seemingly everlasting queue to get on the bus then the inevitable struggle to get away from the park and ride which sadly dented the day slightly. A ground in so much space surely needs better transport resources. The amount of Brighton fans leaving early despite copious amount of late pressure is an indication as to how bad things are. However, despite the transport problems, it was a good day and its certainly one to visit.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Millwall
Championship League
Tuesday, February 14th 2012, 7.45pm
Bob Asprey (Millwall fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground:
I was looking forward to the trip as it is a new ground, but concerned about getting in and out of the stadium due to the well documented (here and elsewhere) transport issues. Could it really be as bad as they say?
2. How easy was your journey:
We took the Mill Road park and ride option and before the match it was quite well organised although the journey to the stadium took 25 minutes due to traffic congestion.
3. What you did before the game:
We went straight to the ground. They have made a big thing of the local pies and real ale, being on sale inside.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is impressive on the outside but strangely unfinished looking on the inside. We had sold out the away end and the concourse is too small. At half time it was rammed and everyone was trying to queue for something but it was difficult to know what. The three tier stand to the left looks very good but why are the ends so small?
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was very good from our perspective, we played well but unfortunately allowed them an equaliser 3 minutes from the end. The atmosphere was average despite a good crowd and a decent performance by the Millwall faithful! Stewards were generally fine but the police were antagonistic and unhelpful. The pies were nice but the most expensive I’ve ever seen (£3.50). As well as the Harveys real ale they also had a ‘Millwall special beer’ available – London Pride (a very nice touch, along with the pictures of our players). However, the service was terribly slow so it was hard to buy. If it had not been an evening game it would have been a very good option to stay a while in the ground afterwards.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Yes, it really is as bad as they say. The queue for the buses was enormous, unbelievably slow moving, the whole operation is chaotic, badly organised and woefully inadequate. There were nowhere near enough buses, and the whole thing moved in slow motion. The locals were suggesting it has actually got worse in the course of the season. Many queued for over an hour, at least it wasn’t raining. I take my hat off to those with the stamina to endure it every other week.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The promise of a shiny new state-of-the-art stadium was unfulfilled and the lasting memory is of the chaos inside and out. Building a stadium in a location like this surely requires better thought-out and better delivered travel options. And they are talking of expanding the stadium by 8,000 seats. Good luck!
Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest
Championship League
Saturday, December 3rd 2011, 3pm
Jason Simpkins (Nottingham Forest fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Brighton would tick off the 71st ground that I had attended of the current 92. Plus as Forest had sold out of their allocation of 2,400 tickets it promised to be a cracking day out.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Thankfully I wasn’t driving as I had been to watch Kasabian at Nottingham Arena the night before. With more than a few beers consumed during the night, I was feeling slightly delicate when I was picked up at Nottingham Train station at 9.30am. My state of mind was made worse when I realised that I had left my mobile and keys at home, however, thanks to my wonderful wife realising and dropping them off to me, we were only delayed by 10 minutes to the relief of all four of us in the car!
Andy ‘Mossman’ Moss was the designated driver on the uneventful 3 ½ hour trip down the M1/M25/M23 with Graham ‘Mossy’ Moss and Vito ‘Serge Pizzorno’ Palmer making up the travelling quartet. After reading the previous reviews on this esteemed guide (which is our bible on away trips), we decided to head for Lewes to park up and enjoy pre match liquid refreshment prior to the game. We actually passed the ground on our approach to Lewes, which is around 5 miles or so away. We parked in the Lewes train station car park for a fiver but please note that you need change as notes are not taken!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We headed into Lewes town centre from the station passing a packed Lansdown pub on the corner before popping into the White Hart Hotel on the High Street. After a swift beer served by the world’s most miserable barmaid we went up the road and settled into Lincolns where we had lunch, a few beers and the whole place to ourselves! Trains depart Lewes for Falmer every 10 minutes so after buying a return ticket for £3.30 we caught the 2.30pm train. The train was fairly full but nothing major and six minutes later we stopped right outside the bottom of the ground.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground looked impressive from the outside but is literally in the middle of nowhere with countryside all around. Upon entering the away end via the ticket scanner method, we made a post haste visit to the toilets, which were clean and functional. There was a large TV screen on the concourse with photos of Forest players in action from last season and the refreshment kiosks looked to be doing a roaring trade, however we did not partake at this stage and went up to our seats.
We were sat on the right of the away end and having a good look around the ground I couldn’t help but agree on previous comments that it looked half finished. The three tiered stand looked impressive, however the rest of the stands were basic one tiered in height. If the corners were filled in then it would certainly add to the overall look of the ground. As the Forest fans stood for the duration of the game, I couldn’t comment on the comfort of the seats for any length of time, however there was plenty of leg room and it was good to see that a club had spent a bit extra and thought about the comfort of the fans for once!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The first half was very poor from both sides but Forest totally bossed the second half and as the game wore on it was felt it was only a matter of time when Forest would score. The atmosphere was rather muted I thought overall with any chanting seeming to drift off into the air. The Forest fans did their best to rally the team and this got louder and louder as the game wore on. Brighton were very poor all game, but in the second minute of second half injury time they scored with their only attack to break Forest hearts both on and off the pitch. As the ref blew the final whistle the Forest fans gave the team a standing ovation as they did not deserve to lose but as they say, ‘That’s Football’!
Again going on the information we had read on previous reviews, we decided to stay for a beer in the ground and let the crowds drift away as with seemingly one way in and out the train station would be rammed for a good hour after the game. Many Forest fans had the same idea and there was a scrum at the bar to get a drink with first one then the other refreshment bar running out of lager! We didn’t fancy the Harvey’s real ale so settled for a Strongbow and there was a few grumbles from Forest fans. I would of thought that they would have plenty of barrels of lager in stock if they are encouraging people to stay after the game or are Forest fans simply big drinkers?! (The cynics would say you need to be drunk watching Forest this season and I would agree that a few beers certainly helps)! I was told by a fellow Red that you could gain entry to other bars in the ground with your match ticket, however I did not attempt this so I am unsure if this is true or not? I didn’t really notice the stewards, which is a good thing as they must have done their jobs without the heavy handedness that we experience where we sit for home games at Forest.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left the ground at 6 o’clock and caught the train back to Lewes with no hassle with vastly reduced crowds, which vindicated the idea to stay for a beer. Upon arriving at Lewes none of us had shown our tickets and we could have potentially saved £3.30, however this would have obviously been illegal and any short term gains financially would have given way to a deep sense of unlawfulness……Back in the car we had no issues getting out of Lewes and passed the ground with no traffic problems at all. Another uneventful journey back apart from some fairly noxious gases being emitted by one of the group throughout the journey until a pit stop on the M1 cured the culprit! After being dropped off in Nottingham City Centre at 9.45pm and catching the bus I was home for half ten.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Very enjoyable day out despite the heart breaking manor of the result and I would definitely go again. I would recommend going to Lewes beforehand as it is easy to get in and out with no hassle and a good place for a few pre-match beers.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Leeds United
Championship League
Friday, September 23rd 2011, 7.45pm
Paul Dickinson (Leeds United & Doing The 92)
With only six of the current 92 grounds left to do, this weekend provided the perfect opportunity to get 2 more ticked off – watching my team at Brighton on the Friday evening and then staying over for Aldershot v Crawley the following day.
Having seen Leeds play many times at the Goldstone (which I loved) and at Withdean (which I didn't), I was looking forward to my 1st visit to the Amex Stadium
As I was meeting friends prior to the game, I parked my car at Hove train station and a 5 minute train journey saw me in Brighton. Its a place I know well and is great for an away fan, with loads of bars and eating establishments to suit all tastes.
All being real ale drinkers, we went to the Lord Nelson Inn & the Basketmakers Arms – both within 5 minutes walk from the train station and the latter having a particularly good range of different beers on.
It was then a quick walk back to the station to catch the train up to Falmer – where a queuing system was put into place in order to avoid congestion on the platform.
After chatting with some Brighton fans on the way there, we arrived at the ground 10 minutes later and 1st impressions are impressive, a great building design surrounded by countryside is certainly eye-catching. The away end is at the far side of the stadium from the train station and can be approached around either side stand.
Once inside, the concourses were heaving with a sold-out away allocation, so I didn't even both trying to get food or drink.
I have to say that my impressions of inside the stadium were less positive – there is one fantastic triple decker stand to the left of the away fans but the other 3 stands are far smaller and with spaces in each corner , where seats can be added in the future if necessary. However, the atmosphere was fantastic from both sets of fans and it was a classic game – with Leeds being 2-0 up at half time, then 3-2 down before scoring an injury time equaliser.
Having heard reports of long queues to get back into Brighton afterwards, I walked to the top of the away end just prior to the final whistle and then walked quickly round to the train station. There are 2 separate queues – one for Brighton and one for Lewes – and even though I was there quickly, it still took me 20 minutes to get onto a train and I heard later tales of Leeds fans not getting back into Brighton until 11.15pm. I was surprised by this – if you encourage fans to use public transport then you must have sufficient plans in place to cater for the subsequent demand.
That apart though, it was a great night out and all my bad memories of Withdean have now disappeared!
Brighton & Hove Albion v Leeds United
Championship League
Friday, September 23rd 2011, 7.45pm
Trevor Pickles (Leeds United fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had followed the Brighton fans struggle for a new ground for many years and from the pictures I had seen of the new stadium it looked a bit different to the norm.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The fixture had been changed by the 'Sky God' to a Friday evening which made the journey from Shropshire slightly longer than was anticipated. We had applied in advance for travel tickets for the Mill Road park and ride and a nice gentleman at the Brighton ticket office duly obliged free of charge! The Mill Road site is very easy to find and extremely well organised. The buses are frequent so we weren't stood around too long, The journey to the ground took about 20-25 minutes mainly due to the sheer volume of traffic.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We had planned to grab something to eat outside the ground, however they don't seem to allow vendors anywhere near the stadium so we had little choice but to go inside.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
From the outside the ground looks very modern and very impressive. Inside the West stand is quite imposing but you can't help but notice the large empty areas in the corners of the North stand, it makes everything look a little disjointed. Talking to Brighton fans after the game I believe they have plans to add another 8,000 seats at some point. The away end is a good layout with plenty of leg room and the added delight of padded seats.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
We had the usual pat down body search on the way into the ground by the stewards, but once inside it was very relaxed. There is a good selection of food available with the standard pie and pint deal for £6.50 which may seem a tad expensive to some but we do have Ken Bates as a chairman!
The game itself was a belter. The Brighton fans were noisy until we raced into a 2-0 lead. They needn't have worried, in the second half we did our best to throw it all away by giving away a penalty and two goals from Makail Smith. We did manage to salvage a point in the 2nd minute of added time when McCormack stepped up to grab his second of the night, making it 3-3, much to the relief of the travelling Whites.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
This is where the problems start. We left the ground and made our way to the park and ride buses. We joined a large queue that snaked its way along the road and up a set of steps. As there are 3 destinations for the buses the stewards were trying to separate us into lines. This was hilarious as the steward involved didn't know his right from his left. Eventually after 35 mins we arrived at the top of the steps. The sight was utter chaos, there were no segregation barriers between buses and fans. The buses were trying to manoeuvre and turn around in between the lines of fans waiting to board, its an accident waiting to happen. We finally made our way onto a bus and left the ground 65 mins after exiting the stadium. I would estimate that there were around 400 fans behind us in the queue at that point. The one saving grace was it wasn't raining.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Having arrived back in the Midlands in the early hours of Saturday morning we enjoyed our Brighton experience, however the bus situation after the game put a bit of a dampener on the whole day. Tempers were getting a little frayed towards the end and that includes the locals. I have used park and ride many times before at Southampton and Reading and never seen such a degree of organised chaos or had to wait so long for transport. Sort it out Brighton your fans don't deserve this!
Brighton & Hove Albion v Gillingham
Carling Cup 1st Round
Tuesday, August 9th 2011, 7.45pm
Mike Kimberley (Neutral – 92 Club Secretary)
As a member of the Ninety-Two Club, a club for people who have visited each of the ninety-two gounds of the Premiership, Championship, League One and Two, I was anxious to visit Brighton’s new American Express Community Stadium.
I travelled from London by train, changing at Lewes. As there is no suitable pub near the ground I used the Royal Oak in Lewes for pre-match refreshment. Many Brighton fans also use the Lansdown Arms. Both of these are situated five minutes walk from the station turning right out of the exit. The Lansdown is at the foot of the hill and The Royal Oak two minutes walk further up the hill.
I had pre-ordered my ticket and collected it two and a half hours before the game. By the time I returned forty minutes before kick off the queue for pre-ordered tickets was two hundred yards long. The general ambiance of the ground is extremely good. I was in the East Stand where there is plenty of room and plenty of food and drink outlets. The seats are padded and comfortable. The leg room again is comfortable. The site lines from the side are straight, meaning that your view at the near side of the far end of the pitch can be easily obscured by people standing or leaning across your line of vision, but this is a minor inconvenience.
After the match had ended , the trains from Lewes and Brighton were full and standing for sometime before the match but these are only short journeys. By train, Falmer station is seven minutes from Lewes and fifteen minutes from Brighton. It should be noted that particularly in the evening it is usually far quicker to return north via Brighton as the north-bound trains are much more plentiful as opposed to Lewes. There is an excellent tea bar outside the main entrance of Falmer station. Tea 70p and bacon baps £2.
Mike Kimberley
Ninety-Two Club, Secretary
Brighton & Hove Albion v Gillingham
Carling Cup 1st Round
Tuesday, August 9th 2011, 7.45pm
Martin Brock (Neutral fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I’d seen Plymouth Argyle play at the awful Withdean Athletics Stadium, so I was interested to check out their new ground. With the clubs two divisions apart, visiting as a neutral seemed to be the best way, although I had a vested interest in seeing how Craig Noone and Ashley Barnes were getting on.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Easy. I travelled down from London Victoria by train, changed at Lewes and got a connection to Falmer straight away. You can’t miss the ground as it’s right by the station.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
If you’re going to watch a match here, I recommend going into Brighton first as there is literally nothing at Falmer except the ground and the station. Brighton fans were pleasant, but that’s to be expected if you’ve just been promoted and have a shiny new stadium in which to watch Championship Football!.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
I have a dislike of new grounds as they seem to follow the same bowl-like shape (e.g. Derby, Coventry, Stoke etc.) So I was pleasantly surprised by this stadium. The away fans are located in the South Stand behind one of the goals with big screens at either end. The roof has an interesting sloping shape and the three tier West Stand is very impressive. Seats are comfortable with plenty of leg room.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
With no facilities around the ground, the club seem to be cashing in on food and drink prices. I had a nice steak pie and a pint of Harveys but at £6.50 for the two in the form of a meal deal, that seemed steep. With 16,500 in attendance, toilet facilities were also at a premium (as at the Emirates which is my main gripe with that ground) and most of half time was spent queuing for the loo. There are plenty of TV screens to watch while waiting and the board with train information is useful.
Inside the stadium, the Brighton fans were in good voice. Many were standing in the North Stand but the stewards didn’t seem too bothered about getting them to sit down. The match itself was a pretty turgid affair. Brighton had more of the play without creating too many chances, a couple of shots from Noone aside and it took a penalty from Barnes to put them through to the next round.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems at all. Easy walk to the station, short ride into Brighton and a connecting train straight back to London.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I was pleased to make it to see the new ground so soon after its opening and the stadium itself didn’t disappoint. A Saturday visit would be better though, allowing time for a look around Brighton or Lewes, given the limitations of Falmer. Miles better than the Withdean though so it’s great that Brighton have finally managed to find a decent home of their own.