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English football has long been defined by fierce, historic rivalries that stem from geographical proximity or competitive encounters over the years, all of which contribute to the intense passion and atmosphere that make football in England so compelling.
However, the rivalry between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace, which has become known as the ‘M23 derby', is one that mystifies many throughout the country, while it remains largely unknown across the globe.
Despite this, the contest between the two clubs is just as intense, if not more so, than many of the rivalries across England, constantly producing fierce, aggressive and competitive matches throughout its lengthy history.
Here, Football Ground Guide takes a look at the origin, history and head-to-head record of the M23 derby.
History and origin of the M23 derby
While the two clubs have been playing each other since the early 1900s, the rivalry between Brighton and Crystal Palace was first established in the 1970s.
The two sides met for the first time in 11 years on the opening day of the 1974-75 Third Division season, with extra police deployed to control the larger-than-usual 26,000 crowd at Brighton's home ground. Despite the increased police presence, there were multiple arrests and reports of fighting inside and outside the Goldstone Ground, with excessive drinking due to the hot weather blamed for the crowd trouble.
Another bumper crowd turned out for Brighton's home clash with Crystal Palace in February 1976, with 33,000 supporters in attendance, and home fans counter-chanted Palace's ‘Eagles' chant with ‘Seagulls' – which Brighton subsequently adopted two seasons later.
In the summer of 1976, Terry Venables became Crystal Palace manager and Alan Mullery became Brighton manager, and alongside being at the helm of rival clubs in the promotion race, the two had a personal rivalry from their time as players a Tottenham Hotspur.
In that season, the two matched up in the first round of the FA Cup, and after drawing 2-2 and 1-1 in the first two ties, the second replay has become known as the official start point of the M23 derby.
Crystal Palace won that match 1-0, but Brighton were left feeling aggrieved over two disallowed goals, leading to manager Mullery confronting the referee and signing to the celebrating Eagles fans at full-time, while also throwing coins at the opposition players and staff and saying “Palace ain't worth that.”
The two teams continued to have fierce promotion tussles in the lower divisions in the years that followed, with huge crowds and fighting proving to be constant features when Brighton and Crystal Palace met.
The rivalry was paused as they met just four times in league football between 1990 and 2011, with Brighton drifting down the English football pyramid, but clashes have become far more regular in recent history.
After both battling for promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, including Crystal Palace winning 2-0 in the 2012-13 play-off semi-finals, they have now been regularly meeting in the top-flight for several years.
While that serves as the overall story of the derby, the name of the rivalry – the ‘M23 derby' – was simply given as a nod to the motorway between Brighton and London.
Head-to-head record between Brighton and Crystal Palace
There have been 145 meetings between Brighton and Crystal Palace throughout history, and the head-to-head record is remarkably evenly-matched.
- Brighton wins: 51
- Draws: 42
- Crystal Palace wins: 52
While the M23 derby is evenly-matched throughout history, Crystal Palace have had the better of the fixture since their first meetings in the Premier League in 2017-18.
Brighton have managed just four wins in those 18 Premier League encounters, while Crystal Palace have picked up six wins, including three victories and one draw in their last four clashes as of the 2025-26 season.
Key matches and iconic M23 derby fixtures
6 December, 1976: Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace (FA Cup round one, replay two)
This meeting proved to be the very beginning of the fiery rivalry that we have now come to know between Brighton and Crystal Palace, and the Eagles will forever have the bragging rights of winning their rivalry-making game.
27 September, 2011: Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace (Championship)
Brighton had moved into the Amex Stadium in July 2011, and they suffered their first league defeat at their new home when rivals Crystal Palace came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory on matchday nine of the 2011-12 Championship season.
13 May, 2013: Brighton 0-2 Crystal Palace (Championship play-off semi-final second leg)
Brighton and Crystal Palace had been battling against each other in the promotion race throughout the season and were eventually drawn against one another in the play-off semi-finals.
After a hard-fought 0-0 at Selhurst Park in the first leg, Wilfried Zaha scored two goals to lead Crystal Palace to a 2-0 away win in the second leg at the Amex Stadium, with the Eagles subsequently going on to win at Wembley and earn promotion.
Players who have played for both clubs
Numerous players have represented both teams involved in the M23 derby throughout history, including:
- Charlie Chase
- Bert Addinall
- Kemy Agustien
- Ade Akinbiyi
- Calvin Andrew
- Trevor Benjamin
- Ken Bennett
- Gary Borrowdale
- Tony Burns
- Steve Claridge
- Paul Dickov
- Stephen Dobbie
- Scott Flinders
- John Humphrey
- Paul Kitson
- Roy Little
- Neil Martin
- Dave Martin
- Johnny McNichol
- Paul McShane
- Glenn Murray
- Gary O'Reilly
- John Phillips
- Simon Rodger
- Dave Sexton
- Neil Smillie
- Jamie Smith
- Steven Thomson
- Matthew Upson
- Eric Young