South Central trains surpassed themselves this weekend (even allowing for Engineering works). We were due to get the 7.01 from Worthing arriving into Victoria (via Littlehampton) at 8.59. The 7.01 arrived at 7.24 and when we got to Littlehampton we had to change trains, and got on the train that had left Worthing at 6.48 (people on that not best pleased).
When we got to Horsham we were instructed to change trains and wait for the next one as the one we were on was going to terminate at Gatwick. They didn't know when the next train to Victoria was so we got back on and changed at Gatwick. At Gatwick we then caught the next alleged train to Victoria that terminated at East Croydon and we ended up catching the train that had left Worthing at 7.48!
Result was we just missed the 10.10 from London, ended up on the slow train at 10.20 and missed opening time!!! Boooooooo!
We had a beer in Wetherspoons, move on to the Aldenbrook, then the 6 Belles and then a taxi to the ground. We arrived about 2.40, met up with Liz who had driven down from Hinckley and we were soon joining the large queue to the away seats. The 1,627 away fans (figure from Wycombe web site) were in great voice. The players had a lot to live up to, especially after last weeks display and the team lined up
Roberts (Jones half time)
Virgo Cullip Butters Mayo
Hart (Robinson 83 mins)Carpenter Oatway Watson
Benjamin (McPhee 83 mins) Knight
The team came out to hundreds of yellow balloons and ticker tape and the noise was superb. The match was a slight anti climax. We opened the scoring with a neat back heal from Benjamin. The signal went up for injury time, Wycombe sprung our off side trap (Virgo played him on side) and a cool finish and it was 1-1.
As usual we changed keepers at half time. Jones tipped one on to the bar and made a couple of other good stops. We had two penalty appeals turned down and that was that, well the end of the match.
I was surprised to see a good 2/300 hundred people walk out, but the vast majority remained in place and the "We want Falmer" demonstration started. It was great to see the players return, and Oatway made sure he went on the pitch despite a stewards concerted attempt to stop him. Cullip, Jones and Mayo also joined him and the rest were on the sideline (with Knight, Perry and McGhee).
After about 20 minutes it all finished and we left the ground. The banners were superb, but I felt flat on Sunday when no national paper, SKY sports news, Local TV even gave it a line or 2 seconds coverage!!!!!
I think the reaction of one Wycombe fan summed it up, he just said "Its all bull as you will not go out of business" a mis-conception shared by at the least the 2/300 that walked out!
Not sure what we do next. The report issued was supposedly based by an individual who attended every day of the public enquiry. I am not sure how he reached the decision he did, so does Prescott's office take any notice of this, or do they make up their own mind based on the public enquiry.
I am not sure how they can say the stadium doesn't fit, the club have had to use land covered by Lewes DC and the University of Brighton to make sure it does. There should be no additional development required, that is not in the business plan.
I believe that the area is earmarked for future development any way. Also Wembley Stadium received lottery funding etc etc so why is that any different? The England football team would no exist if the 92 clubs didn't exist. Gareth Barry and Bobby Zamora developed at the Albion and play for the national side!
The council voted 11-1 to approve the plan and also passed the local plan which includes the stadium. So the council has yet to ratify the recommendations, so I don't think it should be considered by Prescotts team. They should go through the information provided at the public enquiry and nothing more.
So what next? Will they dare turn the stadium down before the end of the season? If its no (and this must be seriously considered if somebody supposedly independent reach that conclusion after attending the enquiry) what do we do?
Well I would say Caplin knows he will lose Hove if we don't get Falmer, the local council will face a tremendous back lash and I would also hope that Norman Baker suffers a defeat in Lewes. Pressure should be put on companies not to consider setting up in the city of Brighton and Hove as it has no ambition, and perhaps if no football team, no sports facilities then why should Brighton and Hove be a city?
The future of the club?
No Falmer means no club unless some multi multi millionaire appears from the side lines (very unlikely) or is that the end? I will not accept that, and it's the duty of every supporter to get involved. Its no good people saying "it's a waste of time" "it wont do any good", we need every Brighton & Hove Albion supporter involved now. It's no good always leaving it to the same people. If you want a club beyond the Withdean current deal then so something now.
The England U21 game on the 17th Feb is in Hull, can anyone get to that game and put up a banner? I will be in Portugal for the England friendly so if anyone has a banner that can be carried (on to a plane and to the ground) I will take it along and try and get it on Sky.
When we got to Horsham we were instructed to change trains and wait for the next one as the one we were on was going to terminate at Gatwick. They didn't know when the next train to Victoria was so we got back on and changed at Gatwick. At Gatwick we then caught the next alleged train to Victoria that terminated at East Croydon and we ended up catching the train that had left Worthing at 7.48!
Result was we just missed the 10.10 from London, ended up on the slow train at 10.20 and missed opening time!!! Boooooooo!
We had a beer in Wetherspoons, move on to the Aldenbrook, then the 6 Belles and then a taxi to the ground. We arrived about 2.40, met up with Liz who had driven down from Hinckley and we were soon joining the large queue to the away seats. The 1,627 away fans (figure from Wycombe web site) were in great voice. The players had a lot to live up to, especially after last weeks display and the team lined up
Roberts (Jones half time)
Virgo Cullip Butters Mayo
Hart (Robinson 83 mins)Carpenter Oatway Watson
Benjamin (McPhee 83 mins) Knight
The team came out to hundreds of yellow balloons and ticker tape and the noise was superb. The match was a slight anti climax. We opened the scoring with a neat back heal from Benjamin. The signal went up for injury time, Wycombe sprung our off side trap (Virgo played him on side) and a cool finish and it was 1-1.
As usual we changed keepers at half time. Jones tipped one on to the bar and made a couple of other good stops. We had two penalty appeals turned down and that was that, well the end of the match.
I was surprised to see a good 2/300 hundred people walk out, but the vast majority remained in place and the "We want Falmer" demonstration started. It was great to see the players return, and Oatway made sure he went on the pitch despite a stewards concerted attempt to stop him. Cullip, Jones and Mayo also joined him and the rest were on the sideline (with Knight, Perry and McGhee).
After about 20 minutes it all finished and we left the ground. The banners were superb, but I felt flat on Sunday when no national paper, SKY sports news, Local TV even gave it a line or 2 seconds coverage!!!!!
I think the reaction of one Wycombe fan summed it up, he just said "Its all bull as you will not go out of business" a mis-conception shared by at the least the 2/300 that walked out!
Not sure what we do next. The report issued was supposedly based by an individual who attended every day of the public enquiry. I am not sure how he reached the decision he did, so does Prescott's office take any notice of this, or do they make up their own mind based on the public enquiry.
I am not sure how they can say the stadium doesn't fit, the club have had to use land covered by Lewes DC and the University of Brighton to make sure it does. There should be no additional development required, that is not in the business plan.
I believe that the area is earmarked for future development any way. Also Wembley Stadium received lottery funding etc etc so why is that any different? The England football team would no exist if the 92 clubs didn't exist. Gareth Barry and Bobby Zamora developed at the Albion and play for the national side!
The council voted 11-1 to approve the plan and also passed the local plan which includes the stadium. So the council has yet to ratify the recommendations, so I don't think it should be considered by Prescotts team. They should go through the information provided at the public enquiry and nothing more.
So what next? Will they dare turn the stadium down before the end of the season? If its no (and this must be seriously considered if somebody supposedly independent reach that conclusion after attending the enquiry) what do we do?
Well I would say Caplin knows he will lose Hove if we don't get Falmer, the local council will face a tremendous back lash and I would also hope that Norman Baker suffers a defeat in Lewes. Pressure should be put on companies not to consider setting up in the city of Brighton and Hove as it has no ambition, and perhaps if no football team, no sports facilities then why should Brighton and Hove be a city?
The future of the club?
No Falmer means no club unless some multi multi millionaire appears from the side lines (very unlikely) or is that the end? I will not accept that, and it's the duty of every supporter to get involved. Its no good people saying "it's a waste of time" "it wont do any good", we need every Brighton & Hove Albion supporter involved now. It's no good always leaving it to the same people. If you want a club beyond the Withdean current deal then so something now.
The England U21 game on the 17th Feb is in Hull, can anyone get to that game and put up a banner? I will be in Portugal for the England friendly so if anyone has a banner that can be carried (on to a plane and to the ground) I will take it along and try and get it on Sky.
Mark R