The club was elected into the Football League in 1920 as original members of Division Three. The following year it was restructured into Division Three South and Division Three North, with Brighton naturally enough in the Southern section. And there they remained until 1958 when, just as the Football League was again restructured into a Third and a Fourth Division, they won the title and got promoted to Division Two. They lasted four seasons before back-to-back relegations saw them plummet into Division Four in 1963.

In 1965 the Seagulls won the Fourth Division championship and they managed to get back into Division Two in the early Seventies, but only for a single season. The arrival of Clough and Taylor indicated a club beginning to have ambitions, and though Brian Clough only stayed one season Peter Taylor, followed by Alan Mullery, took the club up the divisions to reach its one and only spell in the top flight, from 1979-83. These were the Glory Years for Brighton, with gates averaging up to 25,000 and even an F.A. Cup Final appearance in 1983 under Jimmy Melia: in fact two Final appearances, as they took Manchester United to a replay.

There were a few ups, but in the main the rest of the Eighties and the Nineties were a period of long slow decline. They committed the cardinal sin of selling their stadium, the Goldstone, with no new home built, and had to resort to groundsharing with Gillingham. In 1997 they avoided relegation into Non-League on the final day of the season on the strength of having scored more goals than Hereford across the season, the draw against the Welsh borders side condemning the Bulls to the drop in their stead. The following season they were 23rd again.

Brighton's recent history has been dominated by the stadium issue. After the couple of years ground sharing with Gillingham they've been stuck in the Withdean Athletics Stadium. Every step forward towards a new home seemed to be followed by two steps back.

On the pitch they stabilised and began to haul themselves up from the depths. Between 2000 and 2002 there were back-to-back promotions under Micky Adams and then Peter Taylor (not the earlier one). They lasted a single season in the second tier, went straight back down, then straight back up, this time lasting two seasons before coming down to League One in 2006. Managers have come and gone, a second spell from Micky Adams was not a success, and the relegation threatened club turned to ex-Yeovil manager Russell Slade with the brief to keep them up with two months of the season to go.

Meanwhile, despite the occasional hiccup still occurring, the move to a proper home is inching forward.

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RECENT RESULTS

09/02/2010	Huddersfield Town	Home	CCL1	D	0-0	4711
13/02/2010	Norwich City	Home	CCL1	L	1-2	7258		Bennett 21
20/02/2010	Leeds United	Away	CCL1	D	1-1	24120		Murray 77
23/02/2010	Charlton Athletic	Away	CCL1	W	2-1	17508		Calderon 36, Bennett 78
27/02/2010	Exeter City	Home	CCL1	W	2-0	6952		Elphick 26, Dicker 49
08/03/2010	Colchester United	Away	CCL1	D	0-0	3914

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Nicky Forster	12	1	0	0	0	13
Glenn Murray	10	0	0	0	0	10
Liam Dickinson	4	2	0	0	0	6
Andrew Crofts	4	0	0	0	0	4
Elliott Bennett	3	0	0	0	0	3
Gary Dicker	2	0	0	0	0	2
Tommy Elphick	2	0	0	0	0	2
James Tunnicliffe	2	0	0	0	0	2
Inigo Calderon	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 7615, vs Leeds United, 21/11/2009
Lowest League Attendance: 4711, vs Huddersfield Town, 09/02/2010
Average League Attendance: 6296

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	1		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	1		Games Without Defeat:	4
Games Without A Home Defeat:	1		Games Without An Away Defeat:	7
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	3
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	0		Games Without Scoring:	1
Games Without Conceding:	2		Home Results Sequence:	LDLDLW
Away Results Sequence:	WDDDWD		Overall Results Sequence:	DLDWWD

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South Coast Brighton is not a good journey from Yeovil. The road network provides plenty of options but none are direct or simple. Pays your money and takes your choice.

By Road

The stadium is something over two miles from the centre of Brighton and is off London Road (A23).

Parking

The Withdean Stadium is completely surrounded by a Parking Exclusion Zone of around a mile. There are two Park & Ride sites :

Mill Road Car Park (off the A33/27)
N.B. You can only access Mill Road from the A23/27 junction at Patcham, then driving West. The Hove junction into Mill Road off the A27 is closed on matchdays.
Mithras House Car Park, Lewes Road (off the A270)



The Mill Road Car Park will be the obvious choice of the two for most Yeovil fans.

All vehicle occupants (not just the driver) must hand their travel vouchers to the car park attendants. Disabled drivers (occupants) have spaces reserved next to the Park & Ride pick up points.

The shuttle bus services are accessed through what remains of your match ticket. The service runs from 12.30 p.m. before kick-off, and for thirty minutes after the end of the game. Pick up points post-match are all in London Road. Should you decide to walk back after the game N.B. that the Mill Road car park closes two hours after the game. You will not be allowed to exit with your vehicle after that time.

By Rail

Preston Park is the nearest station to the stadium.
Brighton's main station is a couple of miles away from the ground. The principle London terminus for Brighton is Victoria, with services taking from around fifty to eighty minutes depending on the number of stops. There are also services commencing from London Bridge. Having got to Brighton station you can use your travel vouchers attached to the match ticket for the four minute journey to and from Preston Park.

By Bus

The vouchers that come attached to your ticket allow free travel on any buses run by Brighton & Hove Buses or services 17 and 700 run by Stagecoach to and from the game within a designated zone (shown on the ticket). The zone is quite extensive, stretching to Worthing in the West, Seaford in the East and Haywards Heath in the North.

Taxis

A selection of Brighton taxi companies can be found here.

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General:

With the parking exclusion zone designed to keep fans out of the area around the ground the whole plan is to shuttle fans in late and ship them out early. The tone from our hosts is that football custom is not particularly wanted on whatever limited facilities there are in this residential district.

Club Bar :

The Sportsman, which is located behind the North Stand, is reported as being open to away fans, but as one of the very few facilities in the entire area gets totally packed, so arrive early. Alcohol is not sold inside the stadium.

There are a couple of quite reasonable pubs around Preston Park station (listed below), again tending to be very busy with home fans.

The central district, especially around the railway station and in the alleys just back from the sea front, has a host of good pubs for all tastes, bars, clubs and eateries. If you're on a day out head for the centre and you'll find something that suits. However be aware that parking down in the middle is normally quite difficult.

Local Pubs :

Basketmakers Arms: This pub is in Brighton town centre, a third of a mile east of the main railway station in an area known as North Laines. It is situated in a side street just off the Grand Parade in Brighton. If you are looking for landmarks then find the Royal Pavillion or the Dome Theatre on the A23 and head northbound, and Gloucester Road is a turning on your left. This is a Fullers tied house and therefore serves Fullers Chiswick, Discovery, London Pride, ESB plus seasonal beers and guest beers. Also has Gales. It is popular with shoppers, the local business community, and those looking for good but relatively inexpensive food, with both lunchtime and evening offerings. There is also a wide range of whiskies and the pub is decorated with old signs (some of which apparently have secret messages) and old tins. If you're staying overnight, they do a full roast dinner on Sunday lunchtimes with a vegetarian option. Opening hours: 11.00 a.m. - 12.00 midnight Friday and Saturday; 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Sunday; 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. the rest of the week. Basketmakers Arms, 12, Gloucester Road, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 4AD. Tel: 01273 689006. Map: Click Here.

Battle of Trafalgar: This is a town centre pub that is situated in a side street almost directly opposite the main railway station, about 100 yards away, on the side of a steep hill. Serves Harveys Sussex Best Bitter and Fuller's London Pride as the house beers, plus guests, and does lunchtime and evening food weekdays, and from opening through to 5.00 p.m. at weekends. There's a small secluded garden at the rear, principally occupied by smokers these days. Opening hours: 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 12.00 noon - 12.00 midnight Friday and Saturday. Battle of Trafalgar, 34 Guildford Road, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 3LW. Tel: 01273 327997. Map: Click Here.

Bugle Inn: This pub is situated out on the north side of town, but probably not quite within walking distance unless you're particularly enthusiastic. St Martins Street is just off the Lewes Road (A270) a few hundred miles north of where the A23 and A270 split. This is a genuine Irish pub (no, not an Oirish pub) with a central 'island' bar, and more rugby than football orientated. They serve up Harveys Sussex Best Bitter, Sharp's IPA, Taylor Landlord and Young’s Bitter as the real ales. Real cider is stocked in the summer. The pub puts on live Irish music Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. There is also a sheltered garden area for smokers. Children welcome until 8.30 p.m. No food. Opening hours are slightly complicated: 4.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday to Wednesday; 4.00 p.m. - 12.00 midnight Thusday; 3.00 p.m. - 12.00 midnight Friday; 12.00 noon - 12.00 midnight Saturday; 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Sunday. Bugle Inn, 24, St. Martins Street, Brighton, Sussex, BN2 3HJ. Tel: 01273 607753. Map: Click Here.

Crown and Anchor: Walking distance from the ground at just under a mile, this pub is situated on the main A23 south of the ground and just south east of Preston Park Railway Station. This is a single saloon bar pub that does lunchtime food and serves Greene King Abbot Ale and Young’s Bitter. Crown and Anchor, 213, Preston Road, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 6SA. Tel: 01273 559494. Map: Click Here.

Evening Star: This is one of the top real ale pubs in the town, having won several local awards, including CAMRA Branch, County and Regional Pub of the Year. Used to be the brewery tap of the Dark Star Brewery until it expanded and moved out, but the pub still stocks its full range, with Dark Star Hophead, Dark Star Original, Dark Star seasonal beers plus several guest beers as well as real cider (Thatchers) and sometimes a perry. They also serve bottled and draught Belgian and German beers. If you're ever visiting Brighton in the Spring or December, check out their website as they do two beer festivals per year. Lunchtime food and bar snacks are available - to find the pub simply head 100 yards south from Brighton main railway station and you'll find it on the main road. The beer was excellent when we used it. There's a smoking area with retractable awning. Opening hours: 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 11.30 a.m. - 12.00 midnight Friday and Saturday. Evening Star, 55-56, Surrey Street, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 3PB. Tel: 01273-328931. Email: info@eveningstarbrighton.co.uk. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Lord Nelson: Harveys pub in the back streets off the town centre, just east of the main Brighton railway station. Trafalgar Street is the first road south of the station running east, and so is easy to find. The pub is in the North Laines area and so you might fancy a trip to the Basketmakers Arms whilst you're heading in that direction. The Lord Nelson has two bars, one of which often shows sporting events on a pull-down screen, whilst the other bar leads out to a back room and conservatory. There is a patio out the back for smokers. On tap are Harveys XX Mild, Best Bitter, Armada Ale and Hadlow Bitter, plus seasonal beers. The real cider is Weston's. They do lunchtime food, but not on Sundays. Children and dogs are welcome. Opening hours: 11.30 a.m - 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11.30 a.m. - 12.00 midnight Friday and Saturday; 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Lord Nelson, 36 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 4ED. Tel: 01273 695872. Email: info@TheLordNelsonInn.co.uk. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Preston Brewery Tap: Like the Crown and Anchor, this pub is situated on the main A23 south of the ground and a short distance, south-east of Preston Park Railway Station. Despite the name, this is not a brewhouse. Beers served include the woeful Courage Directors plus Harveys Best and a guest beer. This pub does both lunchtime and evening food. Preston Brewery Tap, 197, Preston Road, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 6SA. Tel: 01273 508700. Map: Click Here.

Prestonville Arms: Best of the pubs roughly in the area of Preston Park station, tucked in a side-street north of the A270, west of the junction with the A23. Quite hard to find and - Sod's Law - less convenient for the stadium than the others. Serves a range of Fullers and Gales beers and usually a guest beer or two. They also do lunchtime and evening meals (with both children's and vegetarian options) that come highly recommended. There is an outside area. Opening hours: 5.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 12.00 noon - 12.00 midnight Friday and Saturday; 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Sunday. Prestonville Arms, 64, Hamilton Road, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 5DN. Tel: 01273 701007. Map: Click Here.

Station Hotel: One of the more local pubs to the Withdean Stadium - roughly 10 minutes walk south of the ground. This is a single bar locals' pub that has been recently refurbished. They serve up Courage Best Bitter, Harveys Best Bitter, Shepherd Neame Spitfire and other guest beers. Close to Preston Park railway station - head south of the station and you should find it within 100 yards. They do lunchtime food and there is an outdoor area. Station Hotel, 1 Hampstead Road, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 5NG. Tel: 01273-501318. Map: Click Here.

The Park View: This is the furthest of the 'walkable' pubs mentioned in this guide and the fact that it is situated along a side road away from the main road and the station may mean it is a little quieter. It is situated just over a mile away from the ground, so allow roughly 20 minutes walk. If you can find the Crown and Anchor and the Preston Brewery Tap on the A23, south of the ground and the station, then at that point, turn eastward (left if you are walking away from the ground) into Preston Drove. The pub is an imposing corner site building with a large outdoor patio. Available on tap are Bass, Fuller’s London Pride and Harveys Best Bitter, whilst lunchtime and evening meals are also available. The Park View, 71, Preston Drove, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 6LD. Tel: 01273 544121. Map: Click Here.

The Sportsman: This is a large pub situated right outside the Withdean Stadium and is part of the Table Table (middle-of-the-road decor, middle-of-the-road food, middle-of-the-road drink) chain. Away fans are generally allowed, although the fact that it is almost bolted onto the outside of the stadium gives a clue that it is going to be excessively crowded on match days. Might have some dull middle-of-the-road real ale on offer. Opening: 11.30 a.m. - late (whatever that means). The Sportsman, Withdean Sports Complex, Tongdean Lane, Withdean, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 5JD. Tel: 01273-505561. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Brighton sees itself as cosmopolitan and trendy and, to be fair, it pulls it off quite well. Most people will already be aware, but the phrase "the only gay in the village" is not applicable here.

Top-Tip :

To the opposition manager: 'Who are ya?! Who are ya?!'

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