Results and News Service, 1997 et.seq. Division 3.
28 April 1997
19 April 1997
Brighton need to beat Doncaster Rovers at home, and then travel to Hereford
and win at Edgar Street and probably send Hereford down instead. Hartlepool
are virtually safe now, although to be assured of a place in Division 3
next season they need 3 points from two games including a home game against
Barnet to survive. If Hereford lose their penultimate game at Leyton Orient,
and Brighton beat Doncaster, the teams will be level on points and Brighton
would then only need a draw at Hereford. Hartlepool would then only need
1 point.
Leading scorers: Craig Maskell 16, Ian Baird 13.
Since Steve Gritt took over a Manager, Brighton remain undefeated at
the Goldstone, and have won 11 and drawn 2 games.
22 April 1997. Statement from the Football Association about the reconstruction
of the Brighton & Hove Albion Board of Directors: Richard Knight is
the new Chairman, but Bill Archer remains on the Board with a 49.5% shareholding.
David Bellotti is out! The Gillingham ground-share move is to be abandoned
and plans for a temporary stadium at the Hove Greyhound track are being
seriously explored. Plans for a new 15,000 seater stadium are expected
to be announced in 3 months. There will be a £2 million cash injection
for new players. (Believe that if you will).
The New Board
19 April 1997. Brighton gain third away draw 1-1 at Cambridge. Hereford drop a point at home to Torquay U. Hartlepool get a life-saving 2-1 win at Darlington. Brighton are now 3 points adrift of Hereford U. who they need to beat away at Edgar Road in the final game of the season.
12 April 1997. Brighton return to two points adrift of Hartlepool and 3 points adrift of Hereford after an excellent 1-0 home victory over Division 3 leaders Wigan Athletic before a crowd of 8,703. Albion's future is now in their own hands as 3 wins from their 3 remaining matches would almost certainly ensure their survival.
17 April 1997. Long queues for 2,200 tickets for next Saturday's away match at Cambridge were all sold out in one go.
9 April 1997. The Football League are expected to reiterate their opposition to the proposed ground share with Gillingham unless their are firm plans for a new ground in the Brighton and Hove area. No plans have been submitted to the Planning Office of Brighton & Hove Council.
8 April 1997. The Football League has given the current Brighton Chairman Bill Archer 18 days to finalise the Takeover legal negotiations. Dick Knight is partnered by Consortium collegues Martin Perry and Bob Pinnock. Bill Archer is not expected to give up his shareholding in the club, but he is expected to lose his dictatorial control.
8 April 1997. Ian Baird is suspended for 2 matches not one and will miss the away game against Cambridge U.
8 April 1997. Brighton plan legal action against the Football league
for the two points deducted for the pitch invasion against Lincoln City
earlier in the season. ( Radio 5 News Report).
8 April 1997. Division 3 Bottom Club Matches:
Darlington 2 Carlisle 1
Doncaster 3 Cardiff 3
A win for either home club virtually ensures their survival.
Matches to Go: Bottom 3 Clubs
7 April 1997. Leading Vauxhall Conference clubs Kidderminster Harriers, Stevenage Borough and Macclesfield Town all have their grounds passed fit for Football league status as expected. The bottom club in the Football league will definitely be demoted. (Will Albion ever be allowed back into the League without a ground?)
7 April 1997. Evening open meeting between a representative of the Football
Association and the Brighton supporters at the Concorde Bar near the Palace
Pier. It appears that Bill Archer is still in charge at Brighton and the
fans are getting impatient with the lack of progress with the Dispute Resolution
talks and the Dick Knight Consortium Takeover at the Albion.
Albion
Supporters Association (External Link)
5 April 1997. Neither Hereford or Hartlepool slip up in their home matches as Brighton lose by a solitary goal at Scunthorpe, and it will take a phenomenal effort for Brighton to escape the drop now. However, it looks like nothing less than a win against Wigan in their next home match will do. It would seem that three wins and a draw in their remaining four matches is the minimum requirement (with a win against Hereford).
3 April 1997. Brighton's allocation of 3,250 tickets for the final away match at Edgar Street, against Hereford United on 3 May 1997 are sold out. The match is all-ticket and fans will not be admitted on the day. A capacity crowd of 8,800 is expected.
1 April 1997. Brighton defeat Barnet 1-0 and are now 2 points adrift of Hereford U. and Hartlepool U. with the same numbers of games played, with six fixtures to complete.
31 March 1997. Brighton go 5 points adrift from Hereford U., and Hartlepool U. with Albion's having a game in hand of both clubs against Barnet at home on 1 April 1997.
31 March 1997. Easter Monday Results. Division 3 Bottom clubs.
Leyton Orient 2 Carlisle 1
Doncaster 1 Exeter C. 2
Colchester 0 Darlington 3
Mansfield 2 Hartlepool U. 1
Hull C. 1 Hereford 1
29 March 1997. Brighton are still 4 points adrift from Hereford U., and the postion is grimmer than I imagined, as none of the other clubs at the bottom have had a bad run.
29 March 1997. Leyton Orient and Brighton both escape punishment from the Football Association after Brighton fans got involved in a scuffle with Orient players during the league match against Leyton Orient at the Goldstone on 8 March 1997.
27 March 1997. 5.00 pm. Transfer Market deadline for the 1996-97 season. Brighton sign midfielder Dave Martin, 33 yrs (nearly 34), from Northampton Town on loan with view to a permanent transfer. He is eligible to play from the Barnet match on the Tuesday evening after Easter, on 1 April 1997.
25 March 1997. Doncaster R. 3 Rochdale 0. This result puts Doncaster 7 points clear of Brighton with a game in hand, and to 7th from bottom.
27 March 1997. All seat tickets sold out for Brighton's final away match at Edgar Street, Hereford, but terrace tickets are still available. The capacity is expected to be about 9,000.
25 March 1997. All tickets for the final home match against Doncaster Rovers sold out in two days Maximum of 2 tickets per person allowed. Three sales ladies catered for small queues of about 20 throughout the day, with only the East Terrace and South Stand tickets available at midday.
24 March 1997. Tickets went on sale for last home match against Doncaster Rovers. Brighton agreed the Police request to make the penultimate home game against Wigan Athletic all-ticket, with tickets on sale from 2 April 1997.
24 March 1997. Paul Scally, Gillingham, Chairman says that he will demand £300,000 for contract even if Brighton do not play at the Priestfield Stadium in the two seasons. The decision to sign such a contract by David Bellotti defies belief, as does the original decision to go there in the first place. Bellotti must go, and quickly!
22 March 1997. Brighton are still 2 points adrift of Hartlepool United and 3 points adrift of Hereford United with the same number of games played, i.e. 39, and the situation is more serious than expected because of a succession of good results by the other teams at the bottom. See Forecast links and League Table (External Links) further down the page.
21 March 1997. Doncaster Rovers defeated relegation candidates Hereford United 1-0 at home, which was the expected result.
14 March 1997. Doncaster Rovers came away with a shock 2-0 Friday evening victory at Cardiff City and go 4 points clear of Brighton with the same number of games played. Hereford United are now next to bottom, 3 points clear of Brighton with the same number of games played. Hereford visit leaders Carlisle tomorrow. Regular first team midfielder Denny Mundee (Brighton) is ruled out for the rest of the season. Slipped disc.
12 March 1997. Talks continue between the Richard Knight Consortium and Bill Archer at the Dispute Resolution Centre in London. Deadlock is breached, but at the time of writing the results will remain secret. Fans are optimistic that home games may be able to be played in Sussex next season, but it is unlikely that this will be at the Goldstone.
7 March 1997. Stephen Gritt is voted 'Manager of the Month' for February 1997 for Division 3.
6 March 1997. Albion v. Doncaster Rovers on 26 April 1997 is to be an
all-ticket match with a capacity of 11,000. Last away match on 3 May 1997,
last Saturday of the season, at Hereford United's Edgar Road Ground is
not all ticket, but Brighton will only be allocated 2,000 tickets.
Albion v. Doncaster Rovers
5 March 1997: Letters are appearing in the Evening Argus (Brighton evening
newspaper) suggesting that Waterhall should be the location of a new Sports
Stadium for the area. This is not an orchestrated campaign, but genuine
personal opinion. Planning permission has been refused in the past, but
with the construction of the by-pass, circumstances have changed.
22 March 1997.
Leading scorers: Craig Maskell 15, Ian Baird 12.
Since Steve Gritt took over a Manager, Brighton remain undefeated at
the Goldstone, and have won 9 and drawn two games in this period.
27 February 1997
Doncaster Rovers had an excellent result defeating promotion contenders
Wigan Athletic 2-0 and going 4 points clear of Brighton. If Albion thought
that they would easily escape the dreaded drop out of the League, experienced
supporters would know that there is a long haul to go yet, and it is likely
to go right to the wire!
25 February 1997. Six hours of talks between Bill Archer and the Richard
Knight Consortium. Further talks to iron out technical details will take
place next week.
When Steve Gritt took over Brighton were 11 points adrift at the foot
of Division 3..
22 March 1997
2-0 Ian Baird tap in from a Stuart Storer cross. 44 mins.
HT. 2-0
FT. 2-0
Full Match Report
Attendance: 9,293 (the largest crowd in the bottom two divisions of the Football League.)
Home record against Cardiff City P 21 W 11 D 6 L 4 G 43-23 (League, FA Cup & League Cup only).
Average Home post-war crowd v. Cardiff: 13,861 (12 League games).
The last meeting at the Goldstone when Cardiff City visited was in 1994-95
when a poor crowd of 6,956 watched a 0-0 draw, in a season when the Welsh
team were relegated. Contrast this to a 1978-79 Old Division 3 game when
Brighton defeated Cardiff C. 5-0 with Teddy Maybank scoring a hatrick before
20,172 supporters.
Brighton v. Cardiff City
15 March 1997
Hull are undefeated for 5 matches and are 13th in Division 3, courtesy of a strong home record. Brighton won the home match 3-0.
Denny Mundee is injured for Brighton, and Hull also have players out
through injury..
Brighton scores first.
Robbie Reinhelt (Brighton) shot tipped over the bar by Wilson for Albion's fifth corner. 25 mins.
0-1 Warren Joyce, 25-yard shot. 33 mins.
HT. 0-1
Craig Maskell's (Brighton) shot clipped the crossbar. 49 mins.
Kerry Mayo's (Brighton) header hit upright. 53 mins.
0-2 Warren Joyce, header at the far post. 58 mins. Awful defending as Nicky Rust in Albion's goal and two defenders failed to cut out the cross.
0-3. Duane Darby, toe poke into the net as the ball ran for Hull's forward in the box. 90 mins.
FT. 0-3
Attendance: 3,373.
Hartlepool lose 1-2 at home to Rochdale. Hereford visit leaders Carlisle United and came away with a shock 3-2 victory after being 0-2 down, which is extremely bad news for Albion supporters Darlington draw 1-1 at home to Chester C. Exeter City lose 0-1 at home to Scunthorpe U. Brighton now 4 points adrift of Doncaster who have played two less games, and 5 points adrift of Hartlepool with the same number of games played: 38 out of 46. Brighton: 33 points.
Carlisle U. are 2 points clear of Wigan Athletic at the top of Division
3. Biggest crowd in Division 3 is at Northampton where 5,266 spectators
saw a 1-1 draw with Lincoln City.
Away record against Hull City P 16 W 3 D 4 L 9 G 13-25 (League, FA Cup & League Cup only).
Brighton last visited Boothberry Park last season, 1995-96, when the
teams drew 0-0 in front of 2,421 supporters. This attendance reflected
an awful fall in the fortunes of a team that enjoyed a gate of 25,774 in
a 1-0 win over Brighton in an Old Division 3 game in 1965-66.
8 March 1997
Conditions: overcast, cool.
Kick-off delayed for 5 minutes because of crowd congestion. An insufficient
number of turnstiles were opened.
1-0 Craig Maskell alluded the offside trap and clinically put the ball past Luke Weaver in the Orient goal. 5 mins.
2-0 Craig Maskell headed brilliantly past Luke Weaver from a stunning Paul McDonald cross at speed on a great breakaway from the half-way line. 7 mins.
HT. 2-0
1-2 Carl Griffths poked home from close range after John Humphreys for Brighton failed to get to grips with Orient's young winger Lee Hodges who crossed successfully for the first time in the match. 47 mins.
2-2 Alex Inglethorpe equalised for Orient with a fine header, with a plenty of space allowed by Brighton's sleeping defence. 50 mins.
2-3 Carl Griffths shocked Brighton with a close range shot from a good cross by Justin Channing.
Ian Baird headed in powerfully from Paul McDonald's corner, but the goal was disallowed. 60 mins.
3-3 Ian Baird equalised for Brighton by a far post header after some excellent wing-play from Paul McDonald followed by a superb cross. 74 mins.
3-4 Scott McLeish restored Orient's lead after the ball ran for them in Brighton's box. 75 mins.
Three Brighton supporters ran on to the pitch and became involved in a scuffle with the Orient players. Play was held up for 4 minutes. 75 mins.
Craig Maskell heading for goal with the keeper to beat was sliced down by Danny Chapman for a blatant penalty. 81 mins.
Penalty delayed. Robbie Reinhelt (Brighton) booked and Mark Warren (Orient) is sent off for a second bookable offence.
4-4 Paul McDonald keeps his head and slots the penalty calmly home. 85 mins.
Atmosphere: Fair 6/10 Volatile. Extremely Tense in last 30 mins. Performance: Average 5/10.
Orient played exceptionally well which came as a shock to Brighton supporters. This game was meant to the easiest game before the tense encounters to come.
Referee: Frazor Stretton.
Attendance: 9,298 (largest of the season and the largest in Division
3, despite being the second game in a week). Official attendance may have
been revised to 8,655.
Brighton are bottom, two points adrift of Doncaster and have played two games more. They are 3 points adrift of Hereford United who have played the same number of games.
The fear amongst the supporters is that the club will be deducted more league points, which will make relegation to the Vauxhall Conference almost certain. However, it is very difficult to prevent the action of an occasional nutter. Barry Hearn's (Orient) protest about the organisation at the ground is allegedly an opening punch to cloud over issues about the behaviour of the Orient players that may have contributed to the incident. More information held.
Carlisle are 5 points clear of Fulham at the top of Division 3, with Wigan in third place 10 points clear of Swansea and these teams are certain to gain the 3 automatic promotion places.
Brighton last featured in a 4-4 draw at the Goldstone in Division 4
in the 1964-65 season against Chester City before a crowd of 16,414.
Home record against Leyton Orient P 37 W 21 D 13 L 3 G 59-30 (League, FA Cup & League Cup only).
Brighton previously entertained Leyton Orient at the Goldstone in the New Division 3 in 1994-95 when 8,581 supporters watched Brighton win 1-0 with a goal by Kurt Nogan in the second half.
In 1955-56 Brighton's home match in Division 3 (South) was watched by
30,864 supporters, the second highest gate at the Goldstone at that time.
It ended in a 1-1 draw. In the 1950's, this fixture regularly attracted
gates of over 20,000.
4 March 1997 (Tuesday)
Brighton badly hindered by the absence of winger/midfielders Stuart Storer and Paul McDonald.
Condition: damp, rain deluges earlier.
1-0 Robbie Reinelt, header from Craig Maskell cross. 23 mins.
HT. 1-0
Ormerod saved well from a header by Grayson (Northampton). 61 mins.
2-0 Jason Peake with a swerving shot scored his first goal for the Albion. 81 mins.
2-1 (Northampton) Peer scored a last minute consolation goal, 90 mins.
FT. 2-1
Great win with an injury-hit side that showed the value of Albion's squad. Might make the difference between survival and relegation. Fifth home win on the trot, a sequence that was not equalled in the League since the 1989-90 season in the old Division 2. (This old record included a Cup defeat).
In 1978-79 Brighton won 7 games on the trot at home in the old Division 2. In 1977-78 Albion won 8 home games on the trot in Division 2. In 1976-77 Brighton won 7 home games on the trot in Division 3. In 1975-76 they won 14 home games on the trot in Division 3, and still missed out on promotion.
Attendance: 4,943 (clashed with Newcastle on TV)
Home record against Northampton T. P 40 W 19 D 11 L 10 G 76-53 (League, FA Cup & League Cup only).
Brighton last played Northampton T at the Goldstone in the old Division 3 in 1987-88 when a crowd of 14,421 saw Albion win 3-0 in a top of the table clash. Brighton spent most of the season in mid-table, but won promotion with a late run. Matches in recent years have been few, the one before the above fixture occuring in the same division in 1976-77 when Brighton won 2-0 before 22,504 spectators.
Brighton played Northampton in both the League, 1-1, and FA Cup, 1-2,
at the Goldsone in 1968-69. In 1966-67 they played them in the Football
League Cup Round 4 and drew 1-1 before a 17,238 crowd but lost the replay
0-8. In 1962-63 a 15,026 home crowd saw Albion go down 0-5 to Northampton
in the old Division 3, a home defeat that virtually doomed them to their
first spell in Division 4.
1 March 1997
Brighton scores first.
Because of Doncaster's shock win over Wigan Athletic, this important game has added significance as the home team are just 5 points ahead (before the match) of Brighton, with the same number of games played. Stuart Storer is out suspended for Brighton and this is a major blow.
Conditions: Gale blowing against Brighton in the first half.
0-1 Robbie Blake, wind-assisted cross went into the goal, 3 mins
0-2 Gary Twynham, long shot, wind-assisted. 25 mins
HT. 0-2
Denny Mundee (Brighton) who had been suffering from back strain is replaced by Jason Peake returning to the side after being injured for all of 1997.
Star winger Paul McDonald (Brighton) hobbles off and is replaced by youngster Simon Fox.
FT. 0-2
Attendance: 2,998
Darlington are now 8 points clear of Brighton and now have one more point than Hartlepool United.
Brighton's total of a meagre 9 goals away from home in Division 3 is the worst in the entire Football League. The solitary away win was at Hartlepool U. 2-1.
Brighton remain 4 points adrift of Doncaster R. at the bottom of Division 3. This was Darlington's fourth successive home win.
Carlisle United go 3 points clear of Wigan Athletic at the top of Division
3. It looks like Fulham will accompany the top two clubs in automatic promotion,
as Fulham are 11 points clear of fourth placed Swansea.
Away record against Darlington P 5 W 1 D 0 L 4 G 4-10
Games at Feethams between Brighton are few and all the 3 League matches (prior to this season) have occurred in the 1960's, the first two in Division 4 and the last one in the old Division 3 in the 1966-67 when Brighton went down 1-3 in front of 6,351 spectators with Howard Wilkinson scoring Brighton's consolation goal.
Brighton lost 1-2 at home to next to bottom Darlington at the Goldstone
in the League match this season in a Tuesday evening match on 3 December
1997. Jimmy Case lost the Manager's job after the FA Cup replay defeat
by non-league Sudbury Town two weeks later.
23 February 1997. Meeting between Chairman Bill Archer and the Richard
Knight consortium.
22 February 1997
1-0 Ian Baird. Stuart Storer crossed at speed for Baird to head in at the far post, 34 mins.
Paul McDonald crossed to Stuart Storer who met the ball at speed and volleyed a good opportunity over the bar.
HT. 1-0
Denny Mundee sent Stuart Storer free from the halfway line whose powerful drive from just inside the box missed the Swansea goal by an inch, 53 mins.
2-0 Ian Baird. Paul McDonald's cross was volleyed in by the unmarked Ian Baird at the far post, 54 mins.
Stuart Tuck slipped over completely on the grass surface in Brighton's box, leaving Penney with just Ormerod to beat, but he screwed a good chance wide.
Craig Maskell went clear for Brighton but shot straight at keeper Freestone.
2-1 Brayson. Hill showed guile with a precision cross into in the box which was met by by the brave Brayson ahead of Ormerod for a neat back header to reduce the arrears. 72 mins.
3-1 Craig Maskell broke the Swansea offside trap again and showed more guile beating Freestone with a crisp shot, 79 mins.
Kerry Mayo broke clear of the offside trap and with Craig Maskell waiting for a cross, he tried to chip the Freestone, but the keeper was aware of the danger and held the on-target curling shot.
3-2 Following a free kick in a dangerous position Walker slotted in a goal for the visitors following a scramble in the Brighton box, 89 mins.
Performance: Average. Atmosphere: Average.
Attendance: 6,645 Highest in Division 3 this week. (Proposed boycott by fans was cancelled).
Position: Brighton now only 1 point adrift of Doncaster on 29 points,
but with 34 games played; this is one more than Doncaster. Albion have
scored 39 goals to Doncaster's 34 (goals scored feature when the points
total is level). Darlington have 34 points (37 goals) and entertain Brighton
next week. Swansea's defeat virtually eliminates their chances of automatic
promotion. Carlisle U won 3-1 at Cambridge U. on Friday 21 February 1997
and stay top of Division 3 as Fulham are held 2-2 at Barnet. Wigan Athletic
are third.
Home record against Swansea P 24 W 6 D 11 L 7 G 31-30
Brighton previously met Swansea C. at the Goldstone in 1995-96 when
Brighton lost 0-2 in front of a very poor Tuesday crowd of 4,230 for the
second match at home in the week.
21 February 1997. Talks between Bill Archer and the Richard Knight Consortium
postponed for second successive week. (see 13 February notes below).
15 February 1997
Brighton score placed first.
New signing Robbie Reinelt makes his debut.
Robbie Reinelt goes off with concussion. 25 mins.
0-1 Alan Smart waltzes through the Brighton defence unchallenged and strokes the ball past Ormerod. 26 mins.
0-2 Dean Walling headed in unmarked from an inswinging corner. 34 mins.
1-2 Paul McDonald's inswinging corner headed by a Carlisle player into his own net as he prevented Craig Maskell getting his head to the ball at point-blank range. 45 mins.
Brighton's goal has been credited to Craig Maskell, so he may have got a touch, and this would bring his tally for the season up to 12.
HT. 1-2
FT. 1-2
Attendance: 5,465
Position: Bottom, adrift by 4 points from Doncaster R, who drew 1-1
at home to Barnet. Brighton have played one game more than Doncaster who
they play at home on the penultimate Saturday of the season. Carlisle U.
move up to second place. Brighton are away to Hereford United at Edgar
Road in the last League match of the 1996-97 season.
Away record against Carlisle U. P 8 W 3 D 0 L 5 G 8-11
In the previous match against Carlisle U. at Brunton Park in 1995-96,
Brighton lost 0-1 before 5,896 supporters when both clubs were relegated.
13 February 1997: Brighton lost their Football Association appeal against 2 points being deducted for the pitch invasion against Lincoln City.
Brighton's proposed move to share Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham, in
1996-97 is running into snags. There is no chance of a further extension
to Albion's tenancy at the Goldstone.
11 February 1997 (Tues)
1-0 Ian Baird tucked the ball in at near post from Stuart Storer cross at speed. 25 minutes.
HT. 1-0
Brilliant save by Mark Ormerod (Brighton) from Ghazghazi.
FT. 1-0
Attendance: 5,835 (rain affected: weather was worse on the south coast, but League leaders Fulham only attracted 4,826 for their home top of the table clash with Swansea).
Position: Bottom, 3 points adrift from Doncaster. Played one more game,
32 matches. 26 points.
Brighton drew 1-1 away to Exeter City in the League in September 1996.
Home record (League & League Cup) against Exeter City: P 36 W 26 D 5 L 5 F 85 A 40
Brighton previously played Exeter City at home in a bottom of Division
2 (New) clash in 1993-94 nearing the end of the managership of Barry Lloyd
at a very low ebb in Brighton's fortunes. The teams drew 0-0 in front of
5,230 spectators at the Goldstone.
13 February 1997. Talks between Bill Archer and the Richard Knight Consortium
postponed for one week whilst a feasibility study for a hypermarket on
an unnamed site, presumably Toads Hall is undertaken. (see Albion Views).
10 February 1997. Robbie Reinelt, forward, 22 years, signed from Colchester
U. for £15,000.
9 February 1997. Meridian television discussion. Bill Archer claimed
confidentially to dodge answering questions about the new plans for a Brighton
stadium. He said a new planning application would be submitted very soon.
The fans were not satisfied. David Bellotti's decision to play next season's
games at Gillingham was treated with deserved derision. Bill Archer said
the decision to sell the ground was to avoid going out of business because
of debts like Bournemouth.
8 February 1997
1-0 Ian Baird 8 mins, header.
Ian Baird disallowed goal, 10 mins, whistle had already gone for foul on Ian Storer (Brighton). This was the best move of the game and the goal should have stood.
2-0 Craig Maskell, header 22 mins.
Ian Baird hit underside of bar.
Ian Baird had shot well saved in a good position.
3-0 Craig Maskell, shot, 45 mins.
HT 3-0
4-0 Gary Hobson, header, 48 mins, from a Paul McDonald corner.
5-0 Craig Maskell completed hatrick shooting under the keeper from a narrow angle..
Chris Beech (Hartlepool) booked, which caused an argument between rival managers Steve Gritt (Brighton) & Mick Tait (Hartlepool).
Chris Beech (Hartlepool) sent off, 84 mins, second bookable offence.
Notes: Paul McDonald played well on the right wing.
Position: bottom, 6 pts adrift of Doncaster (whom Brighton play in the final game of the season at the Goldstone). 8 pts adrift of Darlington and 9pts adrift of Exeter City.
Performance: Very Good 8/10
Atmosphere: Very Good 8/10
Attendance: 8.412 (excluding hundreds of fans who got in for nothing). Crowd included 500+ solidarity fans from other clubs. This "Fans United" day was a great success. Largest attendance in Division 3 for all clubs this season.
Home record against Hartlepool United: P 7 W 4 D 3 L 0 F 17 A 4 Average home gate against Hartlepool United: 9,411.
Equal largest home win over Hartlepool United. Largest home gate of this season. Second smallest gate ever against Hartlepool at home.
Brighton last played Hartlepool United in a bottom of Divsion 2 (New)
clash in 1993-94 nearing the end of the managership of Barry Lloyd at a
very low ebb in Brighton's fortunes. The teams drew 1-1 in front of 5,230
spectators at the Goldstone, which at the time was one of the lowest crowds
ever to see a League match at the Goldstone since 1963.
1 February 1997 League Division 3
1-0 Denny Mundee, follow-up from saved penalty, puts Brighton ahead 33 mins.
1-1 John Doolan equalises for Mansfield with a 30 yard shot deflected in by defender Gary Hobson, 39 mins.
HT 1-1
Ian Baird (Brighton) booked after a skirmish that involved several players from both sides.
Attendance: 2,456
Position: bottom, adrift by 9 points (2 pts further adrift than last
week)..
Away record against Mansfield T. P 17 W 5 D 5 L7 G 27-25.
Brighton drew 1-1 at the Goldstone earlier in the season in November. Denny Mundee scored from the penalty spot.
Brighton's previous match at Field Mill was in 1987-88 old Division 3 when Gary Nelson scored in a 1-1 draw before 3,284 spectators. The return match at the Goldstone was won by Brighton 3-1 before a crowd of 11,483.
Brighton played Mansfield T in 1977-78 in the old Division 2 when Brighton
won 2-1 away before 8,622 spectators. In the home match Brighton won 5-1
with Peter Ward scoring a hatrick before a crowd of 22,647. Mansfield were
relegated. The previous season, 1976-77, Mansfield T were Champions of
Division 3 and undefeated at Field Mill.
Talks between Richard Knight (new Consortium) and Chairman Bill Archer
continuing. Local Gillingham residents are complaining about hosting Brighton's
home matches at the Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham in 1997-78. (David
Bellotti, Director of Brighton, announced this decision to go to Gillingham
a few weeks ago, to the dismay of Brighton's supporters and for many of
them this was the absolute final straw. They will not be returning through
the turnstiles until the current Board is replaced, or they get their act
together.)
25 January 1997 League Division 3
HT 1-0
D Bayliss (Rochdale) sent off 58.
2-0 Craig Maskell 68 header
3-0 Ian Baird 71
Attendance: 4,468 Smallest against Rochdale.
Points: 19
Position in table: Bottom, adrift by 7 pts.
Home record against Rochdale: P 7 W 5 D 2 L 0 F 13 A 3 Average home gate against Rochdale: 14,372
Brighton's previous home match against Rochdale was a Division 3 relegation
battle played on a Sunday in 1973-74, which Brighton won 2-1 before 18,885
supporters.