Twiggster wrote:The Withdean never sold out once in it's history, except when Leeds fans were there.
My mum's cousin was Brighton goalie years ago (Brian Powney) and he hates the glory seeking prats who have suddenly emerged, and are "covering their scum shirts with seagull ones"...
Considering their club has spent the vast majority of its history in the equivalent to league one, hasn't played top tier football since the early 1980s, and until recently hasn't begun to turn things around, then it is quite possible that their fan base was only going to expand if they achieved some sort of success. It's the same case with any club at that level. It is always difficult to attract the crowds to go watch. Plus, when they have a small stadium which is renowned for being amongst the worst in the football league, then they haven't exactly done bad for themselves to keep a solid 6k plus average attendance.
They've always had a decent support, and now they have a good team and a good stadium, the fans are coming in in their droves. There is nothing wrong with that at all. It is the same with every club to some extent, especially at that level. When things are going bad, it is hard to attract fans. But when they are going well, fans begin to turn up. Look at Preston, when they had play off dreams with Billy Davies, the stadium was full at times, now they can barely get half a stadium. It is what happens in the football league I'm afraid.