Brighton v Palace - Tues March 25th 2003 - KO 7.45pm
Brighton v Crystal Palace
Tuesday March 25th 2003
K.O. 7.45pm
Ground Name: Withdean Stadium
Capacity: 7,053 (all seated)
Address: 118 Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XG
Main Telephone No: 01273-778855
Ticket Office: 01273-776992
Away fans are housed in the North East corner of the stadium, in a small temporary stand. This seated stand is uncovered, and dependant on away numbers, may also be shared with Brighton supporters (although I doubt very much it will be in our case!) Some green netting is used to separate the two sets of fans. The away capacity is between 400-800 seats.
TICKETS
This match is strictly all ticket (as are all games at the Withdean). You are strongly advised not to travel without a ticket. NO tickets will be available on the night.
Remaining tickets are available to season ticket holders, members & golden eagle members at a rate of 4 per person – Cost £20.00 (although Brighton’s official website says £16.50!) It does include a travel voucher – to be used in the local area on the day of the game.
BRIGHTON BEAMBACK – HOLMESDALE STAND
Doors open 6.30pm. Adults £10.00 in advance - £12.00 on the night. Concessions £5.00
Food available & the red & blue bar will be open before & after the game.
COACHES
cost £14.40 for season ticket holders/ members & £12.80 for Eagle Gold members.
BY CAR
The stadium is located two miles away from the town centre and is just off the London Road (A23).
The Withdean Stadium is quite well signposted - people coming down on the
A23 have a straight run in I believe, and will see signs as they close in on
Brighton, it's quite easy to get to.
Anyone coming from the West should take a Right in towards Brighton town
centre at the Devil's Dyke turn-off on the A27. They will cross the main
road and hit a second roundabout almost immediately - go straight across
this, and you should see a sign shortly after pointing left. Signposts from
here on in.
From M25 turn off at junction 8 – M23 – turns into A23 past Gatwick
From the West the M27 becomes the A27 – until A23 turn off
PARKING
There is no parking allowed within a mile of the ground, due to matchday restrictions in place around the stadium (one of the conditions that was agreed for allowing Brighton to play there).
Withdean Stadium is in a posh residential area so there is strictly no
parking anywhere for non-residents- and is patrolled by the yellow jacket
brigade. Mill Road (turn tight at the roundabout at the end of the A23)
which runs parallel to the A27 is used as coach parking on matchdays so is
closed to traffic. Brighton city centre and the majority of the outskirts is
subject to gestapo-esque parking restrictions so I wouldn't recommend it at
all people have, apparently, been given a £60 ticket when dropping a video
into Blockbusters, no joke!!
There are no street spaces or car parks within half mile of ground. If you
park anywhere, you WILL be clamped. Park and Ride at two sites. At the
A23/A27 roundabout, signposted.Or a better one is to go onto the A27 Eastbound (Lewes), then take the second junction (B2123 Falmer), follow signs towards A27 Brighton so you go back on yourself on the A27 and stay in the inside lane when you rejoin. Take the next junction (Brighton A270). Follow this road (Lewes Road) for 1
mile and parking is available at Univeristy of Brighton. If taking this option there are a number of food outlets nearby before getting on the bus.
Remember that your match ticket includes a park and ride ticket for either the train or bus.
Any badges in cars etc. should be either removed or covered,
BY TRAIN
The train stop for the Withdean is Preston Park, 1 stop before Brighton
central and gets pretty busy so give yourself plenty of time.It’s about a 10-15 min walk from the ground. The station is served by trains from London Victoria, Kings Cross & London Bridge (it is cheaper to travel from the latter two).
The Withdean is at least 2-3 miles from B'ton station so that would be a very long walk.
From Preston Park you should head north up Station Road, you should see signs from here. On coming out of the station and walking down to the bottom of the hill, turn left along the A23 for the stadium or right for the Preston Brewery Tap pub.
After the game there is a football special waiting which takes you back along the short journey to Brighton
BICYCLES
The ground is equipped with a secure cycle park.
PUBS
Pubs: wouldn't recommend any pubs around Preston Park. A) they're rubbish
and B) they will be chock full of Seaweed fans. One particular pub that it is definitely recommended to avoid is the Good Companions (Seven Dials
area, just north of B'ton station if you were walking to the ground from
there).
There are tons of pubs around B'ton station catering for all. Plenty of
interesting "proper" pubs as well as your usual Wetherspoons, Yates', etc on
Queens Road and West Street (both leading directly down from the station to
the sea). It is best to find a bar well away from the ground if required
The Sportsman at the rear of the North Stand is usually open on matchdays though I expect this to be shut for our game.
The Preston Brewery Tap, is located one mile south of the stadium, on the main A23 and is football friendly, but very crowded.
The Black Lion is a 20 min walk north up the London Road opposite Mill Road park & ride – serves food.
Alcohol is not served within the stadium.
IMPORTANT:
it is very strongly recommended that NO COLOURS should be shown around town &
until you are inside the ground, although anyone not wearing colours may be
looked upon with suspicion.
Anyone taking the day off might want to come to Worthing before heading to
Brighton for the game, as you are much less likely to hit any problems there
though for obvious reasons there will be many seagulls heading in from there
and this might cause a problem with travel prior to kick off.
My advice is NOT to travel if you do not have a ticket as you will not get
into the ground and you may end up being escorted away by what I understand
is to be a very large police presence.
Thanks to Neil King, Mike Standing & Alex Wackett for information sent to me.
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