Will Brighton and Hove mayor be gunning for Seagulls? (From The Argus)
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Will Brighton and Hove mayor be gunning for Seagulls?
5:10pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Life-long Arsenal fan Brighton and Hove Mayor Bill Randall
He is the first citizen of Brighton and Hove but when Saturday comes mayor Bill Randall will be hoping the city isn’t celebrating an FA Cup shock.
The long-serving city councillor is a life-long Arsenal fan and will be cheering on the London side when they visit American Express Community Stadium for this weekend’s sell-out cup clash.
Despite his Arsenal links, Councillor Randall said he wouldn’t be too disappointed if his beloved Gunners suffered a shock defeat when they visit the South Coast for the fourth round cup tie.
And he said he would be keeping his allegiance under wraps when he joins what is expected to be the biggest crowd the stadium has ever seen.
Whatever the result, the mayor says it will be a fantastic day for Albion and Brighton and Hove as a whole with the arrival of one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the country.
Coun Randall was brought up in Surrey and his choice of club was influenced by his two Arsenal-loving parents and grandmother.
Fortunately for him, this is the first time since he was a resident or councillor in the city that the two clubs have clashed, with the last meeting in 1988.
Arsenal allegiance
Coun Randall said he had been teased by a lot of people in the build-up to the game about where his allegiances lie.
He said: “In all other circumstances I would support the Albion but I’ve been a Gooner all my life and I will be supporting Arsenal.
“As any real football fan will tell you, you stick with the club that you were brought up to support.
“I have supported the Albion in other ways, especially as leader of the city council in 2011 when I worked closely with Martin Perry to ensure the club got its extra 8000 seats and car parking.
“The football club puts a smile on the face of the city and if it wipes the smile off mine on Saturday I won’t be too disappointed.”
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Comments(7)
geejay2
says...
5:56pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Hove Actually
says...
6:35pm Thu 24 Jan 13
PETE OF QUEENS PARK wrote:The man stood at the golden gate
My aligence is the same " ONCE A GOONER ALWAYS A GOONER" 2 I have been one for 68 years
His head bowed meek and low
While St Peyer tried to decise his fate
And tell him which way to go.....
What have you done, St Peter said
To gain admittance here?
I was a Gooner fan, for 68 years.
St peter opened wide the gate
and gently tolled the bell.
Come in and choose a harp my son, you;ve had your share of Hell
ARealBessie
says...
7:09pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
7:17pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Your colleagues dumped this plan on us in the dream of an idyllic cycle and bus route and instead you have turned our community into some horrible traffic filled suburb you see on the way into London.
Thanks for nothing Cllr Randall, but I doubt you will bother to take a tour because you will be too busy wandering around quaint city events with the good and great eating vol-au-vents, having polite chit chat about what a good job you have done.
You really have let our community down.
ARealBessie
says...
8:27pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:I'm afraid you can't expect much from a member of the Green Party who thinks concreting over The Level's open green is a simply fantastic idea. Still, if you fancy telling him in person, Bill's favourite watering hole is a pub at the top of Southover St.
Cllr Randall, please, please take a tour of the residential streets off the Lewes Road and see the utter disaster the single lane on the Lewes Road has had on congestion and pollution and also appalling driving through our streets.
Your colleagues dumped this plan on us in the dream of an idyllic cycle and bus route and instead you have turned our community into some horrible traffic filled suburb you see on the way into London.
Thanks for nothing Cllr Randall, but I doubt you will bother to take a tour because you will be too busy wandering around quaint city events with the good and great eating vol-au-vents, having polite chit chat about what a good job you have done.
You really have let our community down.
Freeloaders
says...
11:36pm Thu 24 Jan 13
ARealBessie wrote:Thanks for putting a smile on my face tonight with this post.I really did need that.Thank you.
One look at Bill's old mug and you can tell he's nothing but a big boozer. He needs to go away and sort out his drinking problem. The end.
PETE OF QUEENS PARK says...
5:50pm Thu 24 Jan 13
2 I have been one for 68 years