Albion fans can begin dreaming about the possibility of the Premiership after the club clinched a play-off spot at the weekend. Neil Vowles reports thejoy at the latest club landmark achieved under Gus Poyet
Albion’s 2-1 victory away to Leeds United confirmed the club’s season will extend beyond this Saturday’s (May 4) home match against Wolves and could end with a £90 million winner-takes-all game at Wembley on Monday, May 27.
Lifelong fan Des Lynam said a potential play-off final would be an even bigger game than the famous 1983 FA Cup Final.
Season ticket holders and fans with 70 or more loyalty points will be able to buy play-off tickets online from 9am today and over the phone from 9am tomorrow while other fans with a purchase history will have to wait until Sunday, May 5.
But alongside the joy of clinching a play-off spot, supporters clubs say they will have a logistical headache with the date and location of the first play-off semi-final not confirmed until after Saturday’s game.
They blame football authorities for putting broadcasters’ interests above that of real fans for creating such a short turnaround.
It means Albion fans could be battling for space with commuters on London-bound trains to Crystal Palace a week next Friday or arriving back from Bolton at 3am on a Saturday morning.
Celebrations
Fans got into the celebratory mood for the final away game of the season to Leeds, with some adopting a Spanish theme while others donned Village People outfits as a response to the homophobic abuse the fans have endured this season.
The game against Leeds United on Saturday saw home striker El Hadji Diouf dismissed for an offensive gesture at Albion fans seconds after scoring an equaliser from the penalty spot.
Fans said they believed a quick response to the incident by West Yorkshire Police and match officials was as a result of the supporters club’s report into the level of abuse they suffer, published earlier this month.
Liz Costa, vice chairwoman of Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters’ Club, said: “It happened right in front of us and I screamed for a policeman who told me it had already been reported.
“Thank God we had a linesman who knew what he was doing and reacted quickly.
“I think the response was linked to our report.
“Our football liaison officer went to meet their police in the club’s control room and all of their officers were reading our report so clearly it is making a difference.”
Away transport
Ms Costa was less pleased with the prospect of having to arrange transport for hundreds of fans for the first play-off semi-final on either Thursday, May 9, or Friday, May 10.
She said: “On a Friday night we could be in Bolton or we could be trying to get to Crystal Palace on the London-to-Brighton train during rush hour.
“It took us five weeks to organise home and away games against Palace so they would be stress free, we get three days this time but that’s the way the FA want to do it.”
Des Lynam said any possible play-off final would be an even bigger match than the 1983 Cup Final because of the long-term financial benefits.
The veteran broadcaster said he has never known such an enjoyable time following the club since he was a youngster, when the club were promoted from the Third Division South.
'Absolutely fantastic'
He added: “I want them desperately to win but I can’t say I fancy them because the play-offs are such a lottery.
“If you look at play-off games in the past, they usually hang on a moment of bad luck.
“In some ways it’s the best way to go up but if you don’t, it’s the worse way to miss out.
“When you think of so many lean years at Gillingham and the Withdean and that we were looking like we might drop out of League One a few years back, it’s absolutely fantastic.
“I remember going to Wembley for the Notts County play-off final.
“We had done fantastically well to get that far and there were huge expectations to beat Notts County but they just didn’t turn up on the day.
“So I’ve seen Albion twice now at Wembley and we haven’t won yet.”
Play-off tickets are on sale now.
Are you a Brighton and Hove Albion fan planning to travel to the play-offs?
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If you think you're the one please email your name, phone number and location to news@theargus.co.uk with the subject line Albion's furthest fan.
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