AN ALBION fan has called on train operators and the unions to "get a grip" after thousands of fans were left waiting for services for nearly two hours with children crying on the platform.

With just 10 minutes to go of Brighton and Hove Albion's 1-1 draw at The American Express Community Stadium the club found out train services would not be running due to staff sickness and some fans were left waiting at Falmer station until 11.30pm.

The club put on extra buses but Steve Lowe, of Uckfield said all parties need to get together to make sure it does not happen again.

He said: "So after a working week suffering Southern Rail and the conductors playing this game so trains can’t run as scheduled, after tonight's game at The Amex thousands of us faced four trains in succession being cancelled due to lack of train crew.

"This can’t be right that a public transport provider and an entertainments venue can oversee thousands and thousands of paying customers just being stranded late on a Friday evening.

"What makes this worse there are no winners, when I see little kids crying because they are so tired and want their beds, grandads calling home apologising to the wife for their late home coming, all because of change - something we all face day in day out."

Mr Lowe was referring to the long running strike action, including claims that staff have been calling in sick in a form of industrial action.

The RMT has been striking amid a row over the change of guard's responsibilities with Govia Thameslink Railway looking to get all train doors closed by drivers and conductors being more customer focused.

The next strike will take place across tomorrow and Wednesday.

The club laid on extra buses to Lewes and Brighton.

Chief executive Paul Barber said: "It's totally unacceptable from Southern Rail to leave passengers stranded in this way and we will be demanding a full explanation from them as to why they so badly let down supporters of both clubs."

It is understood the cancellations came about after a large amount of short-notice sickness and a reluctance to work rest days and overtime by train crew, coupled with some trains and crew being our of place due to a number in incidents earlier in the day.

Replacement buses were used to help alleviate crowding at the station and Southern tickets were accepted on Brighton and Hove bus routes between Lewes and Brighton via Falmer.

A Southern spokesperson said: "We apologise to Seagull fans who were considerably inconvenienced on Friday night while waiting for trains home after the match from Falmer station. Unfortunately, we were unable to provide our usual additional service for home games due to a temporary shortage of train crew. We worked through the evening to try to provide cover for these trains, but we were unable to on this occasion."

But the RMT union blamed the chaos on poor planning by managers at Southern