THE party has started for Brighton and Hove Albion fans as they celebrate the club’s return to the top flight of football for the first time in more than 30 years.

The city was a sea of blue and white as fans cheered their club’s 2-1 win against Wigan which secured them a place in the Premier League.

The victory had already effectively won the Albion promotion but Huddersfield’s subsequent draw at Derby made it a mathematical certainty.

Fans stormed the pitch at the American Express Community Stadium at Falmer as the final whistle blew shortly before 5pm yesterday.

News of the club’s success was met with jubilation across Sussex.

City council leader Warren Morgan said he was planning to propose that club chairman Tony Bloom and manager Chris Hughton are awarded the Freedom of Brighton and Hove in recognition.

He said: “I’m elated and relieved. We are finally there.

“It’s been a long road since relegation from the top flight in 1983 and a hard one since the end of the Goldstone era 20 years ago.

“We wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for Dick Knight, Martin Perry, Tony Bloom and all the fans who fought to keep the Albion alive and into our new home at Falmer.

“Speaking as council leader, promotion to the Premier League could mean an economic boost for the city running into the hundreds of millions, and it puts Brighton and Hove on the sporting map globally.

“But as a lifelong fan, all that matters to me is that we are going up.

“Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Man United and Palace; we’re on our way. And we’ve got Knockaert. Anthony Knockaert.”

DJ and Albion fan Norman Cook, who lives in Hove, flew back to Sussex yesterday following a gig in Amsterdam to make sure he was able to get to the match.

He said: “My voice has gone hoarse and I’m shattered but it was totally worth it.

“I was determined to be at the game once I saw how things were going points-wise.

“It was an amazing atmosphere and pretty emotional as well.

“The team spirit has been so phenomenal this season. We held our nerve and everything has come together with no injuries and no problems.

“It’s astonishing when you look back to all those years ago when we were one goal away from leaving the league and now we are in the top flight.

“We have waited so long for this and the fans deserve it.”

Hove MP Peter Kyle said: “I am totally over the moon.

“What they have done has been Herculean but we always knew they had it in them. They have done the city proud. I am incredibly excited about what the future holds. This is just the beginning.”

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said: “It is absolutely fantastic news which has brought the whole city together. I pay tribute to everyone who has worked so hard for this amazing result.

“Not only the wonderful team and management but also the people who have kept the faith for so many years from Dick Knight to Tony Bloom.

“Now is the chance to show the big Premier League clubs what a great city this is. Maybe they might even go on and do a Leicester.”

Argus editor Arron Hendy said: “It’s fantastic that Albion are going up.

“They’ve come so far as a club and now with the amazing stadium and training facilities they are set to establish themselves where they belong – in the Premier League.

“It’s great for the city and Albion fans across Sussex.

“Well done to everybody involved with the club.”

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby, who was at the game, said: “It has been an absolutely fantastic day.

“We have three games to go and it would be great to actually go on and win the Championship but we have done what we needed to do and we are in the Premier League.

“This is great news for the club, for the fans and for Brighton and Hove.”

Shortly before the game began, former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who gave final approval for the plans to build the club’s stadium at Falmer in 2005, also threw his support behind the team.

He said on Twitter: “Good luck to @OfficialBHAFC & the fans. So deserve promotion.

“Shows how important that stadium was!”