Little Seagull may be Brighton and Hove Albion's only Danish fan (From The Argus)

Little Seagull may be Brighton and Hove Albion's only Danish fan

8:20am Saturday 29th September 2012 in News By Bill Gardner

This little Seagull from Denmark thinks Albion's rags to riches story is like a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale.

Football-mad Gustav Aitken believes he might be his country's only Brighton fan and proudly wears his striped shirt every time he runs out onto the pitch.

And with Albion riding high at the top of the Championship, the seven-year-old Dane is hoping his favourite team will bring home the bacon this season.

Gustav, who plays as a striker for his local team Fuglebjerg IF, fell in love with the Seagulls when he came to visit his grandmother who lives in Brighton.

His father Martin said: “In training sessions Gustav usually stands out among the Barcelona, Manchester United and FC Copenhagen strips in his Brighton home or away kit.

“Most of his team mates were fairly mystified to begin with.

“But now there's a whole team of Danish under-9s who know who Brighton and Hove Albion are, and thanks to Gustav they all know the Seagulls are now top of the league.”

Mr Aitken said Gustav and his friends in his home town of Sorø are hoping to see Albion in the Premier League next season so they can watch them on TV.

He said: “Gustav loves to visit the town and is fond of the double-decker buses, the beach and the pier especially.

“But now what he really wants is to see the Seagulls play at home so he can send a match report home to all his Danish friends.”

In November Gustav's dearest wish will finally come true.

As a special birthday surprise, his family are planning to take him to watch Albion's home game against Leeds.

His grandmother Cynthia said: “He's a real fan and he follows every match so we can't wait to tell him he'll get to see them play live.

“Once on holiday he went to the Nou Camp in Barcelona and he said it's not as good as the Amex so I know he'll be so happy.

“He can't read English anyway so this article won't spoil the surprise.”

Do you know of an Albion fan who supports the club in a different country? Tell us about them by emailing bill.gardner@theargus.co.uk

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