Sussex FA reject The Amex as venue for cup final

9:00am Friday 14th January 2011 in Sport By Andy Naylor

Albion wanted to stage the Senior Cup final at The Amex in July Albion wanted to stage the Senior Cup final at The Amex in July

Albion have been turned down after inviting the Sussex Football Association to stage the Sussex Senior Cup final at The Amex.

The County FA have rejected the proposal for financial and date reasons.

The Seagulls wanted to hold the game at their new stadium on Saturday July 16 as a ramp-up event for a showpiece friendly a fortnight later and the first league fixture, earmarked for August 6.

Albion’s reserves are the holders of the Sussex Senior Cup and could be in the final again this season.

The club viewed staging the match as an ideal opportunity to check everything works smoothly at their new home but the Sussex FA are unhappy with the financial arrangements and delaying the final, which is usually held at Eastbourne Borough in May.

Ken Benham, the Sussex FA’s chief executive, said: “The timing is difficult and the financial side of it was part of the decision of the Board. Albion need that income to test the system. If we could get a sponsor I would go there tomorrow.”

Benham has written to his Albion counterpart, Martin Perry, suggesting the Roy Hayden Trophy is played instead.

The Trophy is usually between the Sussex Senior Cup winners and County League champions but Benham said: “It gives us an opportunity to invite two clubs of our choice, which would be Brighton and Crawley.”

The Sussex FA’s competitions committee were due to discuss the issue last night and to confirm the venue for the Senior Cup final.

Comments(16)

sussexcoastjim says...
9:32am Fri 14 Jan 11

It gives us an opportunity to invite two clubs of our choice, which would be Brighton and Crawley.

Good to see Sussex FA Bigwigs want to pander to the rich and sod the fact that it has a tradition of SSC V County One winners....

I would have liked to see the Sussex Senior Final played there, but at least this way Eastbourne Borough stand the chance of reaping the financial benefits that feeding over 80 FA Fatcats brings with the freeloaders creeping out the woodwork!!

County football has traditions... Keep to them... Or are we going down the road of cash speaks louder than actions???

Money has ruined the national game... Looks like The Culver Road gang want a slice!!!

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RyFish says...
10:09am Fri 14 Jan 11

Why slavishly keep to tradition? Just because something has been done, doesnt mean it should always be done, does it? The winners of the SSC or County Championship have no inalienable RIGHT to the match. Sheesh.

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micky adams says...
11:01am Fri 14 Jan 11

I can't make the opening game of the season on 6th August due to work commitments. It would be great to go and see the first ever game there wether it be a non league game or an Albion friendly. Sure it would be a great turn out.

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smegbuster says...
11:19am Fri 14 Jan 11

It's perhaps a bit short-sighted to reject the suggestion on financial grounds. Surely the first game in the stadium would attract people who may otherwise have no interest in the teams that are playing. It would have been an opportunity to get a much higher gate for the SSC final than they could otherwise expect. Never mind, though - I think their suggestion is a good one. Brighton v Crawley is an ideal lineup for a first match, and allowing it to be for a trophy (not just a friendly) would add a bit of spice to it.

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Gee Jay says...
11:21am Fri 14 Jan 11

You can have whatever team you like there for an opening showpiece match, but it won't fill the Amex Stadium like the very first competitive league match (hopefully in the Championship).
Gus Poyet's Albion v Albion in a pre-season training match would pull in more folk.

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graham w says...
11:22am Fri 14 Jan 11

IT would be nice to see the sussex county cup final played there, im sure its down to money some where, it usually is, im sure all the good people at the Sussex Fa would love to see it there , SO IT MAY HAPPEN YET , fingers crossed,eh never say never would be good for every one .... seagulls......

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smegbuster says...
12:09pm Fri 14 Jan 11

Gee Jay wrote:
You can have whatever team you like there for an opening showpiece match, but it won't fill the Amex Stadium like the very first competitive league match (hopefully in the Championship). Gus Poyet's Albion v Albion in a pre-season training match would pull in more folk.
I fully agree with your first point, but bear in mind that the first game's gate will be bigger than if that match WEREN'T the first game in the stadium. As for your second point - I'm not sure I agree with that. As long as Brighton are playing, it will bring in the Brighton fans. If another team are playing as well, it will pull in those fans, and possibly the stadium would draw other locals that would not normally go to their own ground. If there is something to play for (eg a trophy - even if only a one-off created for the event), that would attract those that would get bored by a training match where there's nothing at stake and the teams have little incentive to perform to their best.

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farside says...
12:20pm Fri 14 Jan 11

ramp up games are just that so the first games will have crowd size restrictions while systems are tested. Holding back a cup final isn't ideal though so a match against Crawley giving the Development Squad a chance to feature is not such a bad option and the County FA could still enjoy a jolly in the 1901 Club if they put up a trophy for the game.

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PressBoxTeaBoy says...
2:10pm Fri 14 Jan 11

Come on - start thinking big for a change - at the very least go out and get a Pre-season friendly for BHA versus a big Premier team or a big Euro team, or even better, arrange a mini pre-season tournament in July.
In the States every year they run mini tournaments in July that serve as pre-season games for the Euro big clubs such as Man U, Spurs, Man City, Inter Milan, Celtic, etc, etc, and usually involves whoever the local host team is, New York Red Bulls for instance. They are great spectacles and great money earners and serve as a good pre-season test for the clubs. Imagine that in July in Brighton for fans and clubs alike. You'd certainly get a test of facilities then and put some good wonga in the bank at the same time.
I can't see non league games attracting much attention, or being much of a test for facilities, fans, or players, but most of all it sucks of small time ambition, small time attitude and being stuck in the past.
It's all in the mind Mr Decision maker. Get out there with a BIG attitude and a BIG ambition, and BIG things will happen.

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Scarfer1 says...
3:30pm Fri 14 Jan 11

We should sort out a game with Palace. That would bring the crowds in and also give the scum a taste of what life is like in a stadium that is fit for purpose.

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smegbuster says...
4:27pm Fri 14 Jan 11

@PressBoxTeaBoy: I completely agree that we should try to get a big name or two for pre-season friendlies. As far as this discussion is concerned, though, we're talking about the FIRST match in the stadium, which (as has been pointed out) will be a ramp-up match where the crowd size will be restricted. In that context, I think choosing a Sussex team would be a great gesture, as this is now going to be the most impressive stadium in the SouthEast outside of London, and local non-league teams would give almost anything for the opportunity. Crawley is a good option imho, given their current form and achievements.

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Alan Duffy says...
6:03pm Fri 14 Jan 11

Perhaps it would be a good idea if everybody actually read the article (farside excluded) it's a ramp up game, so crowd restricted to half capacity probably, the game after is the big friendly and then the league starts in earnest

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PressBoxTeaBoy says...
6:42pm Fri 14 Jan 11

Alan Duffy wrote:
Perhaps it would be a good idea if everybody actually read the article (farside excluded) it's a ramp up game, so crowd restricted to half capacity probably, the game after is the big friendly and then the league starts in earnest
Yeah, I get that Mr Sensitive ? The crowd size for a ramp up game is goverened by how many tickets you decide to print and sell, not by who the opponents are ? You are obviously not business, marketing or progressively inclined despite you pin point reading accuracy ?
I'm just politely trying to point out that a ramp up game involving non league teams is hardly an attractive proposition for a new 96 million quid stadium, and shouldn't be an excuse for it being a ramp up exercise. You could pick any team/s in the Championship, Premiership and beyond and sell 10,000 seats while giving the fans a taste of the good stuff. If you would prefer a nice battle of the wits against Eastbourne Borough, Worthing or dare I say the Kings of non league, Crawley, then I truely surrender to the very same lack of BIG thinking and progressive marketing that I was originally pointing out.
What crowd size is it anyway that constitutes a ramp up test of 22,000 seated facilities ? Is it 5,000, 7,000, 10,000 ??? For me a test would be at least 10,000.
Just saying, it's a great opportunity to think BIGGER than we could have in the past, but if that's where you are happiest I guess thats where we'll all stay.

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Gazza says...
10:28pm Fri 14 Jan 11

I did predict this years final might be held at Brighton’s new ground back in October and what a great idea it would be. It gives Brighton a chance to air out any problems with the ground and test their ground staff and tea huts so they can iron out any faults

I can’t believe the Sussex FA would miss this great chance to promote this beautiful game in that new Beautiful stadium and I’m sure it would promote football to a higher level around East and West Sussex

On a positive note’ the way our team is playing at the moment I’m sure the Lardy Army will be there in force singing away and hopefully a Dee Eye Es Sea Oh at the end.

So come on Sussex FA have another think about it over the weekend and if you decide it’s a yes I shall treat all the board members to a cup of tea how fairs that.

Yours Faithfully
Mr Lard Lard Lard’’ Come on you Yellows and Gweeeeens

PS. My friend Mark normally takes his dog Archie to most matches so will Brighton allow Archie into the ground for this match along with his other doggie friend Vinnie. They will be well behaved and howl only when we are inside the opponents box.

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armyeng1 says...
11:33am Sat 15 Jan 11

Ahhhh, money, the love of the sport!

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hubby says...
5:39pm Sat 15 Jan 11

Those stuffed shirt fogeys at the Sussex FA can't see beyond the end of their noses.
What a chance to turn down.

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