Bob Booker will relive a lot of fond memories – and one bad one – when he watches Albion get back on the Championship road.

And the former Seagulls assistant manager might reflect that his 22-year association with Brentford, their next opponents, was also at the origin of a golden era on the South Coast.

Saturday’s opposing clubs at Griffin Park arguably do not have too much in common these days, other than being in the same division.

But there was a time when Albion’s revival from fourth-tier football under Micky Adams had a definite Brentford connection.

“I was at Brentford for 22 years so it was obviously a huge part of my football career,” admitted Booker, who will be a VIP guest at today’s fixture.

“I scored a hat-trick in my second game after being signed as a young pro at the age 18.

“I played for them at Wembley in the Freight Rover Trophy. I had three promotions there and two relegations.

“And I was there when Micky came in as manager. That was where my association with him began and it eventually brought me down to Brighton.

“A few players who were at Brentford followed Micky down. Paul Watson was one of them and he’s a physio with Brighton now so this is a nice game for him as well.

“Danny Cullip came down, Charlie Oatway, Warren Aspinall. Micky knew what they could do from up there and signed them for Brighton.”

The Argus:

Bob Booker working at the Amex with Malcolm Stuart and Mark McGhee

All of those players maintained a strong off-field connection with the Seagulls in a range of capacities.

Booker’s own role as expert summariser on Albion’s in-house media coverage of home games, plus fairly regular trips to Griffin Park, leave him well placed to assess today’s tussle.

He said: “I work in the hospitality lounges at the Amex on matchdays and, talking to fans, I’d say there was a feeling not of unrest at the start of the season but certainly of wondering when new signings were coming in.

“Then we got seven in about 14 days!

“When you get new players coming in it really brings a buzz to training.

“It also has a really positive effect on the young lads who are already there.

“Craig Mackail-Smith is getting his match fitness back and that’s like having a new player.

“Look at Lewis Dunk at the back, coming in and taking the place ahead of Aaron Hughes.

“That’s a great statement by Dunky. He has had to battle over the years but now he has got the shirt.

“I can see it being a really hard game at Brentford. They are a small club but the place will be packed to the rafters and the Brighton fans will make a lot of noise.”

Brentford have opened their home programme with draws against Charlton and Birmingham, having come from behind each time.

Victories at Blackpool and Rotherham have pushed them into a very respectable eighth place having won promotion last term under Mark Warburton’s management.

Booker said: “They have a good young squad. It’s great to see them in the Championship and I see them surviving quite comfortably.

“The manager has varied things. He is predominantly 4-4-2 but can play three up front.

“They have got a lot of youth and enthusiasm in the side.”

And, of course, Griffin Park can be a tough place to visit at the best of times.

Albion won there with an own goal four seasons ago but have often struggled in the past. Booker knows that all too well.

He cannot erase memories of the night 11 years ago when Brentford won 4-0 against the high-flying Albion side of whom he was caretaker manager.

“I remember sitting on that touchline feeling pretty down that night with the Brighton supporters away to my right,” he volunteered, without waiting for that match to be brought up by the interviewer.

“It hasn’t always been a good place for Brighton.

“But that’s history. Brighton have shown they can do well away from home.

“The players at Brighton now won’t know the history.”