Ian Chapman has not forgotten the day he was offered a chair by his own coaching staff as he helped Albion to clean sheet at Newcastle.

Not because he looked tired.

But because they really needed him to be about nine inches taller as Kevin Keegan threw the big men up front.

Chapman, shifted from left-back to the middle of defence, helped the Seagulls win 1-0 at St James’ Park in March 1992 to climb off the foot of what is now the Championship.

They moved above Newcastle, both of whom were left in the bottom five by this result.

But Albion eventually went down, despite a short-lived three-game winning streak with a makeshift defence.

The Argus:

Mark Gall

Mark Gall, released by Clive Walker’s brilliant pass, angled home a shot for the only goal on 78 minutes.

But their work at the back, where Chapman partnered Paul McCarthy for the first time, was key to what remains the club’s most recent win by the Tyne.

Chapman said: “We had centre-backs out so I was asked to do a job alongside my mate Macca.

“We had played together a few times in the reserves but I was never really a centre-half.

“They sent their big defender Brian Kilcline up front towards the end.

“The thing I remember most is looking over to Martin Hinshelwood, our coach.

“There were about 20 minutes to go and he offered me the chair he was sitting on in case I needed it to stand on!

“Kilcline was about 6ft 4ins and I’m 5ft 9ins.”

Newcastle also sent on Mick Quinn to offer attacking support to David Kelly, Chapman said: “It was backs to the wall and they had a big, noisy crowd.

“Macca went up and challenged for everything and was brilliant and I was just sweeping up around him.

“It was a really enjoyable game, mainly because we won.

Albion, coming off a 3-2 home success over Southend, followed the Newcastle game by winning 1-0 at Grimsby.

But the bubble burst when they crashed 3-0 at home to leaders Blackburn.

Chapman said: “They had David Speedie up front and they put their big defender Colin Hendrie at centre-forward.

“We went 2-0 down and I want back to left-back – and that was the end of my days as a centre-back.”