Can anyone relate to the last minute panic of trying to find a parking space near an away ground with only minutes to kick-off?

Arriving at Aggborough last Saturday, was one such experience.

I left my home in Birmingham at 2pm, which is unusual for a Brighton supporter, and got a little lost in the charming Worcestershire hills near Bromsgrove. I didn't have to wait too long before that heart-lifting sight in every visiting football fan's mind, yes, the floodlights.

The ground itself seemed on an island, no matter how many side streets I penetrated I ended up back on the same main road.

In desperation I flagged down a couple of suspects who appeared to be walking with purpose as if something was about to begin. They started by telling me it was a nightmare ground to get to when they were interrupted mid-flow by a middle-aged woman leaning out of her window driving out of her driveway.

"Tell him to park on my front driveway, on the slabbed area." Still leaning towards my off-side window their mouths wide open they lost a little composure and said: "I don't believe it. You lucky person," or words to that effect. "It looks like you've just found yourself a premier parking position, mate."

After reversing up into my luxurious private space past all the cars parked on the kerb, my thoughts of where to go next were quickly resolved when the two suspects I had pinpointed earlier greeted me with: "Come on then we're going to miss the game."

I trotted along, putting on my hat and coat at speed, to gossip of Molby's marvels and the bulging transfer list at 'Kiddie'.

We hurried on for another 100 yards talking football when they shook hands and wished me well pointing the way to the Away Fans enclosure. I felt as if I had got out jail. I wasn't to know at the time how much of an omen this would prove for the match that followed.

A game in which the Harriers had significant possession but, a dubious penalty meant that I felt again I had got out of jail, for the second time in one day, put on our way by the generosity, this time of one of the Kidderminster players.

The only thing they couldn't give away was a programme. Rarer it appears than the proverbial Dodo. Still, I hardly have grounds for complaint.

I have recounted this story several times in the last week and wish Kidderminster and their supporters success and would like to thank them for their hospitality and the way they received the travelling Brighton supporters, who all spoke well of the local people and the nice, compact little ground and good playing surface. There was more than a little jealousy about that.

Mark Hooker, Birmingham BRUCE SAYS: Good to hear you were made welcome. Just don't try parking in a Withdean resident's drive.

Easy to Swallow I had to write to say how much I enjoyed reading Anna Swallow's column in last week's Sports Argus.

The battle for a new community stadium was always going to be between the haves and the have nots. The half a field in question will be built on at some time and there are a lot worse things than a stadium which could be chosen.

So, come on Falmer residents, join us in the 21st century. If I could afford to live in your village I would still want a stadium built there.

R.S.Herriott, Vale Road, Seaford Where is unspoilt Falmer?

It looks like Brighton will have a massive battle on it's hands with its plan to build a new home.

One wonders where the unspoilt Falmer lies. The Falmer Protection Society are clearly living in an unspoilt Falmer.

Kite Family, Staplefield Drive, Brighton BRUCE SAYS: This is one which will run and run.

Sort this farce I have just read Micky Adams' comments in yesterday's Argus in which he makes light of the latest saga in the Withdean pitch farce.

Full marks for diplomacy Micky, but I cannot help fearing the postponements will hit Albion hard.

We are on a high at the moment and need to keep playing. The last thing Micky wants is to break up the side's momentum. As things stand, the end of the nightmare is a long way off. Even when the better weather comes, the pitch will be bobbly and bereft of grass, hardly what we need to play our flowing football.

Suzanne Ward, by e-mail BRUCE SAYS: Micky Adams has got to make the best of a bad job and he is right to adopt this positive appraoch.

Making sense Well said, new Whitehawk chairman Paul Hubbard (Sports Argus Jan 13) on limiting the payment of players in the County League. At last we may see some sense come into non-league with regard to players' money.

I am sure that starting at the bottom rather than the top is the way as these are the clubs who can least afford it. I hope it works and league clubs follow their example.

The less admission money covers players' wages, the less say fans will have in running the game and the more television will dictate.

Trevor Hopper, Hartington Road, Brighton BRUCE SAYS: Several of the leading County League sides this season have proved you can fare well on a shoestring budget.

Executive stress No wonder Molby is not happy with the penalty awarded to Brighton. If you look carefully at the great action shot on the back page of Monday's Argus it is quite clear that it is Brighton's Chief Executive Martin Perry who committed the foul.

Tony Kybett, 35 Downsway, Southwick BRUCE SAYS: Yes, you are right, it is a great action shot. Wrong on the second count though, that's a Martin Perry lookalike bringing down Bobby.

Why the fuss?

I cannot understand why there was so much fuss made over the fact that Crawley's fans turned against their team during last week's Trophy defeat to Ashford.

It would have been more news worthy if they had actually got behind their side.

Supporters at Town Mead were renowned for being the most fickle around and, just because Crawley are now playing in a smart new home, there is no reason to expect their loudmouth fans to clean up their act.

For once, the booboys actually had something to moan about as their team lost at home to lower division opposition after being a goal up at half-time.

Crawley fans have turned ugly for much less down the years and no doubt will do so again in the future.

It may be hard to take for the players and managers who are targeted for the abuse, but they know what they are getting themselves into when they move to Broadfield Stadium.

The rest of us should give these Crawley fans the treatment they deserve. That is, a laugh at their expense and then forget all about them.

Ross Bradley, Chesham Road, Brighton BRUCE SAYS: Billy Smith deserves better for the way he has turned Crawley around.