Whitehawk v Hastings United 26.12.2012

MMm this should be Brighton v Millwall, but a new one this time, no public transport = no game at the Amex. So Boxing days and my family head to Ditchling to watch Morris Dancing, I head to Whitehawk.

A crowd of 290 saw an entertaining 2-2 draw. Hastings next away game will be Middlesbrough in the FA Cup third round on the 5th Jan.

Tom Vickers who the Albion released earlier this season scored a stunning equaliser for Hastings in the last couple of minutes. Whitehawk who are top of the league are not best pleased. They had loads of injuries and suspensions and had just found old ex Albion player Tommy Fraser will be leaving in Feb for a new life and carear in Australia (signed by Melbourne FC).

Other Ex-Albion involved or could have been were Paul Armstrong (played), Sam Gargan (suspended), Tommy Fraser (Suspended), Darren Freeman (Manager and unused sub)& Chris Winterton (goalkeeper). I had also hoped to see Scott McLeish (but found out he left Whitehawk after 8 games to sign for Chesham Utd!)

The hidden entrance, and a baragin (!) £10 to get in

The covered main stand, with a noticable sag in the roof

Yes they are the old Withdean seats behing the Hastings United massive

Darren Freeman adds stretcher bearer to list of jobs alongside Manager and Sub!  (player ended up with 5 stitches and a badly twisted knee apparently)

Dick Knight - guest of honour to answer questions from 11am, but nobody turned up!  I arrived at 11.55 so just time to grab a coffee!

Is this the most exposed ground in Sussex?  The wind drving through made it bloody cold, the rain towards the end didnt help.  The last game in this pitch had been abandoned after 55 minutes.

The ground really is in a mess, they need to upgrade or will be kick out the Ryman League

Accrington Stanley v Plymouth Argyle 22.12.2012

Blackburn v Brighton, errrm nope. The team that was in the Premiership last season could not get a game on, but Accrington who were non league til a few years and ago and just 11 miles away managed to do so!
So the Saturday before Christmas, a major track fire just outside Brighton and monsoon weather meant a day of adventure ahead.

It ended up

4am alarm goes off after getting to bed at midnight after our works Christmas bash. I had managed to stagger back to my Mums in Hove. I check my phone when I got up and saw the alarming words - WE NEED TO GET THE 5.07 FROM BRIGHTON! Eek

4.10am to 4.55am I jump out of bed, phone a taxi but a 45 minute wait, what the ****, so as still no trains running from Aldrington or Hove I put on my rain coat on and I start the long walk from Hove to Brighton station.

TRAIN 1 5.07am to 5.48am Brighton to Gatwick - a replacement shuttle train to get past the track side fire at Preston Park
TRAIN 2 6.00am Gatwick Express to London Victoria

Underground from Victoria to Euston

TRAIN 3 7.35am London Euston to Stockport
TRAIN 4 9.42am Stockport to Salford Crescent
TRAIN 5 10.xxam Salford Crescent to Blackburn

Adelphi pub in Blackburn and then hear at 12.15 the game is off - boo check local games and Accrington is still on despite 3 pitch inspections, great stuff

TRAIN 6 13.48 Blackburn to Accrington

Railway tavern and then Accrington Stanley v Plymouth Argyle (about 100+ Albion) see a 1-1 draw in front of 2,012 people

TRAIN 7 17.19 Accrington to Preston

Beer and food stop in Preston and watch Liverpool take Fulham apart
TRAIN 8 19.01 Preston to London Euston

Underground from Euston to Victoria

TRAIN 9 22.00 London Victoria to Gatwick
TRAIN 10 22.42 Gatwick to Three Bridges
Then a Taxi and home with well needed Kebab!

The OAF in front of the Plymouth team coach




The Railway pub in Accrington = 4 Plymouth, 2 Accrington and about 30 Brighton oh and about 87 TV Screens, never seen so many in a pub ever, in fact never seen so many in a TV shop!

We opted for the covered home end as it was raining!  Brighton split 50/50 home/away end in a crowd of 2,012

Sports Personality of the Year - London ExCel 16.12.2012

Amazingly enough I managed to get 2 tickets for SPOTY - in London Olympic Year.  Wiggo won it!  So it was a day out in London with a trip to the South Bank Christmas markets first.  All in all a rather grand day out!

A warming winters drink

Is it Mo?  Sadly not, just Brett