Stadium Withdean Stadium, Tongdean Lane, Brighton BN1 5JD
Telephone 01273 695400
Club Colours Blue and White
Nickname The Seagulls

Official Club Website www.seagulls.premiumtv.co.uk
Key Personnel Manager Micky Adams

Brief Directions By Road
From Junction 7 of the M25 pick up the M23. At its Junction 11 it joins the A23. This is a straight road right into the centre of Brighton. The stadium is located a couple of miles from the town centre off the London Road (A23) and is well signposted. Part of the "terms and conditions" of the clubs lease of the Withdean is that no car parking is available within a mile of the ground so therefore the Park & Ride facility is really the only option apart from a long walk. Frankly the system is well organised and you will be back to your vehicles very easily after the game although getting back to the motorway will take some time. Mill Road Park & Ride is the one to look out for from the A23.

Directions By Train
The nearest railway station is Preston Park, which is about a 10-15 minute walk from the ground. The station is served by trains from London Victoria, Kings Cross & London Bridge. On coming out of the station and walking down to the bottom of the hill, turn left along the A23 for the stadium. Another option is to travel straight to Brighton station and have a meal or a drink and then travel back the one stop to Preston Park and the ground. Your travel voucher does allow this plus the use of buses. The numbers 5 and 5A are the two that run closest to the stadium.

Supporters Coaches
Coach travel to away fixtures this season is being organised by the Barnet Football Club Supporters Association. For further details about Supporters coach travel and how to book check out the BFCSA website at www.bfcsa.co.uk

Eating And Drinking Locally
There are very few watering holes close to the stadium unless you want to stand literally shoulder to shoulder with locals while have a drink. If you have the time the seafront is by far the best option. I can sincerely recommend the Alfresco Restaurant, which juts out onto the beach. It is a little pricey but the Italian food there is exquisite.

Ground Description
Since 1997 when the club left the old Goldstone Ground the club have shared at Gillingham for two seasons and been at their "temporary home". The club are in conference with the local council and a brand new state of the art stadium is planned for the start of the 2010 season at Falmers on the other side of the town. The Withdean is simply a modified Athletics stadium in a very rural location and rather picturesque. Its viewing facilities are however poor but things have to viewed in perspective, the supporters would rather be somewhere else too. The North Stand is the only real permanent stand and was in existence before the Seagulls started nesting here. It is only partially covered at the back.

The remaining stands are all uncovered although the South Stand opposite is fairly imposing and has room for around 4,500. Another plot of seating occupies the north east section while yet another sits behind the west goal - if the weather forecast looks daunting, I advise brollies and pac a macs (you can purchase both of these necessities on the seafront in the numerous £1.00 shops). Barnet fans will be housed in this West Stand and it is similar to that which used to occupy the south end at Underhill. The area has room for around 700 seats.

Rivals
Crystal Palace, end of.

Admission Prices
According to the BaHA website "ticket prices have been slashed! The following information is subject to alteration however:

Adult: £13.00 Senior Citizen: £7.50 Under-21 £8.50 Under-16: £7.00.

We will be allocated the West Stand which is uncovered seating. Please keep an eye of the club website barnetfc.com for updates and details

Our Last Meeting & Memories
We met Brighton at the Withdean in last seasons Johnson's Paint Trophy and narrowly lost 2-1, Adam Birchall found the net for the Bees. In our 10 years as a Football League club the first time around between 1991-2001 we met the Seagulls on 12 occasions winning four drawing two and loosing six with the double game winning 1997-98 season the highlight. A brilliant 3-0 win at the Priestfield stadium thanks to goals from Lee Howarth, Steve Searle and Paul Wilson followed up with a 2-0 win at Underhill courtesy of goals from Howarth again and Phil Simpson.

However the 3rd round FA Cup games between the clubs in 1982 when Barnet were struggling (as always) in the APL and Brighton were riding high as a Division One club (then the top echelon) will always be remembered. The first game at Underhill finished 0-0 in front of over 4,000 on the boggiest pitch in the whole world. Playmaker Colin Barnes, defender Graham Pearce and an almost juvenile Gary Phillips were the stars of the afternoon and the Bees went very close to the upset of the round. In fact I make no apologies by reiterating that Sumo was just incredible that day. In the return game at The Goldstone Ground in front of 16,000 we again did ourselves proud but ran out 1-3 losers. A Gary Sargeant goal was celebrated in huge style by the travelling band of Barnet fans - about 3 times the normal home gate number made the journey and Brighton seafront was a wash with amber and black during that afternoon. Oh to relive the excitement of my reckless youth again and was I really that terrified being chased by about 300 Brighton hooligans towards our hired 16-seater minibus? No not really it was all part of being a football supporter in those days.

Overnight Stay Factor
Where do I start? 10/10 for this one as Brighton is the perfect place for a short break to take in a Barnet away game with so much to enjoy. Firstly architecture and the Royal Pavilion. It is simply a stunning piece of George IV building work design-based on the by gone glory of the British Empire ruling India. More architecture now and the West Pier "a derelict masterpiece of late 19th Century design". Built in 1866 with plans for refurbishment and joined by its sister The Palace Pier, 30 years younger but still as vibrant as ever. Here you will find the typical English seaside experience with rides, candyfloss, toffee apples and chavs. On the stretch of promenade between the two piers lies numerous, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. I could go on and mention Vintage Motorcars, the first electric railway built in this country, the thriving gay colony of Kemp Town, the nudist beach, the quaint bohemian shopping areas, The Marina, the walks on the South Downs, Devils Dyke but space is limited Reckless.A day off for this midweek fixture is a must at least while the weather is still being kind to us!

Celebrity Watch:
Autograph hunter's dream. Music first……one of the most fascinating people I have ever met, Genesis P-Orridge of the band Throbbing Gristle fame comes from these parts as does the band The Levellers and Fat Boy Slim (Norman Cook). One of my all time favourite DJ's Annie Nightingale has a pad in Hove! Sport……Boxer Chris Ewbank, Olympic Athlete Steve Ovett can be found jogging on the prom and from the entertainment world……"Where's me washboard?" comedian Max Miller, Mark (Ron Weasley's Dad) Williams, Zoe Ball, Paul McGann and Steve Cogan have all been spotted over the years in the local Woolworths.