END OF SEASON SURVEY #5

Lets be honest now, away days since we’ve been at Falmer have been a little shit. There are three clear reasons for this: 1) the Amex is bloody awesome, 2) we’re not winning almost every away fixture like we did last season and, 3) we found ourselves quite often in the tightly packed TSLR Scirocco this season (it only has four seats incidentally). In fact, a combination of abject performances (West Ham for example) mixed with losing (West Ham for example) , the gantry’s being far too claustrophobic (West Ham for example) and beer being limited (West Ham for example) means that travelling away is as bad as it has ever been. And it tends to cost far more than bunking the train from London Road to Falmer stations. All in all, we'd rather be in the North Stand Atrium Social Club every week.

All this meant that getting good memories from your away trips this season was tough. But luckily we phrased it so you would tell us about your most memorable trips this year, shit performances an’ all. Listed below is the extended version of your answers – thanks yet again for submitting your inner most thoughts about the last season.

What was your most memorable away trip was this season and why?

Pompey away was brilliant. To win, and against THEM was fantastic. Especially as their penalty in the last minute, would've gone in a couple of years back (Wowee) // Portsmouth was decent, load of laughs as they missed a penalty (Ali_rrr).

Cardiff. Great performance and an unexpected three points (Brian Riggs) // Cardiff. Went slightly on a whim with a mate. What a performance - the best since Charlton last season (Ed Woodhouse) // Cardiff, HOOTERS (fatty john) // Cardiff away. Brilliant performance in the second best stadium in the Championship (Rickhebs).

Bristol City away... Won 1-0 and was first wedding anniversary so went with wifey who loved it! Lush sunshine as well (@seagull32) // Bristol City - we were top of the league! (Boz).

Didn't get to too many but Leicester was good for that mouthy Leicester girl. I think we enjoyed it more when they scored. 'One nil. And you're still a slag' (Kumquat).

Ipswich - I was sick as a dog (not alcohol related) (Soul Finger).

Millwall, a Brighton fan threw a bottle of beer at us and it was a shite result (Fan-with-no-name).

Birmingham. It was pretty funny due to a rather large lady in the stand next to us hurling abuse, which she got back in spades (itszamora) // Birmingham. That Jamaican was the best steward anywhere in the country. He kissed every single lady on the cheek and shook every single bloke's hand. What a legend. Pity about the actual game... (@demonkarlos).

Saints. The ludicrous penalties. Tanno's red card. The sheer injustice of it all. Grrrrrrrr (simon h).

Derby away. As it's the only away game I've seen us win (Obi77BHA) // Derby away...only due to the Asian R&B night in Birmingham afterwards (Lawrence Wisdom).

Middlesbrough, just for wondering why the hell we bothered with a stupidly long trip just before Christmas for THAT (@ImMrBrightside7) // The 'chicken parmo' (below) at Middlesbrough was a highlight (Tom Stewart).

Coventry. The team didn't turn up, I spent a fortune and I wasted my NYE travelling back on a train on my own! (middletoenail) // Coventry on New Years Eve. 5 of us in a tiny 4 seater car. Not enough pre-match beers. A rubbish performance. But I saw barn door Billy at last actually have a shot on goal. Marvellous scenes (Ste).

Wrexham away was pretty memorable. Not for football mind; got there on Monday night- got home Thursday morning. Would do it again tomorrow though (@Seagull81).

Peterborough. The terraces were electric, outstanding atmosphere and Buckley's goal and the crowd surge after it was amazing. Plus, one of the only times 'that Palace song' actually worked (@bishthebash) // Peterborough, Memories as I always went when I was a kid and never missed one, the terrace/atmosphere, the win and the loudest I've ever heard the Elliot Ben...Cough Will Buckley heartbeat song (Drumstick) // Peterborough (as usual). Fantastic atmosphere on the terracing and the customary victory (Midfield Diamond).

Palace away was like visiting the zoo (Robbie Eyles).

Liverpool away. 'We scored 4, they scored 3 - Brighton's going to Wemberley' (JohnnyS) // Liverpool. Weird how such a temple of football, revered the world over, is such a cramped, uncomfortable venue, with poor sight lines (Monkey Man) // Liverpool... It was like the 7-1 at Huddersfield, but not quite as bad (ColBol) // Liverpool away, the only time I’ve seen us thumped by six goals and not felt pissed off, we played well and the scoreline flattered them (levski seagull) // Liverpool, although we got smashed, great experience, and made me realise how nice the Amex really is. Oh it's grim up north! (Harry Hartley) // Liverpool sadly. Its such a friendly part of the world but everything about reeks of sentimentality and past glories (Bitter and Twisted).

Leeds - sitting with Leeds fan who I took to the Amex earlier in the season. Revenge was great (Maski) // Leeds away. Always nice to beat those twats but especially in the last minute (Whitley Bayster).

Blackpool - A 640 round trip in 24 hours, to witness a 3-1 defeat (Barry Hilton).

Plymouth Fans Utd day really entertained by the Argyle fans and getting them doing left-side / right-side Argyle boys (Rosca Seagull on the Wing).

Wembley (now I’ve ruined it) (Jem Stone). (TSLR: Yes, you did!)

AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA ... A SEASON REVIEW

It's International Against Homophobia Day today and we thought we'd have a look back at what has been a very positive year for the club and fans in our role in ridding homophobia from football.

We got a lot of good feedback regarding an excellent article we published from Richie Morris which you can read on his blog by clicking HERE and furthermore another opinion piece from our writer Bitter and Twisted which you can read HERE.

They're different from each other; Richie being a professional journalist has the stats to back up his expose, whereas B&T seems to be the voice of the regular fan, trying to find some sense in the whole thing without wishing to be told what to think.

The Club have been progressive in what was a difficult year for anti-homophobia campaigns in regards to the 92 clubs.  Albion were forthright in signing the Anti Homophobia Charter with Millwall  at the Amex this Spring, but for whatever reason they were 1 of only 16 from the top 7 divisions to do so, The Independent calling the response 'Footballs New Hate Shame' in an article you can read HERE.

The Justin Campaign, the well-known anti homophobia in football lobbying group, said that “Albion have been one of the most supportive clubs in the country in the fight against homophobia in football" upon the signing of the charter, whilst also being featured in the official matchday programme.

The club worked effectively with Sussex Police, specifically Darren Balkham who is worth a follow @suspolfootball HERE, with regards to stamping out abuse at the Amex and on the road, with regular updates about arrests and even sentencing of those who partake in homophobic abuse at the football.

In the past it would be fair to assume that a report of homophobic abuse to a steward or police officer would not be dealt with, but the zero-tolerance approach taken by the club and the police is highly commendable and no-doubt a model for other forces in the UK.

In house, a homophobic tweet by a member of the development squad was dealt with quickly, the consequence of which included calling all club staff into the Amex to remind them of their responsibilities upon signing the charter.

The matter is still somewhat controversial however, and we were saddened to see North Stand Chat advise fans against making written complaints to clubs regarding homophobic abuse at away stadiums on the grounds that it would create excessive administration back at the Amex, a stance later condemned by our source within Albion In The Community.  This is not to say that NSC are not 'on board', and the forum has been a great place for fans to raise awareness, talk, argue and generally keep up to date with progress.

Elsewhere, North Stand Kollektiv have created a Football Vs. Homophobia flag for the North Stand (see above), whilst fans have generally been dignified in dealing with abuse, with some of best chants this season being the self-deprecating ripostes to some pretty disgusting songs.

Overall though, 2011/12 was a highly productive year which saw the development of strong foundations in the fight against homophobia in football, whilst also highlighting Albion as a very forward thinking, community-focused organisation.

Onwards and upwards.

ALBION 'AGUERO' MOMENTS

Woof, what an end to a football match yesterday. Apart from my own vicarious jumps and shouts as Aguero scored that goal, I was soon beset with jealousy. When did we last get that feeling; in fact, have we ever?

I suppose, in our own way, yes we have. Specifically Wilkins' goal against Ipswich Town - though this ultimately ended badly.  Buckley's goal against Doncaster Rovers last August, and finally Adam Virgo's goal against Swindon Town at Withdean in 2004. Strange to think that was nearly 8 years ago.

The Donny match was special, obviously, and the nature of the win took it to a place that nobody would ever expect. In terms of footballing achievement though it was just 3 points, it wasn't make or break.

So, the Swindon game is the biggest 'mental' moment in terms of consequence, and that's taking into account that it was 'modern era' with Sky Sports and the associated pantomime Play-Off build up. I know a lot of City fans being a resident here in the Cottonopolis, but the majority don't go to matches regularly. I watched the game at home and went crazy when it all happened, but that was the same experience that lots of actual City fans had. How much happiness can a fan feel watching their team from the comfort of their sofa? Personally I would think that while they can experience extreme emotion, they don't have the actual stories do they ... They are all over twitter saying how happy they are but the fact remains that at the Etihad there's no 3G signal, the fans in the ground are in an exclusive cocoon and as a fan I'd hate to be outside of it.

I have been outside the Albion cocoon twice, and those were the play-off semis against Swindon, home and away.

Being a London resident at the time, the word on NSC was that all capital-dwellers were to descend on the Sports Cafe on Haymarket in Piccadilly. The Sports Cafe was an awful place which twinned horrible overpriced beer with the ability to show any televised football game in the country.  There were booths that had little TVs built in and you could switch the channels to ensure that that Tuesday night Division Three game could be watched without fear of a 20 strong rabble of foreign students coming in and demanding the Barca match be put on instead.

For the Albion's game at the County Ground though there was a strong contingent of exiles, around 60 or 70 I'd say, all crammed in the back room which had a cinema sized screen, surround sound speakers and a dance floor under foot - this was also the disco when not in use for football!

The away leg was a little tense, as you would imagine, but everybody thought that the home leg wouldn't be too much trouble after taking a lead to Withdean. How wrong we were.

The second leg came about quick, and again it was a meet-up in the Sports Cafe.  This time it was packed with Albion, absolutely rammed in the same back room with about 150 of us. It was also an evening so everyone was a bit more 'refreshed' and the place was absolutely buzzing.

The game was an absolute dog. Swindon were by far the better side, though this wasn't a vintage season for Albion personnel.  Withdean was such that no-matter how many were crammed in, you never got the feeling that there was a great atmosphere there on the TV. Well, in actuality there wasn't.  All noise drifted skywards and televised games largely just picked up the noise from the pitch, thus presenting us as a very noddy outfit indeed. The rain was lashing down and in extra-time god-bothering kiwi Rory Fallon was put through to calmly slot past Ben Roberts before racing over to the Swindon fans to celebrate.  They had deserved the win, they had outplayed us for 119 minutes.

In the Sports Cafe the atmosphere was funeral-like. Slumped over tables, heads in hands, most Albion fans were ready to go home absolutely despondent at the abject performance they had witnessed. This was the bottom. This was the worst you could feel as a fan after throwing it all away after being in a great position, and Swindon had got their 'winner' in extra time.  More than this, we were playing poorly and didn't look like we were going to score in a hundred years.

But that changed in the last seconds. It's legendary stuff now, but at that moment I still remember it vividly. The throw into the box was inauspicious, and Cullip's flick-on was lunging and, while direct, had little intent. Adam Virgo, who had a reputation for scoring goals as a centre-back, came from nowhere and nodded it goalwards without significant force. The pitch was in a bad way and particularly muddy in the goalmouth but the ball didn't lose momentum with the bounce. It was going slow-motion, and not just in a classic reminiscing way, it was literally going snail-pace.

The header was blessed with accuracy though, and at it's speed it would need to be pin-pointed in a tiny area of the goal away from the 'keepers reach.  The Swindon goalie dived a little late and without any athleticism.  The Sports Cafe plunged into that pre-goal vacuum of sound and movement. That twilight zone when it's just jaw-dropped and eyes agaze, when your muscles tense, readying for a huge leap which either abounds into mad dancing or concentrated grief.

Luckily it was the former and the Albion exiles went absolutely berserk, like a bomb going off in a box. The noise was incredible but this wasn't a time for restraint as tables and chairs went flying. The crescendo of glasses smashing was riotous, and grown men were jumping around with a kind of animalistic joy so deeply suppressed bar these kind of moments.  the bouncers left us to it, it was unbridled joy, there was no malice here.

We won the penalty shoot-out easily and now the Sports Cafe back room was in disco mode. A DJ turned up, bemused at what was happening, and decided to flick the switch that controlled the glitter ball, playing  Celebration by Kool and the Gang through the sound system.  The riot had turned into a party and there we all were, in what looked like the aftermath of a brawl, dancing and singing along ... 'Celebrate good times, Come on!' soon morphing into 'We are going up, Say we are going up, Wa-hoo!'.

END OF SEASON SURVEY #4

Funnily enough, unique visits to the TSLR blog for these dropped significantly when we posted the answers for what you felt was the worst game of this season just gone. On that basis, this post will surely be the big hitter, the massive signing – the CMS, if you like. When we asked for the most amusing moment of the last season, we didn’t quite realise how good you were going to make it – so thank you kindly. Most responses to the entire survey amused us immensely so we were always going to giggle over your funniest moment. Some are from things that happened on the pitch, some are from things that happened in the terrace (or padded seats) and some are just classic tales of debauchery that have a loose Albion related-ish connection. Wherever they came from, there were LOLs aplenty. Ah, what a season it was...

SeagLOLs: what was the funniest thing you've seen at a game this season? 

Various jester hats, face paintings, half-and-half scarves - fucking hilarious (Soul Finger) // Neil Danns being sent off for Leicester and having to walk past the North Stand and West Stand whilst listening to us sing 'Palace Reject, hello, hello' (Obi77BHA) // You burnt your own town sung at a number of young palace kids in the family stand at palace away! (@seagull32) // The fat steward chasing a Wrexham fan (Happypig) // Burnley players applauding the home crowd after the nine man debacle (@shadyseagull) // My friend who holds a season ticket next to mine, projectile vomiting over 4 seats at half time against Ipswich Town. Was truly disgusting and hilarious in equal measures (@Matt_J_Lewis).

Dan Harding letting things get a little on top of him in the home game against Saints! (@markhiggs71) // Ryan Harley, just simply Ryan Harley (@ImMrBrightside7) // Poyet chasing my 3 year old daughter around when we met him after Leicester game (@klinski1970) // The refereeing performance of Craig Pawson, vs Burnley. In fact, he got both red cards right. But his nerve was gone completely after 15 minutes and decisions were there to be bought and sold, with a shout or cheer. El-Abd kicked it out of play, but gave Pawson the look and bingo, corner to the Albion (Ninja Elephant) // Craig Pawson (sharpey38) // Stephen Grant, but he is the only comedian I have laid eyes upon, so wins by default (Paul Baron).

The crowd reaction at home to Burnley when we were down to 9 men - The Great Escape (nearly) (Wiltshire Seagull) // Adam El-Abd's histrionics getting Ricky Lambert sent off on the 2nd January (Ed Woodhouse) // Seeing someone fall over walking up the steps (Ali_rrr) // Seeing a teenage Palace fan trying to fight a police horse was a magical experience (JohnnyS) // Andy Carroll (@bishthebash) // Best thing I've heard, not seen, is the North Stand singing one nil to the taxpayers against Portsmouth (Tory Boy) // 'You're not crippled any more' from the north stand when a guy in a wheelchair kicked back a ball (Monkey Man) // Billy Paynter (ColBol).

Birmingham away fans calling some slapper a slapper then Marcos Painter throwing his shirt to her. Then singing 'there's only one Mrs Painter' (@Seagull81) // Palace fans being kept in at Selhurst 'for their own safety' (levski seagull) // Unsure which home game, but when a fan ran from the West Stand Lower across the yellow advertising in the South West corner and properly belted an away fan, safe to say he was carted away by the Stewards pretty quickly (Charlie from Birmingham) // Dan Harding being subbed Home v Southampton. He just couldn't take the pressure (Tired Boy) // Poyet calling for the crowd to sarcastically clap the ref v Burnley. Followed immediately by a 20st man taking his shirt off and whipping it round his head to The Great Escape (brightonrock) // Streaker at Soton and Liverpool away... (Masky1).

The fancy sprinklers in the pitch rather surprising a Peterborough(?) substitute by switching on just as he went to get a ball from right next to it (itszamora) // Gully's Girls get a soaking when lining up to welcome the teams and someone turns on the sprinklers. Happens at every game - you'd have thought someone would have been told, but obviously not (Jim D) // Someone moaning about 'all these bloody fans' (Tim Over Whelmed) // Marcus Hancock going disco mental at Ryan Harley in the front row of the WSU and nearly toppling over into the 1901'ers (@notguspoyet) // Walking from Selhurst Station to Selhurst park, some gobby teenagers were giving it all large to the palace fans, then shat themselves when the palace fans confronted them (no harm happened, just a few words and a scuffle), they were not acting so 'hard' after that (matt_32510).

Nigel Adkins unfortunate smug face being rubbed in the dirt (not literally). The look he had when we beat Southampton! (@zanderNewman) // Andy Carroll's frustration at being marked out of the game by Adam El-Abd. As soon as El-Abd was substituted, Carroll scored (Barry Hilton) // Hull away - Razak had a shot in the warmup that missed by so much, it hit a Hull fan on the back of the head and made him drop his pies (@seagullsim) // Funny Weird was Vincelot jiggling his arm back into its socket in front of the family stand (Regency Gull) // Dunk's own goal at Liverpool. I loved the TSLR artwork on this (@demonkarlos).

LuaLua's celebration after Buckley's goal vs Nottm Forest! (Xander/SeagullSongs) // Poyet kicking water bottles down the touch line and his general animated behaviour (@dazpaine) // The Ipswich banner - so wide of the mark it was just hilarious (BlueWhiteStripes) // Daniel Andrew Harding (simon h) // A friend basically downing a bottle of wine before Palace at home and getting chucked out then falling asleep on the train and waking up in London (Mutley) // Mouthy Brighton pikeys becoming quieter and quieter as they get nearer the Millwall fans in Cowards way (watsongooal) // I'd go for the kid in the North shouting 'Oi ref, you're mum's a horse' at the Burnley ref (Kumquat) // The Eagle at Selhurst nearly taking out one of the scum's players! (Dowling93) // On the way back from Derby, reading my tweets, when one of the players high jacked Ankegrens phone whilst he slept and tweeted 'I Love Cock' (@brettmendoza) // The late late undeserved wins! (Jam The Man).

The streaker at the Liverpool away game, when he went up to Carragher and gave him a hug (@tilzo15) // John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood (that bloke with the Bell) getting Chucked out of the Amex! (@NickJ4797) // The goal mouth scramble with Pompey had me laughing wildly (Billy) // My best mate turning up with 69 printed on his away shirt when I had been talking about the ridiculousness of shirt numbers (@elbowpatches) // Our favourite unsaintly left back Dan Harding getting substituted and throwing his toys out of the pram was pretty amusing (Midfield Diamond) // The Ipswich Banner (Tottonseagull) // Gully's Girls (Marvellous Marv) // Harley's penalty at Millwall. So bad, you just had to laugh (Falmer Flutter).

The muppetry of the own goals at Liverpool (Swiss Tony) // Dunk's OG at Anfield (@benrawlings77) // Albion down to 9 in the first 10 minutes - hilarious. But then I do have a very warped sense of humour (Bitter and Twisted) // SunnyDelight man substituting Harding, presumably because he couldn’t keep up with our wingers (Boz) // Bunch of Scandanavians ripping their shirts off in West Stand Lower and the North standers singing get your shirts off for the lads! (MissyMarshy) // El Abd doing his innocent 'what, me?' act earning Ricky Lambert a straight red at Southampton (Jem Stone) // Dan Harding getting the mother of all runarounds before being hauled off. After 40 minutes (MBH) // A certain tslr contributors advances towards a young Blackool fan who turned out to be just 14 years old (to be fair to him as soon as her age was established he retreated sharpish) (Ste)

END OF SEASON SURVEY #3

The third in our series of memories from the Albion’s first season at Falmer asked about goals. Some great candidates nominated by you made the list - most of them scored for the Albion but a few hilarious entries credited goals from Burnley and Liverpool, albeit the latter ones were generally scored by us. Of course, our end of season survey was completed by you lot with about six games still to go - TSLR Towers would therefore love to nominate Gary Dicker’s special touch into the net at Upton Park with his standing leg. Yet again, thanks to all of you surveyors for getting involved with our online survey this season. Once we cut the crap, it certainly made us giggle. 

Tell us what your favourite (not necessarily the best) goal was this season and why? 

Buckley’s winner against Donny. One of the best moments of my life (@markhiggs71) // Buckley versus Doncaster, I cried (Ali_rrr) // Buckley's winner against Donny. I'd 'manned-up' and stopped my girlie crying but all that emotion came flooding out of my tear ducts once more (Midfield Diamond) // Buckley's winner in the first game. Had a great view of the whole move from the North and the way he calmly swept it in was like the finest poetry. Then the whole ground just went bat shit mental (Falmer Flutter).

Ryan Harley's wonder free kick against Peterborough, which tricked me into thinking he was good for quite a while (until Millwall away, anyway) (JohnnyS) // The Ryan Harley free kick, totally unexpected (Fan-with-no-name). Craig Mackail Smiths little turny spin v Leeds just took the piss really. Loved it (Drumstick).

Fave goal was CMS (pictured above with European Football Weekend's Danny Last) against Palace at home. For 70 mins I was dreaming. Then it all went WRONG. FFSMurray etc etc (Tony Meolas Loan Spell).

Probably Vincelot's goal against Coventry at home, the way he managed to get that much power on a header without jumping and how he managed to find the corner of the goal (LorenzoBHAFC) // Vincelot's long range header (can't remember who it was against). It's my favourite because he's got a massive nob (Lawrence Wisdom).

Kieran Trippier - Burnley. Albion fans celebrating an away goal going in 32 minutes into a game and the way the Brighton players reacted for the remaining 58 (Carter). // Matt Sparrow - the 2nd vs Saints. Great to beat them, get some revenge (@davidrbiggs).

Any Calde goal (@shadyseagull) // Calderon's goal - mate Crafty was havin’ a piss and missed it! Ahahahahaha (T-bone da T-Rex) // Calderon v Bristol City. As me and my mate take a Basque flag to each game, and before the game at the handshakes he pointed at us! After the game he pumped his chest, kissed the badge and waved at us, such a fantastic moment (Billy) // Calderon v David James. It had to be perfect, and it was (MBH).

LuaLua's free kick at Anfield (Happypig) // LuaLua’s free kick at Liverpool, gave us hope, all be it a whimsical false hope that was laughing behind our backs, but a glimmer of hope none the less (Marvellous Marv) // LuaLua v Liverpool away. Gave us a sniff of a chance, even if only for 20 mins or so (@benrawlings77) // The muppetry of the own goals at Liverpool (Swiss Tony) // Showboating from the rookie Lewis Dunk. Not many players would have the guts to juggle the ball into the net in front of the famous Kop (Paul Baron) // Lewis Dunk OG against Liverpool. I laughed my tits off at that one (Waino696969).

Alan Navarro at Leeds. I had a fiver on him netting the last goal at 25/1. The rest is history but it was a good night (@Seagull81).

CMS goal v Ipswich - assist from Greer then Buckley - refreshingly direct - 10 seconds from leaving Greer’s boot to CMS hitting the back of the net (Wiltshire Seagull) // I really enjoyed CMS' v Ipswich, for the sheer volume of the home reaction to 'Bannergate' (brightonrock).

Vicente's free kick versus Portsmouth. It was a fairy tale return from injury and reintroduction to our supporters with some having written him off. The guy is pure class and we are lucky to have him!! (Obi77BHA) // Seeing Vicente score at the Amex, need I say more (sharpey38) // Vicente's first against Portsmouth. To see a player of that class score for us and for it to clearly mean so much to him was just amazing (itszamora).

Kazenga to Vicente to Barnes vs Derby. Just sublime skills from all 3 involved (BlueWhiteStripes).

END OF SEASON SURVEY #2

This is the second in our series of your answers supplementing our blog. Having pondered the greatest game of the Albion season in our post published on Saturday, we turned to the dark side when looking at the answers for our second question. Congratulations to all who answered and somehow managed to avoid actually stating who we played against in some unmemorable disastrous game at Falmer in September, but it was that awful game that plays a large part in this answer. Oh, and thanks to the photoshopper whose photee of Gordon Greer and Glenn M****y's head we have used without any sort of permission.

And what was the worst game this season and why? 

Burnley @ Home 0-1. Down to 9 after 12 minutes. Dreadful (Carter). 

Ipswich away... lost and wore the wrong shirt as was roasting! (@seagull32) // Ipswich away. We lost but I paid 38 quid for the experience. And there wasn't any leg room and they didn't sell beer at half time. Do you want me to carry on? Bumpkins (@Seagull81).

Losing to 'them' (Happypig) // Crystal Palace at home... never been as gutted to lose a game as that, the jeers, just the pure disappointment of being 1-0 up and then losing 3-1 to our biggest rivals was too much (LorenzoBHAFC) // Silly question really, I'll give you a clue it was in September (@markhiggs71) // There was a terrible/diabolical/tragic game towards the end of September, but selective memory disallows further details, thankfully. I do remember the first 80 minutes, but the rest is a blank (Paul Baron).

Palace at home, obviously. How much worse could it have got? Prescott parachuting in after 94 minutes and announcing a loophole he'd overlooked, meaning Falmer should never have had planning permission and would have to be demolished? (Monkey Man) // A standard answer I'd imagine; the game at home in late September where we lost 3-1 (Charlie from Birmingham) // I can think of no traumatic events this season #suppressedmemories (brightonrock).

Palace at home. We capitulated to a weaker team (@zanderNewman) // Definitely Palace... watching Harley potter around the midfield like he had no care in the world made me want to self harm (Tom Stewart) // Having to sit with 10 or so palace fans on the train back to Croydon singing 'Did you cry when Murray scored?' wasn't a highlight (Kumquat) // Murray. Grrrr. Has anyone else suggested another? (Jem Stone) // Palace at home. In many ways it was worse than the 5-0. It made me want to cry (Ste).

Watford away... Awful (Maski) // Watford away, we looked like relegation fodder (levski seagull) // Watford Away, no shots, no passion, no guts, no desire, no goals, no points (@notguspoyet) // An honourable mention to Watford away - took my non-Brighton supporting brother and nephew and was singing our praises prior to kick-off. We were just shithouse (Falmer Flutter). 

Leicester, was bloody cold! (Ali_rrr). 

Coventry Away - very poor performance and took my Mum and Dad (Wiltshire Seagull) // Coventry away. Dreadful performance, leaving me with the feeling we would slip down the league. How wrong I was (Ed Woodhouse) // Coventry (Away), thought it would be an easy 3 points, how wrong I was we were totally shite that day and it was a crap hole as well (matt_32510) // Coventry away - just dire (Robbie Eyles). 

Wrexham because it was absolutely gash (Lawrence Wisdom). The 6-1 away to Liverpool was of course fucking embarrassing. I was in an Irish pub in Manchester surrounded by plastic reds who did not exactly forgive my lonely but proud and loud roar as we equalised (JonathanLivingstonSeagull). 

Millwall at home. Constantly struggling to get back on level terms was a cruel parody of my futile efforts to claw my way back into my girlfriend's good books after sacking her off for the footy on Valentine's day. Being stuck on a train full of Millwall fans for 25 minutes while they pointed out that the combination of having a moustache and being a Brighton fan meant that I would meet a similar end to my supposed lookalike Freddie Mercury didn't help either (JohnnyS). 

Forest away, shit performance, shit food, shit stewards, shit ob & I lost my £200 Armani glasses, other than that great day out (@dazpaine).

END OF SEASON SURVEY

It's the first Saturday we've had to ourselves for ages and one we've been very much looking forward to. So, what are TSLR planning to do on this first Saturday without the Albion? Er, getting up early to upload a blog post which relives all the best moments. Obviously. For almost every match since the West Ham one, I've been looking forward to this, the first Saturday of summer. But now it's here, I simply don't know what to do with myself. I mean, this time last week I was on my way to Barnsley and already drunk. Without football, I have no excuse to be alcoholic.

Anyhow, back in TSLR039's Fans' Survey, amidst the praise to our readers, we mentioned that the initial pick of questionnaire answers was a large array of Albion supporting brilliance. It was. But it didn't all quite fit into 32 paper pages of Albion related-ish drivel so we promised that we would offer the full, unadulterated version on the blog at the end of the season. Well, the end of the season came. So we thought, so should the survey.

We'll be bringing you each question we pondered back at the end of March with all the best answers from you over the next couple of weeks or so. Thanks to all of you for purchasing, selling, contributing, survey filling, not treating us like Big Issue sellers and generally sharing a good laugh with us all season. We've enjoyed it immensely - and hope you have too. Thanks to all our surveyors - without you, this blog would be nothing (it really would be nothing - this page would be blank).

What has been your favourite game this season and why? 

Doncaster at home the day everything became reality on and off the pitch! (@seagull32) // Doncaster at home... the atmosphere was insane, and the reaction of all Brighton fans when Will Buckley slotted it away was phenomenal (LorenzoBHAFC) // Doncaster, Amex. Was in my seat at 12:59 and didn't move there until long after William Buckley had finished, and CMS had clapped us all (Ninja Elephant) // Doncaster, first taste of the pies! (Ali_rrr) // Buckley's goal in the 98th followed by running down the steps to celebrate with the players, only stopped a foot away by a steward, and getting on TV in the celebration, makes it the best moment of my life (@bishthebash) // Doncaster Home. The day we got a level playing field (ColBol) // Doncaster 2-1 @ home. Already an amazing occasion, but Will Buckley made it legendary (weststander).

The Doncaster game. I'd imagine 90%+ will have said this, but everything about the whole day was just incredible (Charlie from Birmingham) // Home v Doncaster Rovers. History being made (Tired Boy) // Doncaster at home, why? Atmosphere, Coming Home, grandstand finish, it had it all (Tim Over Whelmed) // Doncaster - 14 years, 90 minutes, 2 goals and 1 of many new heroes for the Albion (Kumquat) // Has to be Donny at home. A farytale of a day from start to finish. Then Will Buckley ran down the wing for me and notched THAT 98th minute winner. I haven't seen that many grown men cry since Scott and Charlene's wedding circa 1987 (@brettmendoza) // Doncaster, fantastic day, great result, one long party (fatty john).

Doncaster - I missed a lads holiday with 20 mates for that day, the emotion of it was fantastic, with a fairytale ending (Billy) // Doncaster @ home to win first game of season and the flag waving lump in the throat moments // Doncaster home - the game everyone had been waiting for for over a decade & Buckley pops up with two late goals. If Roy Of The Rovers had shifted to the 21st Century (Bitter & Twisted) // Donny at home, first real game, amazing finish - a special, special day (Boz) // Donny match. We waited 14 long years for that. Was it worth the wait... hell yeah! Never to be repeated never to be forgotten (Parker).

Cardiff away - excellent performance - lovely evening - good banter from the 1,000 travelling fans (Wiltshire Seagull) // I'm tempted to say Play Off Final but Cardiff away 3-1 (Tony Meolas Loan Spell) // Cardiff away for watching the woman's rugby team train and the night out after on Jonny Woodgates. Plus the result (Mutley).

Burnley at home - face of adversity. Newcastle at home - great atmos (Soul Finger) // Burnley (Home). Even though we lost with two awful decisions by the ref. It was the coming together of the crowd which made the day. A real watershed moment as we continued to get use to life at the Amex (Obi77BHA) // Burnley at home. The atmosphere was the best there's been at the Amex by a mile - the crowd really were the 12... er 10th man (JohnnyS) // At home v Burnley. We played surprisingly well with 9 men and nearly beat the northerners. We should try it if we get into the play offs? (Drumstick) // Burnley... I have never left a game having lost, feeling so energised and positive... What an atmosphere! (Jon) // Burnley @ Home 0-1. All 9 players on the pitch giving everything until the end. And we could have nabbed a point right at the end as CMS had a shot cleared off the line. Awesome atmosphere, think I did a fart at one point that went completely unnoticed in the noise (Carter). Still hard to look beyond Buckaroo but Guess Who is still great (@ImMrBrightside7).

Leeds at home....it was MENTAL and there was lots of comedyfending (Tom Stewart) // Leeds at home was a brilliant match, Liverpool at home was a great spectacle, beating Newcastle was amazing but nothing, and I possibly mean no game any season ever will beat Buckley in the 98th minute. It was the perfect start to a new era for all of us (Regency Gull ).

Southampton at home as it saw us end an awful run from the festive holidays and started our unbeaten run in 2012 (@Matt_J_Lewis) // The second half demolition of saints (sharpey38) // Soton home, after a poor run we were expecting a tough game, I then saw Brezovan in goal and thought oh no (Maski) // Leeds at home was probably the 'best' game but I most enjoyed our reserves clinically dissecting the South Coast Club (brightonrock) // Southampton (H) - won 3-0 with our reserve side and Lambert sent off (Jim D) // Southampton at home as there's nothing like taking down a smug team a peg or two (Jam The Man) // Saints at home - me, my brother and my dad together at Falmex for the first time (@benrawlings77).

Peterborough away. It's traditional isn't it? (@Seagull81) // Peterborough (A), the terrace was absolutely rocking and bouncing for most of the game, especially when Buckley put in the winner! (Xander/SeagullSongs) // Really difficult - Peterborough away for the reminiscing of what the toilets were like at Goldstone Ground or Cardiff for the awesome performance (@elbowpatches). Derby - simply because we looked class & some Spanish bloke made me giggle like a small girl (@klinski1970) // Derby - the Kazenga/Vicente show (BlueWhiteStripes) // Forest Home - Pandemonium at the end (Robbie Eyles) // Ipswich, great game and won £25 from Ipswich fan. And Bannergate (Rosca Seagull on the Wing).

They have all been part of one big parcel of absolute footballing SEX (JonathanLivingstonSeagull).

AN ODE TO NAVS

When Alan Navarro joined Albion on a free transfer back in 2009, he didn't exactly set the world on fire. In fact, during that first season, my TSLRite season ticket holding neighbour at our Theatre of Trees would regularly call him 'Fat Nav'. My neighbour was fatter (and still is in his role as my neighbour at Falmer) but it seemed an appropriate moniker for an Albion player who was slightly plumper than others (not quite in the league of Kevin McLeod, we must admit) and certainly one who struggled for mobility to begin with. 

This season, Navs has been excellent - and especially for a player who missed the majority of last season's title winning campaign after his horrific injury at the home of Albion gloom and doom, Northampton Town. He has been so good this year that - had TSLR awarded a player of the season (we didn't as TSLR Towers is running out of space for trophies that never quite make it to the recipient) - it would have been the Scouser who has been now been released by the club. Nav has been phenomenal and really is unlucky not to be given a new contract, especially considering he was given a one-year contract extension when he hadn't played all of last season. And in a season when we finished above P****e. 

But football is much like life, and what you and us think is best may not always be the case. As we said on the front cover of TSLR when Poyet was appointed, in Gus we trust. And whatever sad feelings we may have about the passing of Navarro, we must continue to trust in the man at the helm of this football club. Navs is clearly a very decent Division 2 player, but Gus wants more than that. And we must trust his judgement.

The obvious highlight from Navs this season was when he scored his first - and ultimately last - goal for this football club away - as with so many this season - in injury time at Leeds. One of TSLR's best customers backed him to score the last goal at 25-1 that day after seeing it happen in a dream the night before. And that goal kept all of our play-off dreams going awhile longer the night after. But his solidity in the middle of the park all season - in breaking up play and giving it to the pacey midfielders shortly thereafter - is what we'll all remember him by. 

If missing man Ryan Harley and Gary Dicker - whose abject performances towards the end of the season frustrated everyone - continue to play in this Albion side, then you have to feel extremely sorry for Alan Navarro. If it was Football Manager, I'd keep him on for at least another season. But Gus is playing the game, and he's more ruthless. Navs, we salute you, good sir. The very best of luck to you from all at TSLR Towers for the future. 

And you can guarantee that if he is picked up by a fellow Championship club this summer, you won't need a dream to remind you he'll probably score the winner.

1991 VINTAGE

Ever spent an inordinate amount of time trying to recreate our infamous 1991 away kit onto a Subbuteo player template while designing a TSLR/TSB pastiche to sit on the front?

Yeah well, it's fun.

We're hoping our submission will make it onto discerning football blog The Football Attic, and their League of Blogs.

AMEX ON THE UNDERGROUND

This was the glorious view down at Goodge Street Tube station in London this morning. In fact, this Fatboy Slim advert has been popping up in Tube stations across the capital over the last week. And it certainly is exciting seeing the Amex being advertised as far as 50 odd miles away from the English Channel.

Unlike football clubs across the country, Falmer is one of the few grounds that is selling out every week. It was in the last week that staff here at TSLR Towers saw a full page advert in the local east London press encouraging readers to fork out a fortune to go and see West Ham United play at home ahead of their (likely) play-off matches. So it may cost you £32 but at least you'll have priority at the Boleyn for the league's knock out stages.

Luckily for us, the excitement of a new stadium has continued throughout the season and desperate advertising campaigns to get fans watching football matches have not had to be plastered all over the Evening Argus. However, there are clearly a few tickets still remaining for the Falmer Fatboy Festival (we recommend you go on the Friday as The 2 Bears have been all over the radio at TSLR Towers for months now). We'll obviously be using the event as a convenient excuse to visit our Mecca when there's no football to watch this summer. That and the wedding fair which has left us desperately searching for contenders for fiancee duties.

One day - many moons from now when the Falmer novelty has worn thin and we have 8k extra empty seats - we might even put up football viewing ticket billboard adverts for all those London-based glory hunters. But until then, we'll have to be content with the fact we have a home that not only puts on concerts but also thinks that people may pay £40 a time to travel down from London to see it. Of course, we all know that visiting Falmer is worth £40 without any music...