Withdean Park

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The sale of the Goldstone Ground went through in 1997, leading to Brighton having to play some 70 miles away at Gillingham's Priestfield stadium for two seasons. For the start of the 1999–2000 season, the Seagulls secured a lease to play home games at Withdean Stadium, a converted athletics track in Brighton owned by the local council. 2000–01 was Brighton's first successful season for 13 years. They were crowned champions of Division Three and promoted to Division Two. The transition was a plus point for Brighton, who maintained their good form and ended the season as Division Two champions, winning a second successive promotion. Just five years after almost succumbing to the double threat of losing their Football League status and going out of business, Brighton were one division away from the Premier League. Brighton's final season at Withdean was 2010–11, in which they won League One under the management of Gus Poyet. The following season, Brighton changed their crest to a design similar to the crest used from the 1970s to the 1990s. This was to reflect on the club returning to a permanent home in Brighton after years of temporary grounds.

In Their Own Story

Brighton's final season at Withdean was 2010–11, in which they won League One under the management of Gus Poyet. The following season, Brighton changed their crest to a design similar to the crest used from the 1970s to the 1990s. This was to reflect on the club returning home after not having a stadium since 1997.

Reader's Guide

For the start of the 1999–2000 season, the Seagulls secured a lease to play home games at Withdean Stadium, a converted athletics track in Brighton owned by the local council. 2000–01 was Brighton's first successful season for 13 years. They were crowned champions of Division Three and promoted to Division Two. The transition was a plus point for Brighton, who maintained their good form and ended the season as Division Two champions, winning a second successive promotion. Just five years after almost succumbing to the double threat of losing their Football League status and going out of business, Brighton were one division away from the Premier League. Brighton's final season at Withdean was 2010–11, in which they won League One under the management of Gus Poyet. The following season, Brighton changed their crest to a design similar to the crest used from the 1970s to the 1990s. This was to reflect on the club returning home after not having a stadium since 1997.

Did You Know?

• Brighton played some 70 miles away at Gillingham's Priestfield stadium for two seasons before moving to Withdean.
• Withdean Stadium was a converted athletics track owned by the local council.
• Brighton won successive promotions at Withdean: Division Three champions in 2000–01 and Division Two champions in 2001–02.
• Brighton's final season at Withdean was 2010–11, in which they won League One under the management of Gus Poyet.
• The club changed their crest to a design similar to the crest used from the 1970s to the 1990s to reflect on returning to a permanent home in Brighton after years of temporary grounds.