Goldstone's Last Stand - Doncaster Rovers Home 26/04/1997
Brighton and Hove Albion's Goldstone
Ground hosted its last ever game on Saturday 26th April
1997 after 95 years as the Seagull's home. Doncaster Rovers
were the visitors and the day was significant not just because
fans said goodbye to their home. After a two year battle,
the regime that was responsible for making the club homeless
of Bill Archer, Greg Stanley and David Bellotti were finally
removed and new chairman Dick Knight was in the directors
box for the first time. Stuart Storer netted the last goal
at the famous ground as the Albion won 1-0 to move off the
bottom of the Football League for the first time since October,
meaning that they needed just a point at new-bottom club
Hereford the following week in order to complete an escape
from relegation that seemed impossible back in December
when Steve Gritt arrived as manager and the team were 12
points adrift. Scores of fans flooded the pitch after the
game to claim mementos from the place where they had fallen
in love with the Seagulls. Here are a collection of photos
from that damp and emotional day when Brighton and Hove
Albion bid farewell to The Goldstone Ground
The Goldstone
that gave it's name to the stadium
North Stand
turnstiles
The North
East floodlight
The North
West floodlight
An intimidating
sign
The ticket
office at the rear of the West Stand
The South
East floodlight
Looking
from the disused East Terrace to the West Stand
The South
Stand entrance
Albion fans
in the South Stand await the game
The West
Stand
The East
Terrace
The South
Stand is packed
Doncaster
players parade around the pitch with a banner reading
"Rovers players salute Brighton fans"
The North
Stand
The teams
prepare to do battle for the final time at The Goldstone
The Albion
attack with a corner
Another
Brighton attack
People swarm
the pitch as the Albion move off the bottom for the
first time since October
Fans gather
infront of the West Stand one last time
The pitch
begins to clear
A tribute
is set up on the centre circle
The North
East floodlight
Fans stand
on the East Terrace one last time
People head
for the exits for the last time
A strange
circle of light hovers over the directors box - spooky
To see larger versions of
these images from the last floodlit game at The Goldstone,
please check out the photos on our Facebook
Group - and why not become a fan while you are
there!
