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Brighton and Hove Albion Scoring Debuts

Brighton and Hove Albion's record signing Jurgen Locadia marked his debut with a goal in the 3-1 victory over Coventry City, sending large sections of the Albion's fan base into overdrive.

Our favourite comment came on Facebook from one deranged supporter claiming that Locadia would be as good as Harry Kane based on his performance against a side in mid table in League Two.

Sure, he scored a tidy finish but a goal on your debut doesn't necessarily mean you are going to go on to have a long and fruitful career in the stripes.

Here are seven players who scored on their debuts who Locadia would do well to follow in the footsteps in, and seven for whom netting on their first appearance was about as good as their Albion careers got...

Six reasons to get excited about Jurgen Locadia's debut goal...

Peter Ward
Hereford United 1-1 Brighton, 27/03/76

The ultimate debut from the ultimate Albion striker. Signed for £4,000 from Burton Albion in May the previous year, Peter Ward had to wait 10 months to make his first appearance in a Brighton shirt. He scored within 60 seconds at Hereford United, ended the season with five goals in eight games and the rest is history.
Bobby Zamora
Brighton 1-1 Plymouth Argyle, 12/02/00

With Brentford having snatched Lorenzo Pinamonte, Micky Adams needed a new striker on loan. Step forward Bobby Zamora from Bristol Rovers. His debut goal was one of six in six games that persuaded the Albion to fork out £100,000 for him the following summer, after which goals and trophies flowed at Withdean.
Leonardo Ulloa
Brighton 2-3 Arsenal, 26/01/13

Locadia is in good company for scoring on his debut in the FA Cup. Leonardo Ulloa managed the same feat in 2013 when Arsenal came to town in the fourth round, scoring with his head in a sight that would become extremely familiar over the following 18 months - and hopefully the next three as well.
Darren Freeman
Brighton 6-0 Mansfield Town, 07/08/99

After two seasons playing "home" games in Gillingham, the Albion marked their first game back in Brighton at Withdean with a 6-0 win over Mansfield. Brighton-born Darren Freeman scored a hat-trick on his debut. He ended the season as top scorer, but unfortunately injury meant we didn't see much of him after that.
Leon Knight
Oldham Athletic 1-3 Brighton, 09/08/03

With Bobby Zamora sold to Spurs, Brighton needed a new talismanic forward. Step forward Leon Knight who marked his debut with both goals in a 3-1 win at Oldham. Knight would go onto fire the Albion back to the Championship via the play offs, making him a Seagulls success even if his career did nosedive after he left Withdean
Garry Nelson
Brighton 1-0 York City, 15/08/87

Garry Nelson marked his Albion debut with the only goal against York and would go onto score 32 in the 1987-88 promotion season, a total only bettered in a single campaign by two other players in Brighton history. He later confirmed club legend status by becoming one of the Archer-Bellotti regimes biggest critics from afar.

 

And six reasons not to get too carried away...

Maheta Molango
Reading 3-2 Brighton, 07/08/2004

Maheta Molango arrived at Withdean after being released by SV Wacker Burghausen of Germany. He hardly seemed like the type of striker who would aid the Albion's bid to stay in the Championship, but a goal after 14 seconds away at Reading had everyone dreaming. It turned out to be his only goal for the club.
Darius Henderson
Oldham Athletic 1-3 Brighton, 09/08/03

On loan Reading striker Darius Henderson was the other forward to make his debut alongside Leon Knight on the opening day of the 2003-04 season. His time at Withdean didn't go quite as well as his strike partner, managing to score only two penalties and losing his place to the talents of Chris McPhee.
Matt Heath
Leyton Orient 2-1 Brighton, 07/03/09

Russell Slade's first game in charge saw him play five loan players, one of whom was defender Matt Heath who marked his debut with the Albion's goal. Signed from Colchester, he played six times, marking his final game with a red card in a 2-0 defeat away at Scunthorpe.
Lee Johnson
Brighton 2-0 Cardiff City, 05/12/00

The current Bristol City manager played once and only once for the Albion, scoring in a 2-0 LDV Vans Trophy win over Cardiff City in the 2000-01 season. He was never seen again, not even as an unused substitute, before moving to Yeovil Town where his father Gary was manager.
Aidan Newhouse
Brighton 6-0 Mansfield Town, 07/08/99

Darren Freeman might have got a hat-trick on the opening day of the 1999-00 season, but substitute Aidan Newhouse also had a debut to remember as he scored twice from the bench to suggest he had a bright future at the Albion. He didn't. One start and nine further sub appearances later and he was off to Sutton United.
Mark Chamberlain
Brighton 1-1 Plymouth Argyle, 20/08/94

The former England striker arrived at the Goldstone on a short term deal in the summer of 1994 as his career drew to a close. He scored on his debut against Plymouth which persuaded Liam Brady to give him a contract until the end of the season, which yielded a return of a grand total of three goals in 24 games.