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Withdean's Greatest XI
Despite it being arguably the worst ground in the
Football League, Withdean will forever hold great
memories for Albion fans.
From hometown boy Darren
Freeman's hat-trick scoring debut in the 6-0 demolition
of Mansfield in the opening game to Danny Cullip's
header to defeat the cheats of Chesterfield. From Adam
Virgo's 120th minute equaliser against Swindon to Ben
Roberts penalty save in that game. From three
promotions, two relegations and two last day escapes
Over
the course of March and April in the run up to the last
game to be held at Withdean, we asked you to vote on
nine polls - one for each position and the manager - of
you thought should be named the best eleven players to
pull on the stripes at our temporary home.
Some of the
votes were very close, others were a shoe-in to make the
team, but we are finally able to announce the results.
This is Brighton and Hove Albion's Withdean's Greatest
XI:
Manager:
Gus
Poyet
2009-, P84,
W46, D21, L19 (55% win record) |
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We've been
blessed with some great managers at Withdean, which
shows in how higher
regard Gus is kept by the Albion faithful. He
beat of competition from three other promotion
winning managers in Micky Adams, Peter Taylor
and Mark McGhee and two other popular custodians
in Steve Coppell and Russell Slade. It's not
just the success that Poyet has bought to the
club that helped him win this, but also the
style. We've been playing some of the best
football in living memory and his post-game comments are
always worth a listen. There is no doubt he will
achieve big things as a manager - and hopefully
they will be with the Seagulls at The Amex. |
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Goalkeeper:
Michel Kuipers
2000-2011,
247 appearances |
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Behind Gary
Hart, Kuipers spent the longest amount of time
at Withdean and it was his longevity that helped
him hold off the challenge of Ben Roberts to
claim the number one spot in an extremely tight
vote. Roberts was the only man who successfully
displaced the former Dutch marine, with Kuipers
holding off the challenges of Mark Cartwright,
Wayne Henderson and Graham Smith to come just
short of the 250 appearances mark, which he
would have broken were it not for horrendous
luck with injuries. As passionate as they come
and a superb shot stopper, he awaits a
well-deserved testimonial at some point in the
future giving him the chance to play at The Amex. |
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Right Back:
Paul Watson
1999-2005,
197 appearances, 15 goals |
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Current
custodian Inigo Calderon and the 2009
player-of-the-season Andy Whing provided stern
opposition, but it was Withdean's first right
back that took the vote. Watson made the
position his own for four years, making over 100
appearances in a row at one point as the Albion
marched to Division Three and Two titles
back-to-back. A solid defender on the right side
despite being left footed, he was also a
constant attacking threat thanks to his dead
ball delivery, which provided Bobby Zamora with
a hatful of his goals in the stripes. Injury put
paid to his Seagulls career in 2005, and it is
extremely doubtful that the club will see a man
with his ability from set pieces again. |
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Centre Back:
Danny
Cullip
1999-2004,
217 appearances, 7 goals |
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The
overwhelming winner of the centre backs poll was
the man who captained the Albion to the
Championship via a play-off final victory over
Bristol City at the Millennium Stadium, Danny
Cullip. A no-nonsense defender who left no
prisoners, Cullip became an instant fan
favourite for his passion on the pitch and his
constant cries of "lets have a winner" every
time his defence faced an opposition goal kick.
Led by example every time he stepped onto the
pitch, it was no surprise to see him make the
move to Sheffield United for a tidy profit,
although his career never again hit the heights or
adulation that he received during his five years
at Withdean. |
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Centre Back:
Adam El-Abd
2003-, 298 appearances,
5 goals |
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If Cullip
was a shoe-in for the team, than his partner at
the back Adam El Abd must be considered somewhat
of a shock pick. The fact that the youth team
product held off the challenge of the likes of
Simon Morgan, Dean Blackwell, Ivar Ingimarrson
and Paul McShane, all of whom have spent time in
the Premier League, indicates just how much of
an improvement he has made under Gus Poyet. It's
a remarkable turnaround from the player whose
back passes and mistakes used to cost what
seemed like a game a month, and who even had a
very public spat with the South Stand, but is
testament to the fantastic 2010/11 season he has had. |
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Left Back:
Kerry
Mayo
1996-2009,
367 appearances, 12 goals |
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Another
model of consistency, long-serving Kerry Mayo
takes his spot at left back with the only real
challenge coming from another Mr Consistency,
Marcos Painter. Despite starting the Withdean
era as back-up to Jamie Campbell, it didn't take
long for Mayo to gain his place in the starting
line-up and he remained there for the next five
years until the emergence of firstly Dan Harding
and then Joel Lynch. He won three promotions
during his time at the club and was a key player
in the two title winning seasons of the early
00s with his best
campaign coming under Steve Coppell in Division
One when he ended up coming second in the
player-of-the-season awards. |
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Right Wing:
Elliott Bennett
2009-, 82 appearances, 12 goals |
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It's a signal of just how highly
regarded Elliott Bennett is that he managed to
hold off the challenge of Albion legend Gary
Hart to make the right
wing position his own. Russell Slade had no
qualms in outlaying a significant amount of
money on the young wide man from Wolves, and
Bennett has been rewarding that decision
ever since. His contribution in 2010-11 has been outstanding, scoring and
assisting over 20 goals before Christmas
that attracted the attention of Premier League
bound Norwich and a seven figure bid.
Tony Bloom turned the offer down and
Bennett completed the season in the blue and
white stripes with a championship medal for his
efforts. |
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Centre Midfield:
Richard Carpenter
2000-2007,
252 appearances, 20 goals |
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Although a
tough poll to win, it was always likely that
Carpenter would be appearing in this side for
his contribution in his seven year stay at
Withdean. His arrival from Cardiff City
coincided with the Albion's march through
Division's Three and Two, and he did not look at
all out of place in Division One either. "Chippy"
was a tough tackling midfielder who could spray
the ball about and worked his way through a
multitude of different partners right up until
his retirement in 2007. His trademark
free-kicks will long be remembered, as will that
Withdean slide tackle against Luton on a typically wet and
windy day that seemed to carry him the width of
the pitch |
Centre Midfield:
Charlie Oatway
1999-2005,
224 appearances, 8 goals |
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Holding off
the likes of Paul Rogers, Simon Rodger, Steve
Sidwell, Dean Hammond, Andrew Crofts and Gary
Dicker to be named the second central midfielder
in the team was Charlie Oatway. It's quite apt
that Carpenter should have his long-time partner
alongside him, as the two built up a fine
understanding and partnership in the five and a
half seasons they played together. Oatway was never the most talented
player to pull on the stripes but he made up for
that with sheer effort and leadership.
He was a regular in the
side that won three promotions and an important
player in the 2004-05 survival season. |
Left Wing:
Kazenga LuaLua
2010, 22 appearances, 4 goals |
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The fact that every other player
selected for this team have made at least four
times the number of appearances that LuaLua has
tells you everything. Two separate loan spells
at Withdean saw him endear himself to the fans
in a way that few loan players have. Comments
that he lacked a final product to go with his
sheer pace and skill during his first stint were
instantly dismissed on his return, with wonder
goals following against MK Dons, Bournemouth and
Charlton. Left midfield may not have been the
strongest category with his nearest challengers
being Nathan Jones and Dean Cox, but the fact
that LuaLua was a convincing winner says it all
- Tony, Gus, sign him up. |
Striker:
Glenn Murray
2008-2011, 115 appearances,
56 goals |
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Would Murray
be taking his place in this side had we
conducted the poll after the news that he was
leaving on a free for Crystal Palace? Probably
not. But that doesn't take away what he achieved
in his spell at Withdean. With Poyet stating
that he needed a 20 goal a season striker this
season for us to gain promotion, both Murray and
Ashley Barnes stepped up to the mark. It was
Murray though who impressed the most, with the
side struggling with him out of it as he smashed
22 strikes home as well as impressing with his
hold up play and general work as a target man.
Our loss is unfortunately Palace's gain, let's
just hope the money was worth it for Glenn. |
Striker:
Bobby Zamora
2000-2003,
119 appearances, 82 goals |
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If one place
in this side was guaranteed, it was Bobby Zamora
leading the line. One of, if not the greatest
player of any era to play for Brighton and Hove
Albion, Zamora was the main reason for the
success of the early part of the last decade,
breaking the thirty goal a season mark two years
running and then still managing to hit 15 in a
season in which he missed half in Division One.
Now a full England international and one of the
Premier Leagues most consistent scorers, Zamora
provided some great Withdean memories with that
volley against Halifax sticking in the mind. A
well deserved place in the team for arguably the
best player to play at Withdean. |
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