The biggest game in Albion history: Photos from Hereford 1-1 Brighton

Photos of the Nationwide Division Three match between Hereford United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Edgar Street on Saturday May 3rd 1997 which ended in a 1-1 draw.

This was the biggest game in Brighton history. Defeat would have confined the homeless Seagulls to non-league football and kept Hereford in the Football League. A draw or win for the Albion relegated the hosts.

Over 3,000 Brighton fans made the journey from Sussex to Herefordshire and you could cut the tension around Edgar Street with a knife at 3pm.

By 3.20pm, it was the Hereford fans who were celebrating when Kerry Mayo turned a low cross past Mark Ormerod for an own goal.

United led right up until the 62nd minute. Craig Maskell’s volley from distance cannoned off the post but substitute Robbie Reinelt was doing what all good strikers do and followed up, smashing the loose ball into the back of the net past the helpless Hereford goalkeeper Andy Debont.

The away terrace exploded with a mixture of joy and relief. Brighton still had 30 minutes to see out and there was a heart-in-mouth moment when Adrian Foster went through in the final seconds but his shot was too close to Ormerod who made the save.

Referee Neil Barry blew the final whistle seconds later and the Albion had the point they needed to survive. Reinelt, Ormerod, Maskell, Steve Gritt et all celebrated in front of a delighted away end while Hereford players and supporters were left distraught.

Had Brighton been relegated that day, then it probably would have been the end. The Albion would not have survived playing non-league football 75 miles away in Gillingham – presuming the Conference would have accepted a club with no home into their league.

The most important result in Brighton history.

If you have any photos you’d like included our Hereford 1-1 Brighton gallery, please e-mail them to wearebrighton@hotmail.co.uk or tweet them to us @wearebrighton