A Brightonian in South London

November 22 2024, Images from PEXELS

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Born in East London, raised in East Sussex, moving to South East London, I have had a lot of experience with different cultures and rituals; especially around football. A sport I have loved since I could form words, my life is surrounded by football and the culture of the game. I first supported Brighton on my first caravaning holiday, where we pitched up next to a family with Albion flags all around their property. Getting to know the family better over those four days, and the next fourteen years, I got accustomed to their rituals of matchday - crowding around the radio, learning the chants, kicking the Brighton branded football in the fields. Eventually, a long time since those days, I went to my first Albion match - and despite losing 3-0 to Burnley on a sodden, storm-ridden day, it is still one of the best things I have ever experienced. 

Now, I understand that most who read these articles are locals to Brighton and Hove, but the few that are not are surely familiar with the invisibility that comes with being a Brighton fan. A proud home-grown club, Brighton are no one's first answer in a question like ‘name a Premier League team’, but nevertheless we are evolving to more mainstream conversations. It is a wonderful opportunity, and I am loving actually being able to talk about the Gaffers tactics to those who only watch Sky TV. However, for those of us who live in areas that are highly populated with Palace fans, this can come at a price. As much as I love where I live, moving from an area where I grew up surrounded by Brighton-supporting households to every person on my street being a Chelsea or Palace fan has not been the easiest of transitions. I am Brighton through and through, I hold a North Stand season ticket, I travel with the club up and down the country, my house screams ‘no life’ with the amount of blue and white memorabilia I own. However, I live in South London. Telling people I’m a Brighton fan will create two possible responses; the better one being ‘are you even in the Prem?’ and the worst being ‘South London’s number one, Palace are massive.’  Being in school and hearing people call out the dismal Brighton form of the latter-Potter era will always haunt me. 

Despite this, I am determined to spread my Brightonian culture. The rise of the Albion has been astronomical, and so well deserved, so why wouldn’t I celebrate it? Going to Brighton on Matchdays, compared to those days where Palace have played, there is a different atmosphere. South London has a dark cloud spread across it in terms of football; a horrific form leads them in the relegation zone (at the time of writing), contrasted to the joyous bounce of Brighton, having just won against the reigning champions. The blue and red I see on the streets is usually accompanied by a dejected frown. Even children wearing Palace kits are starting to resent their parents; looking enviously at other kids wearing different colours. Moving South (in geography and not football, that is), the atmosphere around Matchdays are different. Kids are celebrating their blue and white stripes, people wave their scarves around proudly, and there is a general consensus of happiness towards the Albion. I would say I feel sorry for those Palace fans, but that would be lying. 

What is the cause of this South-London depression, however? My opionon, attitude. Not to say that Crystal Palace are a club and fan-base growing complacent in their ‘mid-table’ status, but they continue to settle for less. Unlike this, Brighton are a club that always strives for the best in the most sustainable way - the way the team plays is exciting, yet oddly reliable. Our managers are a cycle of emerging talent, ready to showcase their prime, unlike the obsession with Palace and Hodgon. And Tony Bloom embraces this; a manifesto of change to bring about the best for our club. As much as I am enjoying the failures of Palace, I feel as though they could be a Europe pushing team. Alas, they have seen their prime. Now, it is ours.  

Yes, Brighton were competing against Reading in 2015 whilst Palace faced LIverpool and Arsenal, but today, Brighton are producing screamers against Marseille, thrashing Manchester United, and leading records. Our club is going places, but Palace? You can see the answer to that by walking past Selhurst the day after a match. And for that, I am a proud Brightonian in London. 

Brighton Are Massive.