FALMER DEMO ARRANGED...

  Archived from: Wednesday, 8th September 2004 .

In October 2001, the club submitted plans to Brighton & Hove City Council for a community stadium at Falmer. Despite the application being approved by 11 votes to 1, it was called in for a public enquiry, which the club has currently spent over £3m on.

Now, following the decision by John Prescott to re-open the public enquiry, which was originally concluded in October 2003, a 'major demonstration and march' have been planned for during the Labour Party's Conference in Brighton, who is undoubtedly the best opportunity we currently have to get the message across.

The latest details we have on the march are that it is due to go ahead on Monday, 27th September and will start at Madeira Drive at 5:30pm, proceeding along the seafront on Kings Road to the Brighton Centre. A few brief speeches will then be made at around 6pm, before heading back to Madeira Drive. It has important that fans complete both legs of the march, which should be over by 6:45pm.

You do not need to be a fan of the club to come along and support Falmer, and the club are looking for all members of the community to come along. Sussex police are happy for the march to go ahead and have been excellent in their help of planning the march. This peaceful march is to be headed by a local band, and should leave Mr. Prescott with the only decision that is acceptable - "That There Is Only One Site In Brighton".

Lewes County Council are also currently considering if they should spend more money to fight Falmer. If they choose to continue to spend money on the case, up to £35,000 could be used. However, the council constituents are not all against the case, and many would prefer to see the money spent in a better way. Lewes FC Chairman also wants the council to withdraw. We will let you know what happens...

  FALMER MARCH TODAY...

  Archived from: Monday, 27th September 2004 .

The Falmer march is due to get underway from Madeira Drive at 5:30pm, proceeding along the seafront on Kings Road to the Brighton Centre. A few brief speeches will then be made at around 6pm, before heading back to Madeira Drive. It has important that fans complete both legs of the march, which should be over by 6:45pm.

Blair is reported to have said earlier today that he has seen our determination for the new stadium, and is delighted that the club has done well over the last four years. However, he also says that he cannot comment on the enquiry, and any information would have to come from Prescott.

Labour are holding their conference at the Brighton Centre all week, and a number of marches are planned, including ours taking place in just over two hours. Everyone, including fans, players and everyone in Brighton who supports the plans for a new stadium will this evening unite to show that we need a new stadium.

Other guests that will be joining the march include McGhee and the board at the club, as well as ex manager Micky Adams.

We will have a report from the march, and if you would like to comment, please contact us. You can also send in any pictures to falmer@bhafc.cjb.net. 

  FANTASTIC - FALMER MARCH...

  Archived from: Tuesday, 28th September 2004 .

Image taken by:

Grant Rooney

It is thought that between 8,000 and 10,000 people went on the Falmer march on Monday afternoon - an amazing number of fans who support the campaign and were able to turn up on a Monday night. 

The area was turned blue and white, with shirts, flags and banners all in the name of Falmer. The march started as expected at Madeira Drive at 5.30, let by a group of  disabled supporters. It was just like being back at Cardiff for the playoff final in May, and Dick Knight was exceptionally happy with the number of people who turned up to show their support. Hopefully, Prescott was also amazed by the numbers who turned up - not just from Brighton, but all the other clubs around the country including Wolves, Plymouth, West Ham, and even our favorite club Palace!

Knight was not the only person from the club to turn up. McGhee and the players all came out in support, and joined the players in the march as expected. Micky Adams was also their in the crowd, explaining that one of the reasons he left was because of the poor facilities that we currently have to put up with. He believes that we could have filled a 25,000 seater stadium for many of our matches when we won the third division with him.

The march was covered by many local and national news stations, including ITV, Meridian, BBC and South Today. The South East programme however recons that only around 2,000 fans turned up. Information was not just confined to the TV however, and the topic was also being discussed on popular radio stations such as Talk Sport and Five Live. News is also expected to be covered in today's newspapers.

Many fans are thanking Paul Samrah, Tim Carder and other members of the Falmer For All Campaign Team for arranging such a successful march. Well done to everyone who turned up - you have made a difference...

If you would like to comment on this story, please contact us. You can also send in any pictures to falmer@bhafc.cjb.net.