Sadlad's Away Day Preview Brighton Hove Albion 2009/10

So here we go again folks, after what seems an endless wait we're back up and running with another season upon us and we kick off our travels with the journey down to the Withdean Stadium, the temporary home of Brighton And Hove Albion on Saturday, full of hope that 2009/10 will be a better season than last.

Since the Seagulls left the Goldstone Ground in 1997 they spent two years ground sharing with Gillingham before they returned back to the town at the Withdean. There are plans to move into a new stadium in the future. Away fans are housed in the West Stand which is a temporary structure and uncovered. Let's hope that the weather is kinder to the Saddlers supporters than the opening away fixture last season at Yeovil when everyone got soaked to the skin!

Away fans are allowed to drink at the Sportsman which is situated behind the North Stand. The club operates a park and ride scheme which is included in the coast of the matchday ticket (£20).

The stadium has a crowd limit of 8.850 and and the club got close to this figure when 8,691 turned up for the visit of Leeds in 2007. Brighton's manager Russell Slade deserves credit for doing 'The Great Escape' in keeping the Albion in League One and there was a big turn over of players in the summer months.

Ex Saddler Mark Wright was signed from MK Dons and other new arrivals Gary Dicker, James Tunnicliffe,Andrew Crofts, Graeme Smith, Liam Dickenson and Matt Thornhill have all been added but one player who failed to impress enough to offer a contract to was Michael Ricketts.

Last season Walsall sprung a suprise in beating Brighton with just nine men. Let's hope this time around we keep all eleven on the pitch and retun home with three points to get the new season off to a great start.