Home and Away | Seagulls seek to ruffle feathers of Premier League’s high-fliers on long-awaited return to top flight
Why the return to the big-time wasn’t all one Brighton fan had hoped it would be when it finally happened
When the dream came true after 34 years, Brighton’s return to top-flight football quickly turned to a nightmare for life-long fan Kevin Tate.
At the final whistle against Wigan, a 2-1 win which sealed Brighton’s promotion to the English Premier League, Kevin’s 12-year-old son ignored pleas to stay put and instead legged it over the seats and down the terraces to join the delirious pitch invasion – a merry mob that debagged some of the Gulls players.
“There were hundreds of 12-year-old kids all wearing Brighton shirts, so I lost Riley for an hour and went out of my mind, so could not really enjoy the experience,” said the veteran season-ticket holder who, you’ll be pleased to learn, was able to celebrate later that night after finally being reunited with his son on the Amex’s happy turf thanks to the stewards rounding up the youth.
These stalwart custodians in high-viz attire will be among those rewarded for making Brighton such a family-oriented club. From manager Chris Hughton and his squad to the 800 casual match-day staff to the full-time tea lady – all will share in up to a 20 per cent performance bonus in their next wage packet thanks to the inclusive scheme devised by the board to incentivise the entire workforce.
How this carrot worked: Brighton’s 28 wins so far this season are more than Premier League basement club Sunderland fans have seen in three years.
