1980-81: Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United

[@CARLIN4737]

i loved the Goldstone ground. My old man lived down Neville Road and when i used to visit on school holidays Easter holidays and summer ho;idays i used to go down to the Goldstone ground every day and get the players autographs and watch them train. My old man used to take me to the games when i was younger and ive been Albion all my life. 1987/88 season was my favourite with gary nelson banging in the goals. I went to the Fa cup that season v Arsenal which we lost 2/1 but what a great day. over 26 thousand in the go;dstone that day. I dont ever remember such a huge attendance there ever again. The old man is gone now, But my love for the Albion will always remain.

[@davidyoung6501]

Was absolutely gutted when United sold Ritchie. But, to be fair to Sexton, Birtles was a very exciting addition to the team. Sadly it never worked out for him at Old Trafford. Just one of football's puzzles. But, I would have stuck with Andy. I'm sure that he would have scored a bag full of goals for United.

[@scherben8870]

Clough offered us more than what we'd paid for Birtles before the season was out. We should've snapped his hand off.

[@CARLIN4737]

13 goals in 33 games wasnt bad at all.

[@mrkipling2201]

So we get rid of Andy Ritchie and replace him with Gary birtles. Great work Dave, really great.

[@scherben8870]

Merlin for Thomas; Ritchie for Birtles. Tommy Cavanagh was a big influence in getting rid of Andy Ritchie according to John Doherty.

[@mrkipling2201]

scherben merlin hill for Thomas wasn’t as bad as getting rid of Ritchie for birtles I don’t think but it was still a downgrade definitely. Funny how birtles was substituted in this game and Ritchie scored!! So it had nothing to do with sexton then?? Cavanagh was the docs assistant, he left with the doc didn’t he??

[@scherben8870]

@@mrkipling2201 Sexton kept him on; and he was sacked alongside Sexton in 1981. Ultimately, Sexton was the manager, so the responsibility stops with him.

[@mrkipling2201]

scherben definitely. I didn’t know that he was kept on by sexton. I thought he left with the doc. Ultimately it was the boring football that got sexton the sack. The board wanted to go down the flamboyant route with a manager again, someone similar to the doc. Big Ron fit the bill perfectly.

[@scherben8870]

@@mrkipling2201 Agree 100%. I would've loved that team to have won the league.

[@mrkipling2201]

Such a shame the goldstone ground is no more. Proper old school football ground. Replaced with flats or a supermarket no doubt. Bloody criminal that’s what it is.

[@scherben8870]

It's now a retail park.

[@mrkipling2201]

scherben that just about sums it up for me.

[@bobacrey1068]

Steve Foster. Steve Foster. What a difference you have made.

[@kailashpatel1706]

Steve Foster, headband and all was a seriously good defender who should have been in the England squad a year earlier than he was..(even though they got thumped here...!)

[@winsfordtowncouncil6843]

Extraordinary bad decision to disallow the ‘goal’ from Foster

[@CARLIN4737]

AAAAAAAAAlbion...

[@CARLIN4737]

AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaalbion.