When was your first game? What was the score? What can you remember about the game?
My first game was at Peterborough in League One on 30th October 2010. I had recently got into football because of two things - the World Cup and wanting to impress the boy I fancied! He rejected me but I discovered a love of football. I remember shouting on the terraces, spending an hour pre-match coating myself in face paint and choosing my blue hair clips to represent the club. We won 3-0.
Who was your first Albion idol?
An underrated legend, Ashley Barnes. He never really received the recognition he deserved at Brighton, despite being a critical part of the strike force that led us to the Championship. My mum picked him as my favourite player on Gully’s Gang, because he was the only player she had heard of. I met him at Young Seagulls’ Christmas parties multiple times and even ran a Facebook fan page! The final time I met him I told him he was my favourite player and about the fan page. A week later he transferred to Burnley. Ouch.
What is your favourite Albion game and why?
It’s hard to pick one. Wigan was incredible, when we got promoted, but the actual game was a nail-biter and the glory that came at full-time was all that is really memorable. Palace, where we won 3-1 with ten men. That was an incredible game. The atmosphere was electric and the players all played their boots off. My first ever game at Peterborough is a close contender too.
Which season stands out as your favourite?
The season we got promoted to the Premier League. The atmosphere was so positive and every game felt like a possible win. I remember being in disbelief for days when we actually achieved it. It was euphoric.
Which are your favourite Albion home and away shirts?
I really love this season’s home kit, with the black smaller stripes on the blue stripes. It looks so smart. Away is a lot harder, but I did love the fluorescent green and black one from a few seasons ago, with Brighton and Hove Jobs on the front. I loved the identity it gave us. You could tell it was a Brighton shirt straight off, because it said so on the front.
What is your all-time Albion XI?
4-4-2: Ryan, Bridge, Upson, Dunk, Bruno, Propper, Bridcutt, Jahanbakhsh, Knockaert, Barnes, Murray.