Programme Archive: 2004/05

The next instalment of Brighton & Hove Albion programmes are available on the Programme Archive, as we take a look back at the 2004/05 Championship season, which saw the Seagulls escape relegation on the final day.

It was a tough opening to the campaign for Mark McGhee’s team, as they went four league matches without victory, but back-to-back wins over Preston North End and Leicester City set them on their way.

In fact, Albion’s opening six victories, which came between August and December, were all 1-0 scorelines - one of which was a memorable success at West Ham United, where Guy Butters scored the winner.

The closely-contested matches continued after Christmas, with Albion’s following six victories all coming by a one-goal margin, before the final-day draw with Ipswich Town which saw the Seagulls survive.

Programme-wise, the 23 league games were joined by one fixture in the Carling Cup against Bristol Rovers.

The Seagulls came up against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup, and all the action was covered in the Nottingham Forest programme.

As the fight for Falmer rumbled on, the first seafront march took place and this event was covered in the Sheffield United programme, as thousands of fans flocked to Brighton seafront.

Adam Virgo, who scored the all-important goal against Ipswich, won the club’s Player of the Season award, and this was celebrated in that programme with a poster across the centre pages.

Click here to visit the Programme Archive.