Steve Gritt has one indelible memory of 26 years ago today – when Albion beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 in the last match at the Goldstone.
On a historic and emotional afternoon, at the end of a tumultuous two-year period in Albion's history, manager Gritt had walked down the tunnel for the last time shortly after 6pm.
“There was this lovely old bath in the changing rooms and I remember sitting in there after the game and all I could hear was banging and thumping as people dismantled seats and things,” said Steve.
“I walked out onto the pitch and basically there was nothing left. There were very few seats left, the big clocks in the corners had gone, along with most of the pitch, and even the pitch-side hoardings had disappeared. I probably should have taken something for myself, but that day was for the supporters, God knows how long some of them had followed the club.”
The story of the demise of the Goldstone had begun in July 1995 when the club's plans to sell the ground and share with Portsmouth were revealed, after a tip-off from fanzine editor Ian Hart to the Evening Argus.
In the next two years Albion fans mounted fierce protests against Bill Archer, David Bellotti and the board of directors. A year before the Goldstone's last stand Dick Knight had emerged as a potential saviour but it took several more months, against a backdrop of pitch invasions and other protests, before a sale was agreed for Knight to take over just a few days before the Goldstone's last game.
All the time Albion's fortunes on the pitch were plummeting, but galvanised by the fans results slowly improved, although they were still bottom of the Third Division (now League 2) going into the final two games of the season. Importantly, they weren't out of touch with Hereford United, who were second from bottom.
The game itself wasn't a classic. Albion striker Ian Baird and Rovers' defender Darren Moore were both sent off after a bust-up in the first half but Albion dominated thereafter and Stuart Storer scored the only goal at the South Stand midway through the second period.
There was more good news emerging from Brisbane Road, where Hereford lost 2-0 to Orient. If Albion could see out the closing minutes they would lift themselves off the bottom and know that their place in the League would be safe if they avoided defeat at Edgar Street a week later.
“The sending-offs opened the game up a bit,” said Gritt. “I was disappointed with Bairdy but I wasn't too disappointed to see their centre-half walking off with him as well. The last 15-20 minutes were really tense but we got the job done.”
Seconds after the final whistle blew fans were back on the pitch. This time there were no appeals over the PA to stay off as supporters grabbed their souvenirs and an extraordinary era in Albion’s history came to an end.
Gritt and the players regrouped on Monday to prepare for Hereford. “There was just one thing. We were hoping to train on the pitch – but half of it had disappeared!”