Danny Wilson served the Albion and Luton Town with distinction.
An all-action midfielder and protégé of Brian Clough at first club Nottingham Forest, he made 155 appearances following his move to Sussex in 1983, scoring an impressive 39 goals in the process. It was form that earned a call-up to the Northern Ireland side and, as one of the hottest properties outside the top flight, the 27-year-old signed for the Hatters following the Seagulls’ relegation to Division Three.
At Kenilworth Road, Wilson emerged as an integral figure in the club’s halcyon period of the late 80s, early 90s – his £150,000 price tag proving to be an absolute steal. He would shine at the highest level and play three times for Town at Wembley, the highlight being a late equaliser in a thrilling 3-2 League Cup Final win against Arsenal in 1988.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since for both clubs, Luton dropping into non-league football at one point and Albion almost suffering a similar fate, but on Saturday they will share a Premier League stage for the first time – an occasion that Wilson is looking forward to with some anticipation.
“I love fairytales like this,” he said. “Both clubs have gone through some tough times since I played for them, but it goes to show that with the right people at the top, people who have their club and the fans at heart, anything is possible.
“Who would have thought Luton would be in the Premier League again? It’s a dream come true for them, a fairytale, as I say, for everyone connected with the club, while Tony Bloom and Paul Barber have done absolute miracles at Brighton.
“Tony is fantastic with the way he comes over; he’s very humble, but has a very clear vision, and if you look at the progression of the club since they got promoted to the Premier League, even if you take it back to when they first moved to the Amex, they have made strides as the years have passed.
“That’s down to having the right personnel in place, along with an excellent recruitment policy and some fantastic players. I can only see them getting stronger and stronger and I’m sure the fans are smiling from ear to ear with Europa League football to look forward to as well this season.”
Given the respective stage of their journeys both clubs will have different targets this season, but Wilson says Luton could do worse than follow Albion’s example as they make their first steps back among the game’s elite.
“Teams who have come up recently have stayed up and I’m sure Luton’s staff, club and players will want to do that, like Brighton did.
“Brighton were compact and hard to beat in their first couple of seasons and Luton, I know, are a very stubborn team. They are disciplined, organised brilliantly, while their home form has got to continue to be very good if they’re going to survive.
“Kenilworth Road is not an easy place to play, as I well know, and they’ll upset a few teams that’s for sure. If you can survive, like Brighton have done, and Brentford, who have also been absolutely magnificent, then it gives you a platform and the belief to kick on.”
+ Danny looks back at his time with the Albion and Luton in Saturday’s matchday programme, available on the day at the Amex and online here https://shop.brightonandhovealbion.com/gifts/souvenirs/programmes/
+ His book, I Get Knocked Down but I Get Up Again, is available in all major retailers. Signed copies are also available at www.morganlawrence.co.uk