The Committee
Nigel Summers
Chairman
Contact: chairman@bhasc.com
On 20th September 1969 Nigel was living in Hassocks when his father decided to take him to his first football match - at the Goldstone Ground. Maybe it was the attraction of the visit of Barrow. Following a 2-0 home win, this glory hunter was well and truly on the bandwagon and Brighton was his team.
Nigel has no idea how many matches he has been to in the past fifty years, but has seen them play at almost 100 grounds and met some great people in some extraordinary times watching The Albion in all four Divisions.
To celebrate fifty years following the Albion, Nigel was proud to be duly elected as the Chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion Supporter’s Club..
His aims for the year are
✔ to increase the number of Albion fans joining the Supporter’s Club
✔ to enhance the benefits of membership
✔ to modernise the way we communicate with members and non members alike.
Taking a leaf out of Tony Bloom’s book, his ambition is to achieve all three.
Liz Costa
Coaches and
Media representative
Contact: lizziecosta@virginmedia.com
I have been Vice Chairman to at least 6 Chairmen - no desire to be boss. Member of SC since 1984, been running coaches on behalf of SC since David Bellotti cancelled the coaches to Fulham without advising the passengers who had already paid! First official SC Coaches went to Sudbury for the FA Cup match and we have not missed a first team away game since.
Had "privileged" upbringing going to private boarding school followed by 2 years living in Rome. Later discovered this was a front to hide the fact that the woman who had "brought me up" was actually my step-mother ! Found real Mum when I was 36 and had 15 glorious years getting to know her before she died in Lanzarote 15 years ago.
My first football match saw the late, great, John Charles play his debut match for Roma in 1962 - and I was hooked! First England game at Wembley saw an Albion favourite, Sergei Gotsmanov playing for Russia - English fans on the terrace burned programmes, scarves and hats in disgust at the English performance! [Nothing changes there, does it!]
I understand a distant relative was the infamous Thomas Paine who lived for a while in Lewes before going to America - most famously known for his book The Rights of Man that played a big part in the American Revolution! [See, always been rebels in my family!].
Have two children [Katy and Graeme] and two magnificent grandchildren [Joe and Daisy]. Oh, and I have been married twice - the first divorce should have been great fun. My ex wanted to sue the Albion for Alienation of Affection, jointly and severally!
Have been living happily with John Lees [BBC Sussex sport commentator] since 1986.
Tim Carder
Secretary
Contact: secretary@bhasc.com
John Kirkland
Membership &
Treasurer
Contact: membership@bhasc.com
Retired Chartered Quantity Surveyor; born in Ayrshire but has knocked about the World a bit over the years; moved to Sussex in 1988, working at Gatwick.
At heart an Ayr United supporter but got into BHA in 1990/91 Season including going to Play-off Final at Wembley v Notts County; Season Ticket holder since 1992/93 including Gillingham years; highs including back-to-back promotions and Cardiff Play-off Final success; lows including various relegations, leaving Goldstone and almost being relegated from Football League; was at Hereford for draw that saved our bacon.
Joined Supporters Club in 1993; on Committee from 1994; Membership Secretary since 1999 taking over from Tony Ford; Treasurer since 2011 following the resignation of Sarah Turner.
Anthony Foster
Joined the Supporters Club in 1993, the Committee in 1994, became Chairman in 1996 for 2 years (1996/97 last season at the Goldstone and 1997/98 first season at Gillingham).
Born in Hove almost under the floodlights of the Goldstone Ground.
My first game was on my ninth birthday 7 March 1970 when we beat Barnsley 2-0. I was hooked and soon returned on the 27 March 1970 for our victory over Reading 2-1. I have been going to games ever since, rarely missing a home game and attending 50% away. A season ticket holder since 1992/93 and an ex-fanzine writer.
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor by Profession worked primarily in Procurement in the Transport Sector.
Jan Merritt
Internet Officer
Contact:
I've supported Brighton & Hove Albion for a long time - ever since I was a child. I lived in Hove at the time and my father and my best friend's father used to walk to the Goldstone Ground. We could hear the cheering from our house. It sounded exciting and we asked to go with them the next time there was a home match. I loved it and have been a fan ever since. Not for me the Premiership (or 1st Division as it was at the time.) As soon as they were old enough my children followed me in supporting the Albion and were members of the Junior Seagulls. I'm glad to say neither of them succumbed to peer pressure to support the more fashionable Premiership teams. There have been great times, like getting to the Cup Final in 1983, and winning the play-offs. Sadly there were also the turbulent years when we lost my beloved Goldstone Ground and the club nearly died. I'm so excited that, after a long fight, we are now close to moving to our new stadium at Falmer. It's literally a dream come true! I think we're en route to going places!
David Harrison
Brian Gillingham
Linda Schofield
History of the Supporters' Club
The Supporters' Club has had several incarnations over the years. It was one of the founding members of the National Federation of Football Supporters' Clubs back in the late 1920's, and the foundations for the club's existence have always been to try to meet the needs of the Brighton supporter AND to help the football club where appropriate.© Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters' Club 2011-16
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