The first section of the Falmer stadium arch began to be hoisted into position this afternoon.
Building work at the long-awaited 22,500 seater stadium for Brighton and Hove Albion finally started in December 2008 after years of planning wrangles.
It is due to open next year, and its construction reached a milestone with the appearance of one of the two arches which will loom over the finished building.
Fans watching the arch go up on the official Falmer webcam were in jubilant mood. One, posting on North Stand Chat as strings said: “That photo just gave me the biggest smile I’ve had all day. Fan-ruddy-tastic!”
Our Albion reporter Tim Hodges said: “The raising of the Falmer Arch is highly significant for Albion fans as it signifies how fast we are approaching the end of homelessness.
“The arch will be able to be seen far and wide and will be held up almost as a pinnacle of a new era for Brighton and Hove Albion and Sussex sport in general.”
Click on play on the YouTube video below to see a timelapse of the construction from July to December last year.
An artist’s impression of how the finished stadium will look
