Whitehawk FC have been given permission to use Withdean Stadium for two years from next season.
They will play their home games there once Brighton and Hove Albion have moved to the club’s new stadium at Falmer at the end of June.
The temporary permission was granted by Brighton and Hove City Council cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism, Councillor David Smith.
Councillor Smith emphasised that the council wanted to Withdean to return to being an athletics stadium.
But Whitehawk FC will be able to use the ground while their own – at East Brighton Park – is upgraded now that the club is in the Ryman League Division One South.
Whitehawk still need planning permission for the improvements.
Albion will continue to use Withdean for some reserves and women’s team fixtures but the club’s youth team will remain based at Sussex University.
Out of the frying pan into the fire .. I bet the good people of Withdean are miffed ..
Whitehawks gates at East Brighton park are usually small and i can’t see things improving when their small band of loyal supporters have to trek right across town to Withdean !
I don’t think a crowd of 200 people will cause too much distress to the local folk…
Even 200 people can cause a lot of stress, if they want to. We were glad that Albion moved and now we will most likely have to put up with more problems caused by the football hooligans ….
We tried it with Withdean FC and it didn’t work!
As a fan of Maidstone United (who could potentially come to Withdean next year I find the original comments a bit pathetic. We will bring one of the larger crowds (if we come) and I have seen very little bother in 15 years of following my club in non-league. All the bother I have ever seen (all isolated incidents involving casual followers) has been in the ground so unless the local people are coming to the ground then the likelihood of problems is virtually zero. Of course the local people will still be complaining that the 100 extra cars are a problem etc notwithstanding that they will be happy to park wherever when they go to places. Sad NIMBYs if they think Ryman 1 South football sides are a problem.
come on whitehawk we love you