Thousands of football fans cheered the players and manager of Brighton and Hove Albion during a victory parade along the seafront today (Sunday 8 May).
They were celebrating Albion winning promotion from League One as champions in the club’s final season at the Withdean Stadium.
The club was honoured with a civic reception in Hove before the victory parade on open-top buses laid on by Brighton and Hove Buses.
And as the fans greeted the players’ arrival in Madeira Drive, club chairman Tony Bloom announced that Albion would play Tottenham Hotspur in a friendly at the new Amex Community Stadium.
Gus Poyet, Albion’s manager, said: “I would like to thank all supporters on behalf of the team and the club for all of their tremendous support throughout the season.
“We will be working hard through the break to prepare for the Championship next season.” John Barradell, the chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “With the new Amex Stadium and promotion, 2011 will surely go down as one of the greatest years in the Albion’s history.”
The move to the new stadium at Falmer follows 12 years at Withdean and two years based in Gillingham.
Former owners Bill Archer and Greg Stanley sold the club’s former home, the Goldstone Ground, in Hove. It has been turned into a retail park.
Albion drew 1-1 at Notts County in the final match of season yesterday (Saturday 7 May).
