By Tim Hodges
1) Bobby Zamora – the prodigal son.
Zamora returned to the club he left 12 years previously. And after a slow and measured start he exploded back into his old ways this month with two late winning goals after coming off the bench against Leeds and then at home to Bristol City.
2) Eric Potts – the David Fairclough lookalike
Potts joined Albion from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1977 but had to wait until February 1978 for his big moment. Coming off the bench with Albion 1-0 down at home to Sunderland, Potts scored twice in the last two minutes to give Albion the win that saw them stay with the leaders. The winger had red hair and hailed from Liverpool just like the Reds’ own super-sub David Fairclough. Potts left Albion for Preston in the close season unable to settle in the south.
3) Tony Rougier – the born-again Christian
Rougier came to Albion on loan from Reading in 2003 and scored soon after coming on as sub against Millwall in March that year at Withdean with what proved to be the winning goal. Rougier, who was a member Christians in Sport, is best remembered for his arm-flapping celebration and playing against Albion in the play-off final for Bristol City a year later. Alas his goal did not save the Seagulls from relegation back to League One – or Division Two as it was then called.
4 Fran Sandaza – the bargy Argie
Sandaza scored a couple of times off the bench for Albion but he will be best remembered for his last-minute strike at the Withdean in September 2010 against MK Dons when he barged his way into the six-yard box. The goal sent the Seagulls to the top of League One where they stayed for the remainder of the season.
5) James Virgo – Adam’s brother
Virgo scored the only extra-time golden goal winner in Albion’s history. He came off the bench against Fulham in the Auto Windshields Trophy (or whatever it was called). This was in the dark days of December 1996 when in dire times any Albion goal was celebrated like a last-minute winner in the FA Cup Final (cf Gordon Smith). This Virgo disappeared off the Albion radar soon after while his brother became a Seagulls legend.
6) Robbie Reinelt – saviour of the Albion
Who could forget Robbie Reinelt’s equaliser at Hereford on Saturday 3 May 1997! Arguably the most important goal in Albion history. Only two substitutes were permitted in those days and Reinelt got the nod to take to the pitch over fellow sub Dave Martin. The two clubs were battling to stay in the Football League. What might have been doesn’t bare thinking about.
