It is 26 years to the day when Brighton and Hove Albion drew 1-1 with Hereford at Edgar Street and preserved their Football League status.
If Albion had dropped out of the league, they could have easily have become extinct.
Instead, today, the Seagulls find themselves on the verge of European football after a remarkable story of recovery and renewal.
And while there are undoubtedly more causes for celebration, here are five reasons to be grateful 26 years on …
1) Tony Bloom and Dick Knight invested in the club. Knight stepped up it looked like no one else was interested back in 1997, ensuring the Albion could continue to function. Bloom’s remarkable investment funded the building of the Amex Stadium at Falmer.
2) Dick Knight and Martin Perry and their tenacious pursuit of the Falmer stadium dream – and those who walked, marched, demonstrated and wrote countless campaigning letters of support.
3 Robbie Reinelt always – no Amex, no League 1 and 2 Championships, no Premier League, no Manchester United at home tomorrow. Without Robbie Reinelt the Albion would not be the force they are today. A deserved mention also goes to Mark Ormerod whose crucial save from Tony Agana was just as vital – and Brighton-born players Stuart Tuck and Kerry Mayo who were solid at the back, despite Mayo’s own goal.
4) Even to Neale Barry, the referee at Hereford, who officiated calmly and fairly throughout. Barry was the third choice of referee that week. Andy D’Urso, then an upcoming official, was allocated the match from an unnamed official but deemed too inexperienced and replaced by Barry, then Premier League referee, just 48 hours before kick-off.
5) The current administrators and directors of the Albion who continue to steer the club towards the top of the Premier League and potentially European competition.
