BRIGHTON AND Hove Albion are still waiting to discover whether they add the Championship title to their promotion success.

Defeat at Norwich on Friday meant the celebrations had to go on hold.

However long-term Albion fans are relishing the prospect of playing in the Premier League next season, particularly in the light of the club’s struggles over the past 20 years.

Many have spoken of the despair when the Albion left the Goldstone ground in 1997 and home games had to be played at Gillingham.

The moment when the club almost found itself sinking out of the football league altogether was also remembered.

It was only a vital goal against Hereford that saved them from relegation into the Conference.

It was widely believed this would have led to the club being folded altogether, particularly as it no longer had its own home ground.

From that point the fans banded together and waged a long-running campaign to get the club a new stadium at Falmer, with crucial support from people like Dick Knight and later Tony Bloom.

Vice chairwoman of Albion’s official supporters club Liz Costa said: “I take the supporters’ club to all the matches and there are going to be a lot of new experiences and new grounds to see.

“We could be playing league games at Wembley and we’ll be having local derbies with Southampton and Bournemouth.”

Lifelong Albion fan Brett Mendoza said: “To have come from a point where at one stage we were the 92nd worst team out of 92 and to get to where we are now is amazing.

“It will be weird seeing some of the best players in the world playing at the Albion in an actual league match instead of a pre-season friendly.”

Former TV presenter Des Lynam, who lives near Littlehampton, said: “The club have been looking good all season and it is great to see them achieve this.

“I was there when they last went up to the old first division and I remember them having to deal with the increased level of difficulty and the pressures of that.

“The standard is so much higher.”

LONG-TERM FAN BRETT MENDOZA

“I WENT to my first game in 1987 and I remember being a mascot at a match at the Goldstone in 1991.

“I took part in the protest marches and signed the petitions as we campaigned for the new ground at Falmer.

“To have come from a point where at one stage we were the 92nd worst team out of 92 and to get to where we are now is amazing.

“The first game that was played at the Amex was the most memorable for me.

“We had waited 14 years for it to happen.It wasn’t until well into extra time before we scored against Doncaster to win. It was a fairytale finish “It will be weird seeing some of the best players in the world playing at the Albion in an actual league match instead of a pre-season friendly.

“I have now seen Brighton play in all four divisions and not many people can say that.

“I thought last season was the best the club had ever played but we have definitely topped that this season.”

“They said we would bottle it again this year but who’s laughing now?”

DEVOTED SUPPORTER LIZ COSTA

“I STARTED supporting Brighton when I was at boarding school in Worthing.

“I was living abroad in the early 1969s and then I came back and settled in Sussex and Brighton was there.

“The lowest point for me as a fan was the loss of the Goldstone ground and also the potential loss of the club itself.

“Relegations and promotions happen all the time in football but this was different for us.

“We needed a point at Hereford in order to stay in the football league.

“If we had lost the game we would have lost the business and the club would have folded because there was no suitable ground available.

“I was close friends with fellow Albion campaigner Sarah Watts who died in 2015.

“We worked very closely together fight homophobic abuse.

“She would have been watching every ball kicked during this season and will be keeping an eye on things in the Premier League as well.

“There are a lot of new experiences and new grounds to see now and there will be less distances to travel for us as well.”

EX-COMMENTATOR PETER BRACKLEY

“LOOKING back over the last 20 years the club has been through so much and I think that is why this promotion means so much to so many people now.

“Everyone remembers all those who did what they could to help the club and all the supporters.

“I remember when we were at the Withdean ground and the boardroom was in a temporary building.

“It’s hard to believe that when you see how things are now.

My son is a Manchester United fan and I am looking forward seeing some great players and matches next season.

“Every game is going to be a big game. The standard is going to be really high and there will be a massive atmosphere.

“It is a great time for the club at the moment and they have done the whole city proud.”

SPORTS PRESENTER DES LYNAM

“I WAS there last Monday and for the last two or three games.

“The club have been looking good all season and it is great to see them achieve this.

“I was there when they last went up to the old first division and I remember them having to deal with the increased level of difficulty.

“The standard is so much higher and they are going to notice that in the Premier League.

“Two of my closest friends are Tottenham fans and so I’m really looking forward to seeing Spurs against Albion home and away.

“I’ve been involved with the club since I was a boy and was always at the matches.

I couldn’t get to go to them so often when I was doing Grandstand and Match of the Day but in later years I’ve been able to see more.

“The years at the Withdean Stadium stick out in my mind and we should also remember and acknowledge Dick Knight, without whom we might not even have a club.

“I am absolutely delighted for the Albion and I know the club is currently in very good hands.”

ACTOR MARK BRAILSFORD

MARK Brailsford is a long-term Albion fan and artistic director of Brighton-based comedy company The Treason Show.

He said: “My dad took me to my first game and things simply went from there.

“I have so many memories of the Albion.

“I remember the last few games at the Goldstone in 1997.

“Even now I am always cross when I read reports saying the club sold the ground because the reality is the ground was sold from under the club.

“That game at Hereford when we almost left the league also springs to mind and we realised then how important it was that fans kept together.

“People like Dick Knight were instrumental during this period and then in later years we had people like Tony Bloom coming in.

“As a long-term fan I’m looking forward to saying no to mates who are supporters of clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal asking me if I can get them tickets to an Albion game.

“This is all about being an Albion fan and the club being in the Premier League. These are happy days.”

PHOTOGRAPHER SIMON DACK

“THE first big thing to happen when I started to cover the Albion for The Argus was the 1983 FA Cup Final.

“Unfortunately things then began to go on a downward spiral from there.

“The game that really sticks in my mind as the biggest nail biter was the one at Hereford where they got the goal that managed to keep them in the league.

“There has been a lot of good stuff since – winning the play off, going into the Championship and getting the new stadium.

“This has been a fantastic season and the side has been playing some of the best football I can remember.

“Last season there were too many draws but now they are consistently winning.

“Spurs are my childhood team so I have some mixed feelings at seeing them play Albion.

“They have played them before and Spurs have always come out on top but we will see.

“The Palace match is also one that may have an extra edge.

“It is also good to see three South Coast teams in the Premier League.”

“I WENT to my first game in 1987 and I remember being a mascot at a match at the Goldstone in 1991.

“I took part in the protest marches and signed the petitions as we campaigned for the new ground at Falmer.

“To have come from a point where at one stage we were the 92nd worst team out of 92 and to get to where we are now is amazing.

“The first game that was played at the Amex was the most memorable for me.

“We had waited 14 years for it to happen.It wasn’t until well into extra time before we scored against Doncaster to win. It was a fairytale finish “It will be weird seeing some of the best players in the world playing at the Albion in an actual league match instead of a pre-season friendly.

“I have now seen Brighton play in all four divisions and not many people can say that.

“I thought last season was the best the club had ever played but we have definitely topped that this season.”

“They said we would bottle it again this year but who’s laughing now?”