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Snow snookers The Seagulls
HAVE you got your ticket for Albion's FA Cup fourth round match against Aston Villa? (Saturday 23rd January, kick-off 3pm at Villa Park). They are selling fast and Villa Park is definitely the place to be.
Back to the present. White stuff covered Withdean last Saturday. It was a fairly easy decision for the Football League to sanction the postponement. The match against Brentford will be re-arranged.
This was sad because Brighton were on a mini-run of success. Still there were very few games played so our 20th position in League One remains, out of the relegation zone – just!
Albion winger Elliott Bennett is an articulate young player, which is something of a rarity.
Regarding the postponement he said "It has definitely been a frustrating week with the weather. Obviously we've won the last couple of games and we're unbeaten in three, so the feeling is that there is a bit of momentum starting to build up."
Young Bennett is an ideal role model. He does good work in the community working, along with many other Brighton players, with youngsters in local schools!
There has been activity on the transfer front. Albion have signed the 28-year-old Spaniard Inigo Calderon. Gus Poyet knows the player and has signed him up until the end of the season. He says Calderon is and good on the ball. He also could provide options in other positions. We will wait and see if he has strengthened the squad.
Remember Frenchman Seb Carole? He has been training with the Albion since December. He first joined us in 2005 playing 42 matches. He left for Leeds but came back to us, briefly, in January 2009 only to be being released by Russell Slade at the end of the season. He has now joined us for the third time on a week-to-week basis. We remember him as highly skilful and a good crosser of the ball. Could he possibly be an impact player coming off the bench?
Next it has been confirmed that the 19-year-old Arsenal defender Gavin Hoyte has extended his loan spell with Albion to the end of the season.
Poyet likes the young player and says "He is young and there is plenty to come. We want to help him become a Premier League player or top Championship player."
Personally I think the jury is still out on young Hoyte. Is he a better right back than, say, Andrew Whing or Adam Virgo?
And there's more. The hot news is that Poyet has made another signing in the transfer window namely Swansea City defender (another defender - is there a theme here?) Marcos Painter. The 23-year-old played for the Republic of Ireland under-21's and is predominantly a left-back but can play in the centre of defence. He played at Withdean last when Swansea won the League One Trophy in 2008. I suppose we shouldn't hold that against him. But another defender! I am slightly worried that our manager might be considering a 1 – 3 – 6 formation!
One annoying thing about this snowy interlude is the postponement of progress on our Falmer Stadium site. It might have looked pretty but the white stuff did stall the raising of the magnificent arch over the north-east side stand. I for one will be pleased for the temperatures to rise so that the stadium can do likewise.
This Saturday we are away at Walsall – weather permitting! Not quite as attractive as the Villa game!
Finally back to the BIG question of the week "Have you got your ticket?" The tickets became available in tranches with season ticket holders and Gold members getting their applications in first.
On Tuesday the ticket office reported that 4,000 applications had been processed. The club's online ticket system was stretched but has apparently dealt with the majority successfully.
The match at Villa Park is all-ticket for Albion fans and we will have an allocation of around 6,400. I would anticipate tickets being available to almost all who want to go. And what a bargain – adults 10, children 5!
First-time away-game supporters need to register on-line before they can apply for Villa tickets – www.seagulls.co.uk .
I'm sure the blue and white Uruguayan flags, along with all the necessary white and blue gear, can be purchased from the club shop (if not they are missing a trick!).
I hope it is a sell out. 6,400 will be a fantastic number to take from Sussex and the South Coast to see the Seagulls do battle with a top six Premiership side.
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Weather for Horsham
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
