THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
27 MINUTES
In 1997 Brighton's Goldstone Ground, their home for 95 years, had been sold to developers. On the final day, away at Hereford, defeat would have dropped them out of the Football League. Robbie Reinelt equalised, 1-1, and they survived on goals scored, then played 70 miles from home for two years.
THE MACHINE
In 2009 a professional gambler and poker champion took over, putting in over £400m of his own money, much of it interest-free. The club buys teenagers nobody is scouting (Caicedo cost £4.5m), develops them and sells them for fortunes.
THE CUSTOMER
Chelsea have bought nearly £300m of Brighton talent: the manager and his staff, Cucurella, Sánchez, Caicedo for a British-record £115m, João Pedro, and this summer top scorer Welbeck.
THE SEASON
Fifth in autumn, 14th after one win in 13, then five wins in six. Brighton finished eighth, their joint-second-best finish, took Europe on goal difference, and finished above tenth-placed Chelsea. Number 8 in THE COUNTDOWN.
MORE FROM THE COUNTDOWN
THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
The argument also lives in the YouTube comments ↗.