Brighton and Crystal Palace: the rise of a rivalry separated by 39 miles

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The Unlikely Rivalry: Brighton and Crystal Palace - A History Fuelled by Managerial Feuds and Fan Antics

This briefing document examines the origins and key moments of the football rivalry between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace, as detailed in the article "Brighton and Crystal Palace: the rise of a rivalry separated by 39 miles".

Key Themes:

• Origins Rooted in Managerial Conflict: The rivalry isn't geographic, as the clubs are 39 miles apart. It stems from the personal tension between former Tottenham teammates and later managers, Alan Mullery (Brighton) and Terry Venables (Palace), whose competitive encounters in the 1970s laid the groundwork for the feud.
• Fan Culture and Nicknames: The rivalry is further fuelled by fan behaviour, including chants, clashes, and the adoption of team nicknames. Brighton fans coined "Seagulls" in response to Palace's newly adopted "Eagles," adding a symbolic layer to the competition.
• Memorable Matches and Controversies: Several on-pitch events cemented the rivalry in fan memory. The infamous "Challis of the Palace" FA Cup tie in 1976, rife with disallowed goals and contentious refereeing decisions, solidified the bitterness between the clubs. A bizarre 1989 match featuring five penalties in 27 minutes added another layer of absurdity and folklore.
• Poo-gate and Modern Resurgence: After a period of dormancy, the rivalry reignited in the 2012/13 Championship playoff semi-final, fuelled by the infamous "Poo-gate" incident. The alleged smearing of human excrement in the Palace dressing room, attributed by some to Brighton, added a layer of bizarre animosity to the competition.
• Beyond Animosity: Despite the fierce rivalry, there's a mutual respect and acknowledgement of the need for the other. As one Palace fan put it: "We are like two brothers that hate each other but love each other at the same time. A superhero needs a villain, and a villain needs a superhero." The annual Robert Eaton Memorial match, a charity game played by fans and ex-players from both sides, exemplifies this underlying camaraderie.

Most Important Ideas/Facts:

• Mullery's infamous V-sign: After a contentious FA Cup loss to Palace in 1976, Mullery was fined for swearing and making obscene gestures towards Palace fans, an image that remains iconic for Brighton supporters.
• "Eagles vs. Seagulls": The adoption of these rhyming bird mascots added a symbolic element to the rivalry.
• Five-penalty game: The 1989 match featuring five penalties in 27 minutes solidified the rivalry's reputation for bizarre and memorable encounters.
• "Poo-gate": This 2013 incident, involving the alleged smearing of feces in the Palace dressing room, encapsulates the absurd and often childish nature of the rivalry.
• Robert Eaton Memorial Match: This annual charity event highlights the underlying respect and camaraderie between the two sets of fans.

Quotes:

• "A chap there [in the stands], I’d like to meet him again actually, he was up there and he poured a hot coffee all over my head." - Alan Mullery on the 1976 FA Cup tie.
• "Someone had a poo all outside the toilets, over and around the toilets."

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