Brighton & Hove Albion have brought forward their festive fixture against Millwall to Tuesday 18th December, due to a lack of public transport availability on Boxing Day and concerns over travel to and from the match for fans of both clubs.

 

More than 75% of fans going to the Amex travel via train or bus, and the lack of public transport available on the 26th December, meant major concerns that 26,500 spectators could travel safely, to and from the stadium.

 

Brighton sought permission from the Football League, and Albion chief executive Paul Barber commented, “Boxing Day is one of the key fixtures in the football calendar and ideally we wanted to stage the traditional festive fixture on the 26th.

 

However following discussions with the Football League and our safety advisory group – including the local police, fire and ambulance services – it was clear that for a stadium which relies so heavily on public transport it would have been impossible to be able to guarantee the safe and convenient movement of 26,000-plus spectators.

On behalf of the club, I would like to thank the Football League and Millwall, both of whom have been extremely helpful in reaching this agreement and for the support of our safety advisory group.”

 

Barber also confirmed, Albion will be working with the Football League to attempt ensure that future Boxing Day fixtures can be staged at the Amex.

Edited December 18, 201213 yr by MalcolmW

Strong talk Arsenal v Hammers will be off.

Strong talk Arsenal v Hammers will be off.

Because Allardyce can't raise a team before the transfer window?

no because greedy tube drivers want more money...

just use cars ffs

 

it'll be dead in london on boxing day

 

its a fcuking cop out

at a push thay could walk it

Didnt Arsenal have their game called off last boxing day as the steps outside the ground we frozen??

If our Boxing Day game got called off for these reasons I would be fuming.

I bet Brighton thought Millwall fans in town Boxing Day don't fancy that, lets get them down midweek, any how good result for us a draw.

We don't have trains.

Didnt Arsenal have their game called off last boxing day as the steps outside the ground we frozen??

 

that was their game with us

 

think theyve had other games called off cos of tube works/station closures

I bet Brighton thought Millwall fans in town Boxing Day don't fancy that, lets get them down midweek, any how good result for us a draw.

 

Each Saturday for many seasons I've gone down the list of fixtures (in Bolton's division) to decide what result I would prefer.

In the PL days there was a fine balance, wanting some teams to lose even if they were playing opponents I dislike.

But nowadays it's almost not worth bothering as I want every non-Bolton match to be a draw (thus forfeiting 1 point).