Brighton & Hove Albion 1907-08 Season

Brighton & Hove Albion 1907-08 Season Overview

Following the highs of a record-breaking third place Southern League Division One finish in the 1906-07 season, the 1907-08 campaign was something of a disappointment for Brighton & Hove Albion. They laboured their way to 17^th spot in the table, a result of the away form which had underpinned the last year’s success completely deserting them.

Just eight points were taken on the road and only 17 goals scored in 19 games. That was in stark contrast to the 23 points that the Albion harvested away from home the previous season. It was a completely different story at the Goldstone where only five defeats were recorded from 29 games in all competitions.

Two of those competitions were new to Brighton for the 1907-08 season. The club decided to enter the Western League for midweek football in favour of the United League. They enjoyed a decent enough campaign in Division One Section A, finishing back in third three points behind champions Southampton. Again, had their away form been better than they might have overhauled the Saints. Just one game was won away from the Goldstone in the Western League, a 3-2 success at Queens Park Rangers on Monday 30^th December 1907.

The other new competition was the Southern Professional Charity Cup, a knockout competition held between a selection of the south’s Southern League and Football League clubs. Brighton’s involvement was short lived in terms of games, if not time. They eliminated QPR 3-1 at the Goldstone in the first round on Monday 9^th September 1907 before crashing out 2-1 to West Ham United in a second round second replay at neutral Stamford Bridge on Monday 30^th March 1908 – just the six months after their opening first round tie.

After defeating Norwich City 2-1 at Newmarket Road on the opening day of the Southern League campaign on Saturday 7^th September 1907, Brighton didn’t win again in the main competition until a 1-0 home win against Luton Town on November 9^th 1907. By that point, the Albion were 17^th in the table and they only climbed out of the bottom seven on one occasion between then and the end of the season, hitting 12th after a 2-0 Goldstone victory over Millwall on Saturday 4^th April 1908. There were still seven games left after the Lions game, but Brighton drew just two and lost five, including a last day of the campaign 3-0 hammering against relegated Leyton.

There was at least plenty to smile about in the FA Cup. Brighton were paired with two-time Football League champions and one-time FA Cup winners Preston North End. PNE were clear favourites to swat aside Brighton at the Goldstone Ground in their first round meeting on Saturday 11^th January 1908 but the Albion had other ideas, holding the famous Preston to a 1-1 draw with Jack Hall on target.

The replay at Deepdale on Thursday 16^th January 1908 was abandoned due to bad light with eight minutes of extra time remaining and Brighton leading 2-1 through goals from Dick Joynes and Hall. Controversially, it was decided that the game should be declared a 1-1 draw in line with the score at the end of 90 minutes, sparing Preston the embarrassment of losing to Southern League opposition.

A second replay was convened for Monday 20^th January 1908 at neutral Stamford Bridge. 20,000 supporters turned out in West London to see Dick Wombwell score the only goal to give Brighton a 1-0 win. The team were swamped by enthusiastic supporters on their return to Brighton Station afterwards with the prize of a second round trip to Anfield to face the mighty Liverpool secured.

Only the most ardent Brighton fans gave their side a chance going to Merseyside. The 36,000 packed into Anfield on Saturday 1^st February 1908 were left astounded when Hall gave the visitors a half time lead from the penalty spot. The Albion were 15 minutes away from one of the biggest FA Cup upsets of the time when England international Jack Cox levelled things up, the 1-1 draw bringing Liverpool back to Hove for a replay five days later.

A record crowd of 12,000 packed into the Goldstone on Wednesday 5^th February 1908. Liverpool were dominant and ended up running out 3-0 winners, but the result wasn’t secured until two goals late in the day.

Brighton’s FA Cup exploits weren’t without consequence. In April, manager Frank Scott-Walford was headhunted by Football League outfit Leeds City to become their new boss. Scott-Walford duly made the move to Elland Road with Brighton appointing former Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace manager Jack Robson in his place.

Hall’s goal scoring record had also attracted attention and he was the subject of a £700 joint bid from Middlesbrough for both his and Harry Kent’s services . Hall departed for Ayresome Park in April after registering 26 goals to finish top scorer for the second season running.