Ross Clarke and Matt Lorenzo’s documentary is one that I have been itching to see since I first heard about it as it tells the story of the most turbulent period in the history of the football club I have supported since I was a boy. On Boxing Day 1977, I attended my first ever match at The Goldstone Ground, a 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers in the old second division. Twenty years later, Brighton and Hove Albion were on the verge of extinction. Their ground had been sold to developers by unscrupulous owners headed by the arrogant Bill Archer and conniving David Bellotti.
Amidst fan protests and campaigns, the team was adrift at the bottom of the football league. It seemed certain they would get relegated, and, with nowhere to play, go out of business. The appointment of a new manager, Steve Gritt, saw a remarkable resurgence of form, resulting in them just needing to draw their last game of the season, at Hereford, to stay in the league. That was achieved, just, and in the 25 years or so that followed, benevolent owners took control, a new stadium has been built and Brighton have climbed to the top half of the Premier League.
This documentary covers that period. Having been at so many of the games in the dark days, including at Edgar Street, Hereford, took part in the marches and other protests, it feels very personal to me, so it is hard to give a dispassionate review, so I will not pretend that is what I am doing.
Clarke and Lorenzo piece together the story of the club moving from its worst days to their first European qualification really well. All the key events are covered and they were able to get access to almost all the most important players.
The highpoint is the section covering their miraculous escape from relegation in 1997, and a whole documentary could be made about that period. The near misses and eventual promotion to the Premier League are covered in depth, though, personally speaking, they do not have the same emotional resonance. It is only in the last 15 or 20 minutes that the film lapses into hagiography with too much time spent on extolling the virtues of then manager Roberto de Zerbi, who would end up leaving shortly afterwards.
Whilst I cannot claim to have learnt anything new but this is a treat for those fans who suffered back in the 90s.
Stand or Fall: The Remarkable Rise of Brighton and Hove Albion is occasionally screened in the Brighton area, can be rented on the usual services and is also available on DVD and Blu Ray.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10