Brighton & Hove Albion - The Bobby Zamora & Fatboy Slim Chapter
A turning point that launched Brighton & Hove Albion away from football extinction and back on the long path towards the English Premier League - Uniting the city in the process.
Before The AMEX Stadium there was The Withdean.
Return from Exile.
The Withdean Stadium in the winter was unforgiving, if you were lucky and got a seat in the North Stand, which provided the only roof in the stadium, you at least stayed dry. The rest of the athletics track, come semi-permanent stadium provided no protection from the elements that are bestowed on an English seaside city. If you didn’t come with a cold, you would most likely leave with one. But we didn’t care, we were back watching our home team, Brighton & Hove Albion, the Seagulls, in our city, back on our turf and singing our songs.
Brighton spent a reported £2 million turning the Withdean athletics track into a football league approved stadium, adding Lego block type temporary stands to boost the capacity to near 7,000 over the first few seasons. The seated blocks would shake when people were mobilising into place and felt like they would topple over like Jenga towers every time the Albion scored.
Brighton moved into the Withdean at the start of the 1999/2000 season after the successful Bring Home the Albion movement from loyal fans ended 2 years of football extradition in the form of a ground share with Gillingham, where every home match was hosted 75 miles away from the pebbles of Brighton Beach.
Prior to the Gillingham seasons the club had survived a few near extinction events that would of buried most football teams.
The darkest of events cumulated in the Seagulls losing their long serving home, The Goldstone Ground, after then owner and board of directors, sold the stadium to property developers who then flipped the land for what is believed to be £15-20 million profit. The Albion making no money on the transaction. The sort of money that would have been game changing to any Division 3 club.
Hardened fans 30 years on still refuse to use the shops and drive-thru Burger King that now sit on the site of the old Goldstone.
The 1990’s for the seagulls could be mistaken for a parallel universe, a footballing multiverse if you like, compared to today’s perfectly aligned football club.
A club that has structure and identity, with an established common ground between the fans and Chairman Tony Bloom.
The Football Multiverse.
Under the Bloom ownership, the club has been transformed, now boasting a modern progressive style of play, who boldly hire young coaching talent like Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi and latest taxi off the rank Fabian Hürzeler. Playing and training in top class facilities and stadia and fed by a conveyor belt loaded with global talent sourced by a scouting network envied the world over.
This identity and structure has bought stability and success which has allowed the club to challenge the norm and compete in competitions like the Europa League in 2023/24, which saw thousands of travelling Brighton fans witnessing the clubs first ever European away victory against European royalty Ajax, in Amsterdam, playing a style of football, Johann Cruyff would of been proud of.
Up until 2000 the club record fee was between £125,000 -£150,000. Between the years 2020 and 2024 the clubs revenue on player sells was in the hundreds of million pounds, hitting a Premier League record profit of £122.8 million in 2022-23 - Receiving a record fee of £115 million pounds for Moises Caecido in the process.
One thing that has not changed across the multiverse, the constant, is the battle-hardened fans, like my Dad, who have stayed loyal no matter the situation or location of where the Albion ply their trade. The fans loyalty is now being paid back with interest on and off the pitch.
You could write a novel on the ups and downs of Brighton and Hove Albion, the yo-yo club of English Football in the 1990’s and 2000’s. From the shady characters who cost the Albion their home to the fans from clubs as far a breadth as Bayer Leverkusen, whose donations saved the team from becoming Soccer-Dodos. A huge contrast compared to the soaring seagulls we see today. Chapter upon chapter of heart thumping experiences.
In this story however we are going to focus on one pivotal era, a true turning point that helped kick start the football clubs trajectory, from near relegation from the old Division 3 to the top half contenders you now see in the Premier League.
During the 1999/2000 season and under the stewardship of legendary former chairman Dick Knick, a unique combination of individuals came to the forefront. These individuals would become instrumental for the club, spring boarding back-to-back promotions.
Zamora the Scorer is born.
Step forward the two individuals spearheading this particular story. One a hero on the pitch; a relatively unknown player at the time, but soon to be prolific goalscorer by the name of Bobby Zamora.
The other, a club hero who was equally impactful off the pitch; a super fan, supported by his record label, the world renowned DJ, Norman Cook, AKA Fatboy Slim.
In Feb 2000, Brighton were loitering on the bottom half of Division 3 (now League 2), manager at the time, Mickey Adams needed to bring in a goalscorer. His solution was to take a gamble and snap up promising 19 year old forward, Bobby Zamora on a three-month loan deal from Bristol Rovers.
Before joining the seagulls, Zamora had come off the back of another loan spell at Bath City scoring 7 goals in 5 games, early evidence of his eye for a goal.
However, nobody then expected that this young loanee would shape up to be one of the top scoring strikers across the 4 tiers of English football over the course of the next two seasons.
On the 12th Feb 2000, Bobby, wearing his soon to be iconic untucked number 25 shirt, made his debut against Plymouth Argyle.
Bobby scored his first goal in front of a reported 5,500 fans at the Withdean, attacking towards the end of the ground where the hammer throw and shot put nets were still visible. Positioning himself behind the opposition defender, using his strength he got his head on a cross inside the 6 yard box, heading the ball down into the ground and under the stranded goalkeeper, nicking the Albion a 1-1 draw. Not a bad debut.
The goals continued to flow for Zamora - A Hat-trick 2 weeks later away to Chester in a 7-1 win. Followed up by scoring both goals in 2-1 win at home to Halifax. Zamora ended the loan spell with 6 goals in 6 games. A ratio fit for a skilled marksman.
During his loan spell Bobby proved he had what it takes to succeed at this level. He used his tall, physical (although lean) build and deceiving pace to his advantage, terrorising the Division 3 defenders during his loan spell. He provided the fans with a memorable show, scoring with his head, feet and via the penalty spot.
He displayed positional intelligence, graft and confidence to run at a defence often taking on shots before goalkeepers could set themselves. Bobby also scored his first penalty for the club during this run, still only a teenager but showing the club he could handle the pressure from the spot. For Brighton fans, Zamora the scorer was born.
Brighton finished the 1999/2000 season in 11th place, leaving the fans with a mixed feeling of disappointment and optimism. The fans still had faith in the squad that Mickey Adams was assembling and also in the vision of the chairman Dick Knight. With the help of Bobby Zamora’s goals, confidence grew and Brighton ended the season strongly and unbeaten in the last 14 games of the campaign.
The Iconic ‘Blue & White Skint’.
Zamora’s loan spell was not the only memorable event that season. Brighton not only signing players key to the clubs upcoming success, also signed on a new major kit sponsor. The kit sponsor being Skint Records. An independent record label well known for promoting local Brighton artists as well as being the musical home of a well known Brighton resident and vocal Seagulls fan - the internationally acclaimed Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim.
Skint Records sponsoring the Albion simply put, just felt right. The irony of surviving a near financial disaster to now having Skint plastered on the front of the shirt is one for the ages. “Delicious “ in fact, according to Dick Knight at the time.
The “Skint” kits during the 1999/2000 season were special, the combinations present on the home shirts perfectly complimenting each other. The traditional blue & white stripes, the collar styles of the Errea shirts, now with a distinctive and unique Skint logo front and centre made for what would become an instant classic. The away shirt was exactly the same design with the exception of the blue and white strips replaced with the dark and edgy black and red stripes. More than 2 decades later and these shirts are still fan favourites worn on match days by many.
To make the home kit even more special for the fans (and the avid shirt collector) at the start of 2000 the Albion also introduced a centenary shirt which celebrated the 100 year anniversary of the clubs formation in 1901. Directly above the Skint records logo was now the original club logo. History combined with the present all being worn by players shaping the Albion’s future.
The Skint Records sponsorship was the first of its kind, an independent record label sponsoring a football team in the professional leagues. The 9 year partnership would go on to become the clubs longest serving sponsor. Proving to be a lifeline, providing a much needed injection of funds when the club needed it the most.
The sponsorship announcement was off the back of a massive year for the Skint Label and Fatboy Slim. A year which saw the artist release a number of iconic tracks from the Brighton made album, You've Come a Long Way, Baby. An album that Included globally celebrated dance tracks like Right Here, Right Now , Rokkafeller Skank and Praise you.
All of these songs are still part of Brighton’s match day DNA. Whether it be through the stadium speakers or on an away day Spotify playlist being blasted out on trains or in cars by travelling fans.
The UK version of the album cover with the larger than life character wearing the “I’m N0. 1, so why try harder” t-shirt being equally iconic as the aforementioned seagulls shirts now branded with the record labels logo.
An iconic shirt made even more popular by an iconic goalscorer.
Like A Fucking Rocket.
Fans love a goalscorer and history would tell you that in the lower leagues a 20+ goals a season player will go along way to fulfilling any dreams of pushing up the gritty lower leagues.
In August 2000, Just before the start of the new season, the fans prayers were answered and the club put pen to paper on a 4-year contract with Bobby Zamora after agreeing a fee of £100K, and an eye watering 30% sell on clause with Ian Holloway’s Bristol City, in hindsight a shrewd bit of business to include such a high %.
The blue and white number 25 shirt back in play. The scorer ready to lead the line and give defences in Division 3 a year to forget.
On signing for Brighton, Zamora said:
”Hopefully there is not too much pressure on me. I had a good spell here last season, but I don't think I will be able to score six goals in six games all the time! But this is a big club and hopefully I can help them up a division or two”.
Bobby’s hopes would soon become reality for a city crying out for success on the pitch.
The start to the new season was sketchy, with 3 defeats in the first 4 league games. The solitary win coming in the first home game of the season, which saw Zamora net a brace in a 2-1 win against the visiting Rochdale. Bobby once again demonstrating his heading abilities by getting onto a perfectly weighted long ball and guiding his header into the top right hand corner of the goal. The second goal of the game got the Withdean stands rocking, when Bobby gained himself acres of space and raced onto a through ball, running with the ball into the box and delicately placing the ball into the bottom left hand side of the goal with his left foot.
Bobby’s record season was up and running.
The Brighton fans had to wait until the 5th game of the season at home to Torquay United to see a performance worthy of the pre-season hype surrounding the team.
In front of the Withdean faithful the Seagulls of Brighton ensured the Gulls of Torquay flew back to the west coast with their beaks empty after beating the visitors 6-2. Zamora the hero once again with his 2nd hat-trick for the club, bringing his perfect goal a game ratio back to 5 goals in 5 league games. Bobby scored 2 with his head and 1 with a placed finish from around the penalty spot, celebrating each goal by punching the air with his heavily plastered right arm.
Fractured bones weren’t going to stop him this season, nothing was.
Brighton’s season had been ignited. Off the back of the 6-2 win, Brighton would go on a run up to Christmas which would see only 2 defeats in the next 17 league games.
The Albion were on fire.
Fuelled by their creative midfield and sparked by the heat of Bobby Zamora’s finishing, Brighton would see themselves sitting 2nd in the league at Christmas, 4 points adrift from Chesterfield but with a game in hand.
With Bobby’s 14 goals in 22 league games and supported by the best defence in the league, Brighton were flying, Not just the team but the whole city was buying into the momentum the club was building.
After the Christmas break Brighton dominated the league, results in the final 23 league games saw Brighton claim 14 wins, 5 draws and suffer only 4 defeats. The Seagulls sealed the Division 3 tittle on total of 92 points.
Brighton ended the season 10 points clear of second place Cardiff. Boasting a goal difference of +38!
Zamora scored for fun. all to the backdrop of;
“when that ball hits the goal, its not shearer or Cole its Zamora”
Or my preferred verse of
“when the ball hits the net like a fucking rocket its Zamora”
Bobby was prolific scoring 28 league goals and with it, claiming the leagues top goalscorer accolade. 31 goals from 48 starts in all competitions, this included 2 hat-tricks and 5 braces.
Across all the top 4 leagues of England during the 2000 / 2001 campaign no player beat Bobby’s tally of 28 league goals.
The open top bus parade that followed saw thousands of fans flock to honour the city’s heroes. The bus, decked head to toe in blue and white balloons, with Micky Adams and Bobby Zamora’s names painted across the front.
Bobby Zamora had the city in the palm of his hands.
You can be Zola, I’ll be Zamora.
During this period kids from Brighton were not pretending to be Gianfranco Zola, Ronaldo or Thierry Henry, instead we were shouting out a Brighton players name during a kickabout on the streets and in the parks with our mates. In mine & my brothers case pretending to be Bobby Zamora when stepping up for a penalty, under the lights of the only working street light, shooting towards a goal spray painted on a brick wall in the concrete laced playing surface of Peace Close in Hollingdean, a typical housing estate in Brighton.
Zamora’s name was not only being shouted out by kids around Peace Close but in Wild Park, Stanmer Park and about every playing surface in Brighton that you could throw a couple of jumpers down on. We all wanted to wear and play in the number 25 shirt, the iconic Skint shirt.
All the boys I grew up with had a premier league team that they supported, in my case, inspired by Ian Wright in the early 90’s I choose Arsenal, but we also had love for Brighton, hard not to when your dad had been a die-hard season ticket holder since the 70’s. Difference being now that we were witnessing Brighton winning and playing football in a way that my generation had not seen in their lifetime. A type of football that you didn’t mind sitting in the rain, wind and sleet to watch.
2001 / 2002 Back to Back.
The new season saw some changes, the biggest of all being Mickey Adams, leaving for Leicester City and replaced by Peter Taylor, fresh from a stint as Caretaker Manager of the England Men’s national team.
Bobby stayed despite strong interest from bigger clubs. A step up in divisions did not phase him in anyway. He thrived.
Brighton, spearheaded by Zamora dominated the league. He finished with 28 league goals, which included a run of scoring in 8 consecutive league games. The Seagull’s had defied the odds and secured back to back promotions.
When you watch his goals back from the two promotional seasons you will see how dominant he was in the box, he out muscled defenders, picked their pockets, always hunting, always looking to find a way to get his body to the ball first. A Lion and a Gazelle all in one.
He loved a header and seemed to score from all angles with his head. Back of his head, side of his head and diving headers. He had the chip in his locker, the lob, he could take on defenders and score from tight angles.
He scored on water soaked pitches, muddy pitches and frozen pitches throughout England. With every goal he scored he bought the fans along for the ride with him.
His celebration was our celebration.
He became Inevitable. Repeating the previous seasons accolade of being the top league scorer across all top divisions of English football. Only Shaun Goater of Manchester City keeping pace.
The open top bus redecorated and back on the streets, parading once again in front of thousands along the Brighton seafront.
Little did we know at the time, that in two months time in the same spot where the bus was surrounded by Brighton fan, the city would bare witness to the one of the biggest parties the world had ever seen, Fatboy Slim’s, Brighton Beach Boutique II.
“Right Here, Right Now.”
To fully understand the scale of the Beach Boutique II, I recommend you watch the documentary “Right Here, Right Now.” The outdoor dance event, set on Brighton Beach next to the Palace Pier was originally planned for 60,000 ravers, about 10 times the capacity of the Withdean.
Over 300,000 are believed to have attended. To quote actor John Simm:
”I’ve never seen more people in my life, there was more people than pebbles”
If you watch the footage within the documentary closely you will see a few blue and white Albion shirts in the crowd. With the back to back promotions it felt like the city had been celebrating for 2 years straight. Bobby Zamora handing the baton off to Norman Cook to deliver the greatest end of season party of all time. It was only fitting.
During the 2001 /2002 season, Dick Knight had turned down £3million pound from Everton for Zamora. Knowing that losing Bobby would put a serious dent in the promotion run he politely declined the offer.
However the club needed cash to maintain the current wage bill and importantly keep hold of their star striker. Keeping hold of Bobby was imperative. The club turned to Norman Cook.
According to Norman Cook in a 2023 interview with The Guardian:
“ I've also put some of my own money into the club. The chairman Dick Knight took me out to lunch and I asked him whether Bobby Zamora was going to be sold. He looked at me and said: 'Well if someone puts a lot of money into the club then we can afford to keep him.' I said that sounds like blackmail and he replied: 'Call it what you like dear boy but that's how it is.' So I guess he tapped into my guilt. It wasn't just a donation, I do own a piece of the club. But then, a piece of nothing is still nothing isn't it? It's more of a hobby for me. I don't have to turn up for board meetings or be involved in decisions about whether we sell Bobby, I don't want that on my hands, but I do get a nice parking space - right next to the away fans' coach.”
Fatboy Slims timely injection of cash was vital to maintaining the squad and more importantly it meant they held onto Zamora.
Zamora stayed for one more season before he finally got rewarded with a move to the Premier League, signing for Glenn Hoddle’s Spurs.
On leaving Brighton, in an interview with local Brighton newspaper - The Argus, Zamora was quoted as saying;
”Brighton's success while I was there was down to hard graft, a great togetherness, fantastic support. We had something special."
Watching Brighton during this era has permanently wedged numerous highs into the memory banks of tens of thousands of Brightonians. My Brother, My Dad and I being three of them.
The Tony Bloom era without question is the greatest period of football in the clubs history. World Football is now studying and praising the “Brighton & Hove Albion Model”. But, a big but, if Brighton didn’t secure those back-to-back promotions it’s quite possible they would not be where they are today.
Bobby Zamora’s goals and equally Norman Cooks unconditional love for the club during this period paved the way for future success.
The lyrics from Fatboy Slims song “Praise You” seem a fitting way end to this story.
We've come a long, long way together
Through the hard times and the good
I have to celebrate you, baby
I have to praise you like I should
The story continues…
A special thanks goes to Timco from Albion Album for allowing use of his fantastic photos. His images perfectly capture the spirit of this era and the collectiveness of the fans and club during the Withdean years.
Excellent article mate, no one quite summed up 2000s football like Bobby Zamora