The Wealdstone Raider and the world of Whitehawk

[townsendaround]

http://www.townsendaround.co.uk/football/the-wealdstone-raider-and-the-world-of-whitehawk/

I wrote this for last months Late Tackle magazine, and now they've a new issue out and it's been consigned to the archive, I thought I'd share it with you- in good time for todays rematch!

I hope you enjoy.

 

[Greenacres]

Great article.

I had heard that Whitehawk wanted to change their name, before this season began, but for some reason it had been turned down. Wasn't there an ambition to leave their current ground and move to the Withdean when Brighton vacated it in favour of Falmer? Any ideas where they want to build a new ground, or is the intention to build it where they currently call home.

Perhaps we should start a thread about random football songs, that one at the end of the article is brilliant!

 

[townsendaround]

As I understand it, the stadium plans are for the same space. Withdean residents had rather enough of football, so that turned out to be a non starter.

The name change was turned down after Brighton & Hove Albion objected, stating it would cause confusion. I think anyone visiting the Enclosed Ground would soon stop being confused, but there you go! That said, Whitehawk fans weren't in agreement either, though I think they understood the marketing issues behind it.

 

[Greenacres]

As I understand it, the stadium plans are for the same space. Withdean residents had rather enough of football, so that turned out to be a non starter.

The name change was turned down after Brighton & Hove Albion objected, stating it would cause confusion. I think anyone visiting the Enclosed Ground would soon stop being confused, but there you go! That said, Whitehawk fans weren't in agreement either, though I think they understood the marketing issues behind it.

I wouldn't blame the Withdean residents taking that view, although the Brighton club and fans did as much as could have been reasonably expected to minimise the impact on the local area of having a football team in it. By the time the club moved to Falmer the home gates were in excess of 7k, which considering the space and area is little short of a miracle. What made me laugh was how far the away fans were from the pitch, the joke was that the home fans watched the match in Brighton, the away fans in Hove!

I haven't been to the Enclosed Ground yet, but might go next season if we are in the same division. I think most fans would be in opposition if the name of their team changed, the only example I can think of where that wasn't the case was with Leyton Orient, who reverted to a previous name.

 

[Railway Blue]

Forgive my ignorance, but where does the name Whitehawk come from ..... sounds more like a Marvel Comic character.

 

[appletablepenny]

Great article.

I had heard that Whitehawk wanted to change their name, before this season began, but for some reason it had been turned down. Wasn't there an ambition to leave their current ground and move to the Withdean when Brighton vacated it in favour of Falmer? Any ideas where they want to build a new ground, or is the intention to build it where they currently call home.

Perhaps we should start a thread about random football songs, that one at the end of the article is brilliant!

That was invented by Mancunian comedian Smug Roberts, originally for Oldham Athletic, later recorded for England's 1998 world cup campaign.

 

[Greenacres]

Forgive my ignorance, but where does the name Whitehawk come from ..... sounds more like a Marvel Comic character.

I wasn't sure of the origins of the name, just knew it as a part of Brighton.

Wikipedia, not always to be relied on, offers the following:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitehawk

 

[townsendaround]

For once, Wiki seems to be quite accurate!

 

[Luke_ciderhead]

Yeah, Whitehawk is a large and extremely unpleasant council estate on the edge of Brighton. Unbelievable to think they could have a football team in the fifth tier of English football next season.

 

[Son of Cod]

Good read that. Passed it to a mate who is one the aforementioned 50 Whitehawk Ultras. Had previously seen some key moment photos and didn't have a clue what it was about, so thanks for clearing that up!