Withdean Sports Complex

James Dean dated a lot of hotties back in the day, and they didn’t mind sharing. I asked so many girls out back in the 50s and they were like, «um, I’m Withdean.» And indeed they were. Ahh. Oh well.
First-​Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium — I didn’t ever get to watch Brighton play at this stadium, and I haven’t used the gym that is here. However since I’m obsessed with everywhere that British footy clubs play, I’ve been on these grounds a couple of times. Hard to believe that Brighton actually played here. In 2011 I toured the facilities and realized that it must have been really tough for the fans to deal with playing here. However it was worth the wait because their new stadium is one of the best in the country.
I’ve been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review — like all my reviews — are from first-​hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was «stuck» in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I’ll post later. Also, when back in UK I’ll take more pix, and add more stadia!
*** return to regular review ***
This is a really poor stadium, especially for a club as big as Brighton. It’s good that the Albion only played there for 12 years, and my word, their new stadium could not be much more spectacular, could it? Withdean was built in 1936 and can only hold 8k people. 12 years in this stadium was actually probably hell for the Brighton fans but my goodness was it worth it when you see the Amex, amirite?
And no, I wasn’t a huge fan of John Kerry. I’d rather have gone withdean.

One of the five centres my gym membership covers, Withdean Sports Complex is massive, the home to Brighton Seagulls at the moment but not for long as the new shiny stadium is nearly finished in Falmer.
As well as the stadium there are tennis and squash courts, a gym and exercise classrooms. I cycled up there the other day to partake in the Body Conditioning class, and left limping and aching. Being a member of the Kinetika gyms means I can visit this one as well as the nearer Prince Regents, alongside the others in the Brighton and Hove area.
The gym is much better than the Prince Regents one, if a bit dark, it’s bigger, got more equipment, and less smelly and sweaty, which is always a good thing. The fact that it’s a 2 mile bike ride to get to means that by the end of my class/​gym session I really feel like I’ve worked out.

I completely agree this stadium is poor and I do not think you would find a fan who would tell you otherwise. However, atleast it is not exactly the same as all the other stadiums around England so it is worth viewing as an experience…
When the new stadium is built it will be fantastic but if we can’t even fill half of it then it will feel just as naff in my opinion. This complex is also used for the school town sports every year and many athletic organisations in Brighton so it is important to have the running track even if it does ruin the atmosphere fot football games.
Bring on Falmer but while it is still there go and check it out as it will soon be gone.

I second a relocation! Spending over £20 to see Gilingham play the Seagulls struck me as a rip off to be quite frank… There wasn’t even any cover for us home boys to shelter from the freezing weather under. And dumping the away fans about 50 metres back from the pitch isn’t exactly the smartest or most charitable positioning I’ve ever seen… Especially when the very fans dumped there were the previous owners of the stadium Brighton had been playing at before moving to Withdean!
The complex itself does the job fine as a simple meeting ground for the gym + race track, but its just crowded trying to dunk a stadium in there too. Not long to go now until Brighton has a proper stadium and Withdean gets its sporting centre back up and running properly!