I've just read that one of your readers thinks that Albion fans who don't live locally anymore should support someone else instead.

When forced to play 'home' matches in Gillingham, would they have advocated changing allegiance to another local club instead, as the team was not playing locally?

Of course not. Every club needs support, local or not, and I for one am very proud to say that I'm an Albion fan and always will be. Just because I don't live locally anymore doesn't mean that I don't care (and that extends to Brighton as well including the impact of our development at Falmer).

The Albion have come a long way in recent years and have shown other clubs what can be achieved if we all work together. In this regard we've all earned a great deal of respect which we all can be proud of - local or not.

Always proud to follow the Albion.

Brian Jones, Brecon, Powys.

In 1987, soon after my son was born, I had to move away from the marital home for work reasons.

When that happened I didn't trade my wife in for a local girl, I remained faithful. She was rather pleased that I did.

I now live in Canada, and I'm proud to say that I have also remained faithful to the Albion. Absence, as the cliche states, simply makes the heart grow fonder.

Ceri Rees, Lindsay, Ontario, Canada.

The person who wrote to the Argus about loyalty to a football team far away was partly wrong and partly right.

I live in Brisbane, and have a friend who lives in Noosa, over an hour away.

We share a 'family' season ticket and enthusiastically support the Brisbane Strikers. The family ticket is in the name of The Seagull Family and there is always a cheer for the Seagulls during the Strikers' game - particularly if a feathered version flies over the ground. I have seen two games at Withdean this season.

We follow the game locally and support the local side - for the love of the game and we continue to follow our 'home' team - for the love of the team.

John Wainwright, Jindalee, Queensland, Australia As an Albion supporter living in Hawaii, I was amused by Darren Pearce's recent self-righteous letter to the Sports Argus.

I have not lived in Sussex for 23 years, but that did not stop me from traveling 17,000 miles in February specifically to watch MY team as part of the Albion's internet supporters group who were sponsoring the Cardiff City game.

I think I speak for all exiled Seagulls fans when I say that Mr Pearce does not know the meaning of loyalty.

A football club, once embraced and supported, is like family. We Brighton fans are passionate about our family, wherever we are.

I suppose, had I moved to Manchester rather than the USA, Mr Pearce would rather I support Man U? Heaven forbid! Sorry, but I couldn't do that in a million years. Is Mr Pearce suggesting that we keep Brighton and Hove Albion strictly for Brightonians and Hove residents? That would rule out Peacehaven and Mr Pearce, then. Shame.

John Harrison, Paia, Hawaii, USA In response to Darren Pearce's letter in Saturday's Sports Argus in which he rubbishes the fact that Albion have fans who claim to be loyal from all over the country, he obviously knows nothing about being a football supporter.

I was born and bred in Sussex before moving to Cheshire 12 years ago.

I supported Albion as a child, following them home and away from Sussex and have continued to do so since moving to Cheshire I still hold a season ticket.

I am proud to follow the Albion and am well known for being a Brighton fan.

My office is full of a variety of other supporters (there's quite a few clubs to choose from in this part of the world) but all of them respect that I have remained loyal to 'my' club when it would have been so much easier to have latched on to a big club on my doorstep.

Mr Pearce might be right regarding the Falmer issue, perhaps I don't have as much say as a local resident. But then perhaps he should consider that many exiled fans act as almost ambassadors for Sussex encouraging people to visit. It might not boost the tourist trade that much, but it's certainly more than the blinkered Mr Pearce has probably ever done for the county.

And yes, it will be good this week in my office sitting there as proud as punch at what the Albion have achieved after so many desperate years of ribbing and ridicule.

Julie Steele, Bedford Gardens, Crewe What a misguided individual Darren Peace must be.

It is true that when a football club has success, many so called 'supporters' manifest themselves both from the local area and beyond.

You only have to look at Manchester United to prove this theory. Where I live in Malaysia, you only see shirts and car stickers of the successful Premier League clubs.

I have passionately supported Brighton since their Division Three days in the 1970s and would never change my allegiance because I relocated somewhere else. Mr Pearce appears to be confused about loyal supporters of their original local team who now live elsewhere and those who choose to support a distant, successful team.

Personally, I congratulate the former breed for their loyalty and I despise the latter as glory hunters. I also have little tolerence for the local glory hunters who will undoubtedly now emerge from Sussex saying they are true Brighton fans. Where were they at Gillingham and when the club plummeted to its nadir ?

I flew in from Malaysia for the weekend solely to attend Fans United. I will fly in from Malaysia as will my other exiled colleagues from Sydney and Tokyo to attend the Shrewsbury game to formally celebrate our first promotion for 13 years. We are just coming for the game and celebrations. We are not taking in the game because we just happen to be back in England.

Sorry, Mr Pearce, but I have the greatest respect for West Country, Wight, Seagulls over London and people who write about Falmer from the Midlands and any one else who supports their local team.

Peter Jackson, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia BHAlba (Scottish Seagulls Supporting from Afar) number over 15 exciled and domiciled Seagulls supporters. We are fanatics and live north of the border. You see, Darren Pearce, it is in the blood.

Miles Baigent, Jordanhill, Glasgow.

Darren Pearce suggested that we should all support our local league club irrespective of where we live. When the Albion played their games at Gillingham, the club closest to Brighton was Crystal Palace. Those poor souls who live in Brighton and subscribe to Mr Pearce's philosophy must have been truly delighted when the Albion returned to Sussex.

We in the West Country Seagulls do not claim to be any more loyal than any other group of fans.

Nevertheless, we believe that the football club that you are brought up with remains your team forever. Furthermore, we retain strong links with the community of Brighton and Hove through families and friends and consider we have a valid voice when it comes to Falmer, Withdean or any other local issue to do with our club.

Neil Burchell, Yeovil, Somerset