Greens for the Albion

The Albion, who had come from within minutes of winning the FA Cup to one game away from relegation from the Football League in just 14 years, were a constant reminder of the area's fluctuating fortunes.

Loyal fans dug up lumps of turf to take home on a day in late April and the Goldstone Ground was about to close its gates forever.

Fortunes have improved recently. The return from Gillingham to Withdean for home games has meant better access and a renewed enthusiasm for the club.

But if the Albion are to advance up the leagues again, they need a permanent home. Falmer has become the most favoured site among fans - much to the annoyance of residents and farmers who say it would ruin a quality of life already damaged by having the A27 bisecting the village.

The 22,000-capacity proposed stadium would cost an estimated £40 million. Green groups say such a large-scale building project would damage the downland.

However, in the last few weeks a couple of environmentally-aware Albion supporters have put forward a new argument.

Fans of the Earth, set up by husband and wife Trevor and Julie Watson, claims a "community" stadium will provide for leisure and recreation needs while being sympathetic to the countryside. Their 4,000 leaflets given out during recent matches have highlighted the positive role a stadium could play.

"Blatant development of the Sussex countryside is unacceptable. The Falmer site must be - and will be - sympathetic to the area," is the message.

In effect, this means the fans will be monitoring the plans to make sure everyone is happy. Mr Watson said: "There is no perfect site, but Falmer is really the only alternative. The land is going to be built on anyway, so the community stadium is the best idea.

"It will serve everyone, not just the Albion. It would not be the first time land on the edge of the Downs has been developed for the good of the community. Places like Goodwood racecourse and golf courses are used by thousands of people without any trouble.

"Of course, we want restricted development, not to damage the area. Falmer is the best site we've got. Handled sensitively, the development could benefit the local community, through jobs and facilities."

In a referendum during last year's Brighton and Hove Council elections, 84 per cent of voters wanted the Albion back, with 68 per cent selecting Falmer.

Not everyone is so keen on the stadium, though.

Veronica and Peter Lenihan, who run Park Farm, on which it would be built, met through their shared love of football.

But Mrs Lenihan said: "Fans of the Earth say caring for the countryside is about leisure and recreation. This is not true about the land at Falmer. This land is part of a smallholding, which we've farmed for nearly 20 years and has been farmed for generations before us.

"This is our living. Yes, we enjoy it, but it is not recreation."

Mr Lenihan added: "The leaflet refers to all our land as sporting or recreation land when it isn't. It is agricultural. The leaflet is misleading. We would like to see our children have the chance to run it. This land could be in our family for another two generations.

"We are both football fans and we're very keen to keep the Albion in the Brighton area. Most people I've spoken to think Falmer is the wrong place."

Mr Lenihan thinks a now largely-discarded plan to use another greenfield site would be more appropriate.

"I can't see for the life of me why someone with brains and a bit of common sense at the council doesn't put some thought into redeveloping Waterhall as a recreation site. They could put the rugby, football, a swimming pool and perhaps even ice skating there. It would work so much better."

But the club has already spent more than £40,000 on a detailed planning application for Falmer and received council backing.

Albion Chairman Dick Knight has refused to countenance the idea of a scaled-down ground.

Mr Watson said: "We can make sure the stadium satisfies the needs of the community and the people living near it. The two are not incompatible."