Celebrity Albion fan Des Lynam fan got a cold and wet reminder of what life is like for many fans at Brighton's Withdean Stadium.

The smooth-talking TV presenter was left gasping for breath as supporters of rival Championship clubs emptied six freezing watering cans over his head.

The stunt was organised by the Falmer for All campaign to demonstrate the exposed facilities at Withdean and remind Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott of the desperate need for the new 22,000-seat stadium.

Des is a lifelong Seagulls supporter and agreed to the soaking because he is close friends with club chairman Dick Knight.

He was protected only by a flimsy polythene poncho bearing the words: "Home and dry? Or sunk forever? Mr Prescott's choice."

He joked afterwards: "I do what I can for the club but this time Dick is pushing his luck. Friendship only goes so far."

With the new football season getting underway this weekend, visiting fans to Brighton's temporary home are bracing themselves for another year of sitting on exposed seats, bolted on to temporary scaffolding.

If it blows they will get windswept and if it rains they are in for a drenching.

Supporters of rival teams like Crystal Palace yesterday relished the chance to get their own back on one of the club's most-famous supporters.

Des added: "The soaking I received today was a bit of fun, but the serious message is that Brighton needs a stadium.

"What I went through today is what many home and away fans go through week-in week-out to watch this team play.

"They play in a converted athletics stadium with temporary stands on two sides and the boardroom is a creche for six days a week.

"The club cannot go on in a temporary stadium - it is untenable. I urge John Prescott to say yes to Falmer."

Dick Knight said: "What Des did today was tremendous and it shows his dedication for this club.

"The fact is it's unpleasant for fans coming to this stadium and we cannot continue at this high level of English football if we remain here much longer.

"The decision is in the hands of John Prescott and we are told it will come before October 31.

"I am confident he will say yes and hopefully he will do it before the Labour Party conference in the city in September.

"Myself and thousands of other Albion fans are looking forward to giving him a hero's welcome."

Crystal Palace fan David Bonser said: "I enjoyed that very much. It was nice getting my own back.

"We may be rivals but believe me, the majority of Palace fans want Brighton to succeed with its stadium bid. We don't like coming to Withdean."