Ross Johnson wants other Brighton boys to experience one of the best feelings around.

The former Seagulls defender played in front of a few big crowds at the Goldstone Ground.

It was a special feeling for Brighton-born Johnson who had stood on the Goldstone terraces with his dad as a boy.

And thanks to today's decision youngsters in the city can aspire to tasting that big match atmosphere again.

Johnson also knows the flip-side of Albion's long road to Falmer.

He played more games at Gillingham than any other Albion player with 72 of his 132 League appearances coming during the Seagulls' two-year spell at Priestfield.

He also tasted the lack of atmosphere at Withdean before Micky Adams released him to join Colchester during the 1999-2000 season.

Johnson said: "The Goldstone was a fantastic place to play. It had a bit of character and everything going for it. It was an awful shame what happened with it. The club was all set up, then all of a sudden some horrible people got involved and it was gone.

"I didn't play in the best years of the club but in those last few games at the Goldstone we had crowds of 16,000 and 17,000.

"That showed what support this club can get and what they can hope to get at Falmer.

"Playing at Gillingham was strange. With the Goldstone I used to drive around the corner and I was at the ground. All of a sudden we had to drive an hour and a half for home games, we went in cars and sometimes we would get stuck in traffic. We would have to get to the ground, jump out the car and go and play.

"I also played at Withdean but that isn't a football stadium."

Johnson, now 29, made more than 50 League appearances for Colchester and later joined Worthing but has been out of football for a while.

He still lives locally though and is relishing Albion's move to Falmer. He said: "For the town and for the county it is unbelievable news."