Albion bosses are celebrating their latest court victory over the right to play at Withdean stadium and have vowed to win their next one over Falmer.

John Catt, 81, whose garden is overlooked by Brighton and Hove Albion's temporary home at Withdean, failed to convince the High Court yesterday to overturn the club's planning permission to play at the converted athletics track until 2008. He complained of noise, disturbance, traffic and light pollution.

But Mr Justice Collins ruled that Brighton and Hove City Council gave adequate reasons for granting permission and Mr Catt failed to bring his challenge promptly.

Albion chief executive Martin Perry said the club remained confident of winning its long planning fight for a stadium at Falmer.

Mr Perry warned that Lewes District Council faced court costs running into hundreds of thousands of pounds if it lost the legal battle over Falmer.

He said: "Spurious challenges in the High Court can be defeated and we have put Lewes on notice that if the judgment by the court is similar to the terms of the Consent Order offered to them by the Treasury solicitor, we will seek to recover our costs of the court action."

In yesterday's decision, the judge backed Albion and Brighton and Hove City Council's view that Mr Catt's challenge had no substance. Last July, the club won temporary permission to remain at Withdean until July 2008 and install an extra 1,966 seats.

The home of retired builder and peace campaigner Mr Catt overlooks the stadium. He successfully challenged the permission in the High Court a year ago through a legal technicality.

The club re-applied and the application was passed last July. But Mr Catt claimed the council had still failed in its obligations under European law to consider the environmental impact.

Mr Catt claimed he suffers "enormous" noise nuisance on match days.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Collins said the council's reasons for granting planning permission included recognition of the fact that the club plays a large role in the local community and economy. Mr Catt's failure to take prompt action "constituted unwarranted delay" and "prejudiced" the club.

Mr Catt, whose house is worth £400,000 and claimed Legal Aid because he lives on a state pension, said: "I have no faith in the system. Judges are not elected people."

He added: "I'm just a poor person. I have no money. I'm not a millionaire. They would have loved to take this house way from me. Albion is not interested in the man in the street.