Tony Bloom has always enjoyed meeting Albion fans while on his away travels.

That much hasn’t changed down the years.

It’s just that these days that is more like to be on a sight-seeing trip of Athens than a train trek to Hartlepool (remember having to change at Thornaby?).

The Albion chairman and fellow directors will greet and host their counterparts from Olympique de Marseille this week.

Bloom has done the executive dinner thing throughout the Group B schedule of course.

Key people at Albion have made some new contacts across the continent during the course of the Europa League adventure, including the draw and various preparatory trips.

Bloom has also donned casual clothes and walked the streets and paths of ancient Athens, seeing fans along the way.

And he has appeared at a club in the Greek capital late one night at a gig headlined by Fatboy Slim himself, Norman Cook.

Everyone has done their best to live the European experience as much as possible, partly on the basis that we might not get another opportunity.

And, of course, even if Albion qualify again, this is their last-ever first-ever season in Europe.

So you want to make it special.

Bloom has been no different – but all the time planning for next opportunity to come in future seasons, however tough it may be.

He said: “It was my first time in Athens and it was great to be there.

“Seeing lots of Brighton shirts and Brighton fans around was superb.

“The support we have had away from home in Europe has been tremendous.

“I am sure it is only going to get bigger and more vociferous the further we go in the tournament.

“We certainly enjoyed the celebrations after the Athens game at the club Norman Cook had booked out.

“The fans are great, I am a fan, my family were fans.”

Bloom makes no secret of the fact he was planning for the Premier League way back, when many of us were excited about the prospect of top-half football in the Championship.

But going into Europe has exceeded even those targets.

He said: “I’m an optimistic person.

“Certainly when I committed to building the Amex and a first class training facility with category one academy, I wasn’t doing that not expecting success.

“At that point we needed to get out of League One having just had a bad season and get into the Championship.

“The long-term vision was to get into the Premier League and that was it.

“Once we were there, we had to do everything we could to stay there and obviously we have pushed on and had the vision of being in the ten for the men’s team and top four for the women.

“But that is a long-term plan to be there on a very regular basis.

“And last season was our first qualifying for Europe.

“We are on that upward trajectory but we have to keep working really hard because the competition is fierce and everyone below us in the table is looking to overtake us.”

The race for Europe looks more intense this season than it was last, which explains Roberto De Zerbi’s frustration at recent dropped points.

Of the so-called big six, only Chelsea are really under-achieving in the table, although Manchester United’s season at times feels like it is on the edge of a cliff.

But Newcastle and Aston Villa have emerged as serious players.

Bloom said: “It is by far and away the most difficult league to get into Europe from because the competition is so fierce.

“But we love all the European games.

“We know Thursday, Sunday is difficult but, if we have it again next season, we will be a bit more used to it and hopefully it will be a little bit easier, particularly with the injury list.”

If they can secure a spot in Europe next season – be it in via the league or in cup competition – Bloom feels Albion will be well prepared to give it another good go.

But that could also apply to the forthcoming knockout stages, be that involvement from mid-February or early-March.

The chairman said: “We are always learning new things.

“Certainly travelling abroad and getting prepared with travel itself, hotels and getting back.

“Athens was the most difficult, coming back so late in the early hours of Friday morning and having to play a team as good as Chelsea, and away, particularly when they have been rested.

“It’s normally the reverse. We normally have that advantage, so it was a bit surreal, and we played really well against Chelsea and were disappointed to get nothing from that game.”

Disappointed to lose 3-2 at Chelsea. Ready for Marseille.

It has been all change. And not at Thornaby any more.