Albion fans have been passing on best wishes to a short-lived cult hero who thrilled the Goldstone like few others.

Messages of support have been sent to Sergei Gotsmanov, the Belarusian forward who made a massive impact in a short but memorable stint with the club in the later stages of the 1989-90 season.

Fans of that era still recall the way he celebrated a goal at home to Hull City before he had actually put the ball in the net.

Gotsmanov has long since been settled in Minnesota and turns 65 next week.

He has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and is in poor health, struggling to communicate.

Journalist and Albion supporter Spencer Vignes broke the news via a social media update.

Fans were quick to reply with messages of support which are being passed on to Gotsmanov and family.

Gotsmanov played for the USSR squad that reached the final of the 1988 European Championships and was identified as a potential bargain by then Seagulls boss Barry Lloyd.

He had played in midfield for Dinamo Minsk but Lloyd kept him away from that hurly-burly in the English second tier and put him up front.

Gotsmanov scored four goals in 16 games but stats do not fully explain the impact he had.

His greatest moment came against Hull on a Friday night, not long after Albion had been gifted a clumsy own goal by Dave Bamber when the tall striker went back to help defend a corner.

That lifted the tension and Gotsmanov, sent through the middle going towards the South Stand, held off a defender, rounded the keeper and held both arms aloft before scoring.

The win eased relegation concerns and his goal was hailed by Lloyd as “the stuff of which dreams are made”.

Lloyd added: “I hope it also showed that while we are happy to have him here, Sergei is also excited about being here.”

Sadly for cash-strapped Albion, Southampton took him along the coast for a fee of £150,000 and the move never really worked out.

Gotsmanov ended up in the USA, where he played in the indoor soccer league and then became a school bus driver.

Vignes said: “I don’t remember anyone – Vicente, maybe - being with us for such a short time and having such an effect.

“Sergei is remembered so fondly because he was unique. There were so few foreign players in England, let alone at Brighton.”

Messages can be sent to Gotsmanov via @SpencerVignes on X, formerly Twitter.