Being a long-term, match going supporter of a Premier League club in 2025 – or ‘legacy fan’ to coin a popular phrase – often feels like you are taken for granted.
Matches are rescheduled to suit broadcasters without a thought for away fans. Teams chase new supporters from emerging markets and want a greater number of tourists inside stadiums, knowing they will pay more for tickets and in megastores.
Which is why it was refreshing that Brighton not only reversed their decision to replace Heritage Tiles at the Amex with a digital screen, but Paul Barber also apologised for the debacle.
Albion supporters have been able to buy Heritage Tiles since the stadium opened. Many of these tiles feature names of grandparents, parents and even children who have passed away.
Each of the 2,500 Tiles was more than just a brick on a wall. People treated them like graves – visiting them before home matches to say hello to lost friends and relatives and touching them for good luck.
Many of these Heritage Tiles are now damaged. The club announced on Friday that all would be removed and a digital wall installed in their place.
Their solution shocked fans for its callousness and lack of foresight. Especially when a much more obvious solution existed.
Create a replacement memorial somewhere at the Amex, featuring as many of the names inscribed as possible. A physical place fans can go and remember those no longer with us. Not pictures flashing up on a screen.
An unanimously critical thread on fan forum North Stand Chat ran to 36 pages. Season ticket holders said they would not renew. Fans emailed Barber and a petition quickly reached over 3000 signatures.
By Monday evening, the club announced every Heritage Tile will instead be transferred to a new installation. They acknowledged they had made a mess of it and even said sorry for the hurt caused.
The U-turn and apology show the club do care and will listen to what ‘legacy fans’ think; a connection which is rare in the Premier League and a credit to both the club and fan power.
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