What a weekend: Seagulls Scene

Our Seagulls were up in the Midlands to play Port Vale. Vale are not going too well at present but were probably favourites on their own turf. The match kicked off at 1pm to give fans the opportunity to watch England's all important game against Estonia. Easy enough on paper but I'm not sure how confident English fans were of the right result. To complete the day there was the little matter of a game in Paris against an old enemy, France. OK it was with a funny shaped ball but English pride was at stake '“ Agincourt and all that.

Through dreadfully bad planning I was unable to watch any of these three important games! I had a date at Windsor Castle. Although HRH was in residence my ticket didn't include tea '“ or access to a television.

Appropriately it all came good on my return to Withdean! Our coach returned to the car park of the current home of Albion, enabling me to catch up with the radio sports report '“ and hear the great news for all English Seagull fans.

Alex Revell had scored the only goal at Vale Park so the three points were ours. The Seagulls were moving up League One. It got better. England had won 3-0 at Wembley so qualification for the Euro 2008 finals was a giant step forward.

I have to say I was very nearly into a black, sulky, strop as a cruel Dutch friend had announced on the coach back to Withdean that he had received a text saying England were 2-0 down with seven minutes to play. It was only later that I laughed.

Saturday evening was a happy affair helped by the two great results at a nice Brighton restaurant. I was missing the rugby action but having a good meal with many Dutch friends. Late in the evening a true text came into English hands. We had beaten France in Paris! England were in the World Cup Final. It doesn't get much better. I was able to magnanimously commiserate with Dutch friends as their football team lost in Romania!

It hadn't been a pretty game at Port Vale. Brighton's defence had been sound with young Tommy Elphick again superb. Adam El-Abd also put in a strong performance in the absence of Guy Butters who wasn't risked after his recent injury. Our former Dutch Marine goalkeeper Michel Kuipers dealt with everything that came his way. With the full-backs Andrew Whing and Matt Richards playing their part the Seagull defence kept their fourth successive clean sheet.

The Seagull midfield and forward-line struggled to impress and it wasn't until the 64th minute that the Vale defence was broken.

Nathan Elder had only just replaced Bas Savage when Whing put in an old-fashioned long ball. The Vale keeper, perhaps unwisely, rushed out and Elder was able to win the high ball.

This enabled hard working Alex Revell to react first and slide the ball home.

The Seagulls, after 11 games, are handily placed in equal seventh, just one point from the play-offs zone and only three points from Swansea, Tranmere and Orient at the top.

I've often mentioned mighty Leeds who are rushing up the table. They are unbeaten this season, having started on minus 15 points, but are mid-table now, only three points behind the Albion.

Their unbeaten run continues courtesy of ex-Seagull Sebastien Carole. He managed the equalising goal for the draw against Leyton Orient on Saturday. Leeds are at Withdean this Saturday. This is Brighton's biggest game of the season so far and will be a true test of our standing in the promotion push to the Championship. Are we good enough? Saturday should tell!

Brighton are certainly looking forward to the challenge and what a result if we could be the first team to beat Dennis Wise's Leeds United this season. The Seagulls are ready and up for it. I'm hoping for a bumper crowd at Withdean. Seats will be available from the club ticket office, so don't miss it!

I mentioned David Gold and his millions previously. Dick Knight, the Brighton chairman, has understandably played down any possibility of the Birmingham chairman investing in the Seagulls. But Gold has said he is looking to take up a challenge with a southern club if and when his involvement with Birmingham ends. He also says that people close to Brighton '“ although not board members '“ have contacted him. Watch this space.

I'm sorry to end on a sad note. Frankie Howard, one of the Albion's greatest personalities, has died at the age of 76 after a short illness. He was an exciting left-winger back in the Goldstone Ground days.

I remember his speed down the slope towards the old South Stand and his direct left-foot rockets. His opposite number on the right was "Flash" Gordon. Happy days.

He was connected to Brighton for 45 years, going on to be the Goldstone groundsman right up to 1993. Then the infamous regime that sold the Goldstone made him redundant with less than a day's notice. David Bellotti, the then Chief Executive, gave him the news, whist controlling millionaire Greg Stanley only gave him a wave.

The "blond bombshell" devoted his life to our club, was a great player, a first class groundsman and most of all a thoroughly nice bloke.