another attendance record

The following season saw an unchanged design, with the front page again crowded with adverts for local companies. These included Griffiths Grocery Store on Blatchington Road and Cosy Café, at 98 Goldstone Villa next to Hove Station. Many fans would have called there when they got off their train, enjoying the homemade cakes! The cafe is still in the same place, although it’s now Wolfie’s Fish & Chip Shop.

In the 1920s, the ‘benefits’ of smoking and drinking were extolled by a number of sportsmen, and Smithers Grand Bitter Ale is ‘Recommended by Alfred Shrubb (Champion Runner). Shrubb was a legendary athlete, born in the Sussex village of Slinfold. His amateur career lasted from 1899 until 1905, when he was banned from amateur competition for receiving payment for running. As a professional from 1905 until 1912 he won over 1,000 races and was viryually unbeatable up to distances of 15 miles. He often raced against relay teams to make the race competitive! Altogether, he set 28 world records.

The programme shown is for the game against Everton on Saturday 2nd February 1924. This was an FA Cup 2nd Round tie and Albion were not fancied to win.

Everton were known as one of the most entertaining sides of the time and the team to play Albion boasted no less than six full internationals. The Goldstone Ground attendance record was exceeded for the fifth time in four seasons, as 27,450 crammed into the ground.

Everton took the lead but were pegged back by a goal from Tommy Cook. The Toffees re-took the lead but a penalty from Wally Little sent the teams in to half time level at 2-2

The second half was all Albion. Tommy Cook scored twice more and Andy Neil added a fifth just before full time to stun the football world.