Congratulations are in order for Brighton & Hove Albion, who have earned a return trip to the pinnacle of English football — the Premier League — after more than three decades away. To date the Seagulls have spent just four seasons out of almost 90 in their existence in the top tier of football. Those four came consecutively from the 1979-80 through 1982-83, in the old First Division.
To commemorate Brighton’s triumphant return to the top, let’s look at a handful of home programs from their prior stay there:
1979-80 (37 points, 16th place)
1980-81 (35 points, 19th place)
1981-82 (52 points, 13th place)
1982-83 (40 points, 22nd place – relegated)
Random Fun Facts
The last time Brighton Hove & Albion won a First Division match (April 23, 1983):
- The #1 song in the UK was “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie. The #1 song in America was “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners.
- The #1 movie in America was Flashdance.
- Margaret Thatcher was nearing the end of her first term as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Ronald Reagan was in the middle of his first term as President of the United States.
- The compact disc player had been for sale in the UK since March.
- Lotus 1-2-3 for IBM-PC compatible computers was less than three months old in the U.S.
- The one pound (£1) coin had just been introduced in England and Wales.
- Two months earlier the final episode of M*A*S*H aired in the U.S., setting a new record for most-watched television broadcast in American history.
- Seat belt use for drivers and front seat passengers in the UK had been mandatory for less than two months.