HARTY: On Albion and the blame culture in football

On Sunday, I went out post-Christmas shopping with the commander-in-chief, stopping off at the pub on the way home.

Stood at the bar waiting to be served, I was accosted by a fellow Albion fan, spouting doom and gloom in the fact that, despite having played at that time, only 23 games, we were certainties for relegation and, what's more, it was all Micky Adams' fault.

The blame culture is all part and parcel of football. While, in certain quarters, some might look at Adams' return to the club as the reason for some of the problems we have now, others might say the damage was done before he returned, and then others might say it was after.

So, how far should blame go back? What about the lottery sellers? In 1982, then manager Mike Bailey had taken the Albion to their highest ever finish in the club's history, 13th in the old Division 1 (for younger readers, what is now the Premiership).

While the football probably wasn't as exciting as in the Alan Mullery years, results were encouraging, and what would Albion fans now give for mid-table Premiership football?

Yet, in the following season, the late Ron Pavey was having a conversation with then chairman Mike Bamber.

It went along the lines that the lottery ticket sales were suffering because the punters said the football was boring, which in turn was why the gates dropped to just under 14,000 (still 2,000 above the apparent break-even figure at Falmer).

It is alleged Bailey, on results and league position, the most successful manager in the club's history, was sacked on the say-so of the lottery sellers.

Even allowing for the FA Cup run of that year, results did get worse and the club got relegated from the top flight '” as yet, never to return. So, using the Sunday lunchtime logic of my amigo in the pub, it's the lottery men we have to blame for every misfortune since December, 1982.

Back on planet reality and the Albion have finished 2009 outside the League One relegation zone '” where I believe they will stay.

If we are to believe all we hear, Gus Poyet is going to have a very busy transfer window with rumoured Withdean exits for at least 10 players out of the current squad of 31. Should be entertaining, even for the lottery sellers.

As the head of PE at West Tarring School, Brian Dumigan shaped many young sportsmen in this town. And clearly there is something in the genes as his grandson, Matthew, is excelling in his chosen discipline of cross country.

His season came to a close recently and his progress up the rankings hopes to see him achieve a top 10 national rating for his age group in 2010.

And, finally, a very special message to my old mate, Norman Gall, who is recuperating at home after suffering a heart attack. Get well soon, Sir Norm, and, hopefully, it won't be that long before you're back on the golf course.

Happy new year, one and all.

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