The screening, at Duke of York’s Picturehouse in Preston Road, Brighton, was attended by fans, former players and directors.
Stand or Fall: The Remarkable Rise of Brighton and Hove Albion is a nostalgic, uplifting and sometimes emotional masterpiece with a host of interviews and archive footage from people who played a part in the club’s history.
From owner and lifelong fan Tony Bloom, to scorer of Albion’s final Goldstone goal Stuart Storer, and Albion fans who lobbied former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott into approving the Amex Stadium. The documentary has it all.
The Argus was among those invited by the club’s long time sponsor American Express to see the documentary, which was independently produced by Matthew Lorenzo Productions and directed by Ross Clarke.
Speaking to The Argus, deputy chairman Paul Barber said: “It is very difficult to capture 26 years in 90 minutes, particularly with a club like ours with a history that has been so turbulent at times.
“But I think Matt’s done an excellent job. I love the fact there is fans in it, ex-players in it, ex-managers, media and directors.
“It has been in the works for quite a while, one of the challenges we had is when to end this film.
“We knew where it started with Hereford and almost going out of the league and saving ourselves at that time.
“We knew we would have that and the struggle to build the Amex Stadium. But when do you end it when the team has been doing so well?”
The documentary has an abundance of archive footage and pictures, including from the Evening Argus
“Getting the archive footage was a real mission, there is still some polishing to do in the edit. This is a preview not a premiere”, said Barber.
“It is such a big job knitting together all these different pieces of footage from so many different years.”
Tony Bloom said he thinks other Albion fans will “love” the documentary.
He said: “I really think it is a perfect story, people will see this around the world.
“What the fans did to turn it around, save the club, to help us get safe from relegation. Those huge games against Doncaster and at Hereford.”
It features key figures throughout different points of Albion’s history, including Tony Bloom’s uncle Ray Bloom, DJ Fatboy Slim, Gus Poyet and many more.
There is no release date for the documentary yet due to it still being a work in progress.
Beverly Sawyers, senior vice president at American Express, said: “As the club’s main partner, we have been there since the club played in the third tier, and we couldn’t be more proud to see the Albion’s rise through the leagues to European football.
“We’re honoured to host this exclusive blue carpet private screening here in Brighton tonight, and to give fans – including winners of our competition – the chance to be among the very first people to watch the club’s much awaited documentary.
“Tonight’s event is a celebration of the fans, for the fans. As such, we’ve created a ‘hall of fans’ gallery inside the cinema, a tribute to some of the key people involved in returning the club to the city and securing the Amex Stadium, many of whom appear in the documentary.”
The Argus also had the chance to speak with producer Matt Lorenzo, former striker Glenn Murray and lifelong fan Adrian Newnham, who headed up the Bring Home the Albion campaign when Brighton were playing matches in Gillingham 71 miles away between 1997 and 1999.
Matt Lorenzo said: “This documentary has taken almost two and a half years, reaching Europe as an end to the film is fantastic. You couldn’t really have envisaged that 26 years ago.
“It’s an unparalleled story, I don’t think anywhere in the world has anyone done what Albion have done.”
Watching Albion in the big time against former European champions, it is easy to take for granted the generations, some who are no longer with us, who played a vital part in keeping this club alive.
This documentary reminds you of those once-desperate times and will make you laugh, cry and finish watching with a beaming smile on your face.
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