Premier League club’s former stadium stands were used at The Open blocking players from pre-season games
By Saghir Hussain ·
It’s ridiculous that the rusted stands of Brighton’s old Goldstone Ground are now being used at The Open, literally blocking players from their pre‑season warm‑ups and turning a national sporting spectacle into a logistical nightmare. I saw the footage of the golfers trudging past those concrete slabs, and I can’t help but think of the broader UK picture: a government still cutting funding for community sports facilities while local councils struggle to keep stadiums safe and usable.
For a club that has risen from the lower leagues to the Premier League in just two decades, repurposing its own history should be a point of pride, not a cheap shortcut that jeopardises player preparation and fan experience. The same old stands that once echoed with football chants now cast shadows over a golf tournament, and the knock‑on effect is felt on the streets of Brighton, where cafés and shops depend on match‑day footfall. When players are distracted by avoidable logistical blunders, the whole ecosystem – from the players’ fitness to the local economy – suffers.
Add to that the current climate of soaring ticket prices and a cost‑of‑living crisis, and you have a recipe for disillusionment among the very supporters who keep the game alive. It’s a stark reminder that the way we treat our stadiums reflects how we value our communities.
Will the FA and the clubs finally stop treating our stadiums like cheap set dressing, or will the next generation of fans keep paying the price?