BRIGHTON ARE JUST three games away from a first ever promotion to the Premier League and, with it, a £120 million windfall.
With Cardiff and Hull already assured of top flight football next season, four teams are vying for that final coveted spot.
Under the guidance of Gus Poyet, The Seagulls have made significant inroads in recent years – after winning League One in 2011, they secured a respectable 10th place last season and were just four points off automatic promotion this time out.
An unbeaten run in the final nine league fixtures sees Brighton in terrific form going into tonight’s semi-final first leg. The opposition? Old rivals Crystal Palace.
Dublin-born midfielder Gary Dicker, at the club four years, will be one of the players hoping to get the nod for Brighton tonight.
Speaking to TheScore.ie ahead of the game this week, he said: ”Nobody wanted the season to finish because of how well we have been playing.
“We were probably thinking ‘what if’ about automatic promotion as we would have been there if we’d picked up a few more wins when we drew games but we’re in the play-off.
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“Everyone’s confident and looking forward to tonight.”
Rivalry between Brighton and Palace can be traced back to the 1970s when former Tottenham team-mates Terry Venables and Alan Mullery were in charge of the sides.
While both sets of fans will be desperate get to the upper hand, Dicker insists it is the biggest 120 minutes of their season – regardless of who they are playing.
“It’s more around the town and in and around the stadium (talk of the rivalry). The fans are getting excited and they’re really geared up for this. It’s a massive game anyway but it does add some spice.
As a player, you try to keep yourself away from all that and focus on what is just another game. Everyone is over the moon that we got Palace and hopefully we can get one over on them.”
The 26-year-old, who spent three seasons in the League of Ireland at UCD before making the switch to Stockport County, is in English football long enough to know just how significant occasions like this are.
“For the leagues below the Premier League, play-offs are massive games. Everyone watches them and they’re brilliant to be involved in.
“Wembley’s a great stage to play on and it’s a day you’ll never forget. Hopefully I’ll be lucky as I was the last time and I get some minutes on the pitch.”
Facing Wycombe in the League Two semi-final back in 2008. Credit: Nigel French/EMPICS Sport
If Brighton do succeed in booking themselves a spot in the final against either Watford or Leicester await (Leicester lead 1-0 after last night’s first leg), it won’t be Dicker’s first appearance at Wembley.
Back in 2008, Jim Gannon’s unfancied Stockport saw off Rochdale with a 3-2 win to ensure League One football for The Hatters.
Playing alongside Dicker that day were fellow Irishmen Conrad Logan, Stephen Gleeson, Leon McSweeney and Anthony Pilkington – who was one of the goalscorers.
It’s up there along with winning the league with Brighton. Winning with Stockport was huge, especially for the club. They had been hovering around League Two for a bit and we got promoted with a really young team when nobody really fancied us.
“Most of the team that played that day are in the Championship or higher so it proves what a good team we had back then.
“It’s a day I’ll always remember. I had all my family there – I think there was about 30 of them over for it! It was a great experience and one that will last long in the memory.”
Dicker, who is capped for Ireland at U21 level, has featured 26 times this campaign but admits that he would have liked more playing time. There is uncertainty around his future beyond this season but the only thing on his mind right now is doing everything in his power to help the Brighton cause.
“It’s been a good season but it has also been a frustrating one as well. I haven’t played as much as I have done over the last four years or so. It is a part of football and a learning curve. I don’t want to learn how to accept it but maybe deal with it a bit better.
“If you’re happy to sit on the bench then I think you’re in the wrong job. Hopefully I can be involved because these are the ones everyone will be watching. You’ll have all sorts of managers and people watching.”
Dicker aiming for another trip to Wembley with the Seagulls
BRIGHTON ARE JUST three games away from a first ever promotion to the Premier League and, with it, a £120 million windfall.
With Cardiff and Hull already assured of top flight football next season, four teams are vying for that final coveted spot.
Under the guidance of Gus Poyet, The Seagulls have made significant inroads in recent years – after winning League One in 2011, they secured a respectable 10th place last season and were just four points off automatic promotion this time out.
An unbeaten run in the final nine league fixtures sees Brighton in terrific form going into tonight’s semi-final first leg. The opposition? Old rivals Crystal Palace.
Dublin-born midfielder Gary Dicker, at the club four years, will be one of the players hoping to get the nod for Brighton tonight.
Speaking to TheScore.ie ahead of the game this week, he said: ”Nobody wanted the season to finish because of how well we have been playing.
“We were probably thinking ‘what if’ about automatic promotion as we would have been there if we’d picked up a few more wins when we drew games but we’re in the play-off.
“Everyone’s confident and looking forward to tonight.”
Rivalry between Brighton and Palace can be traced back to the 1970s when former Tottenham team-mates Terry Venables and Alan Mullery were in charge of the sides.
While both sets of fans will be desperate get to the upper hand, Dicker insists it is the biggest 120 minutes of their season – regardless of who they are playing.
“It’s more around the town and in and around the stadium (talk of the rivalry). The fans are getting excited and they’re really geared up for this. It’s a massive game anyway but it does add some spice.
The 26-year-old, who spent three seasons in the League of Ireland at UCD before making the switch to Stockport County, is in English football long enough to know just how significant occasions like this are.
“For the leagues below the Premier League, play-offs are massive games. Everyone watches them and they’re brilliant to be involved in.
“Wembley’s a great stage to play on and it’s a day you’ll never forget. Hopefully I’ll be lucky as I was the last time and I get some minutes on the pitch.”
If Brighton do succeed in booking themselves a spot in the final against either Watford or Leicester await (Leicester lead 1-0 after last night’s first leg), it won’t be Dicker’s first appearance at Wembley.
Back in 2008, Jim Gannon’s unfancied Stockport saw off Rochdale with a 3-2 win to ensure League One football for The Hatters.
Playing alongside Dicker that day were fellow Irishmen Conrad Logan, Stephen Gleeson, Leon McSweeney and Anthony Pilkington – who was one of the goalscorers.
“Most of the team that played that day are in the Championship or higher so it proves what a good team we had back then.
“It’s a day I’ll always remember. I had all my family there – I think there was about 30 of them over for it! It was a great experience and one that will last long in the memory.”
Dicker, who is capped for Ireland at U21 level, has featured 26 times this campaign but admits that he would have liked more playing time. There is uncertainty around his future beyond this season but the only thing on his mind right now is doing everything in his power to help the Brighton cause.
“It’s been a good season but it has also been a frustrating one as well. I haven’t played as much as I have done over the last four years or so. It is a part of football and a learning curve. I don’t want to learn how to accept it but maybe deal with it a bit better.
“If you’re happy to sit on the bench then I think you’re in the wrong job. Hopefully I can be involved because these are the ones everyone will be watching. You’ll have all sorts of managers and people watching.”
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Brighton & Hove Albion Championship play-off Crystal Palace Gary Dicker Gus Poyet Promotion play-off Race for Promotion