Brighton’s home game against rivals Crystal Palace is POSTPONED as further train strikes will cause travel chaos again next weekend
- Brighton were due to host rivals Crystal Palace on the same day the rails went on strike
- The Amex is best reached by public transport, which would be disruptive
- A postponement comes after both clubs accepted they should be postponed
Brighton’s home game against bitter rivals Crystal Palace next weekend has been postponed because of the train strike which is set to cause travel chaos.
The Premier League encounter between the two sides was due to take place at the Amex on Saturday September 17 at 3pm – the same day as around 40,000 railway workers are set to leave home as part of the long-running dispute over pay and working conditions.
Talks between authorities have revealed that postponing the game is the most practical option.
Brighton and Palace are keen to play the game but the RMT strike, the latest in a series of industrial action that has thrown the rail network into chaos this summer, raised a major logistical problem.
The Amex is best reached by public transport, including trains, buses and a park-and-ride service, and there have been concerns about how more than 2,000 Palace fans will get home from a game often plagued by crowds would return.
A postponement of the game to Sunday is also unlikely due to the usual Sunday operation and the interruption caused by the strike the day before.
The strike is expected to paralyze most of the rail system that day, while there could be overflow problems due to similar actions organized by the RMT two days earlier.
Amex Stadium is a stadium best served by public transportation as there is a train station nearby
Supporters often use trains, buses and a park and ride service to reach Brighton Stadium
The latest round of train strikes will cause further disruption to football fans across the country
Crystal Palace tweeted: “Unfortunately the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace has been postponed due to planned industrial action on the rail network.”
Brighton’s clash with Palace was one of four Premier League games scheduled for September 17. Wolves host Manchester City at the lunchtime kick-off, while Newcastle host Bournemouth at 3pm and Spurs entertain Leicester at teatime.
The Football League also has a full program of activities.
Brighton, who could lose manager Graham Potter to Chelsea, head to Bournemouth for their next Premier League game on Saturday, while Palace play Manchester United at home on Sunday.
Should the game between Brighton and Palace be postponed, neither side would play again until October 1.
Brighton and Palace both want to play the game but accept the strikes will make it a logistical problem
Postponing the game would extend Brighton’s break from two weeks to three
