Brighton and Hove Albion legend Bobby Zamora has declared it will be a dream come true if his beloved former club end a 34-year wait to play top-flight football this weekend.
Zamora, 36, retired last summer after a third stint with the Seagulls ended with the side’s agonising third play-off defeat in the last four Championship campaigns. In total, the centre forward scored 96 times in 168 games for them.
The current team can now seal a cherished spot in the Premier League if they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday and third-placed Huddersfield Town lose to Preston North End.
Such success for the second-division leaders is a world away from the bedraggled outfit Zamora first joined on loan in February 2000. The side who now play at the resplendent 30,750-capacity American Express Community Stadium were at that point on their way to promotion from the fourth tier and just tied into a lease for the Withdean Stadium, a converted athletics track, after nearly going out of business in 1997.
“It is something you always dream of,” said Zamora, who was speaking to Sport360 at a Football Escapes training camp at Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Hotel. “I certainly kept my eye on them when I moved on [to Tottenham Hotspur in 2003], seeing the progress from the ground, to the training ground and everything.”
.@whiteoakpics captured a few shots from @rioferdy5 and @RobertZamora25's @footballescapes training session @JumeirahBH yesterday #MyDubai pic.twitter.com/loVweNmp8A
— Sport360° (@Sport360) April 11, 2017
“How they’ve adapted and moved forward is brilliant. To go back last year and try and get back to the Premier League with them was slightly gutting when we lost on goal difference, really [they finished outside the automatic spots in third].”
“For me, I would have been promoted from the Fourth Division to the Premier League.”
“But the club is set-up with the right facilities and way of thinking. Hopefully, they can do it this season.”
Well done to my boys @sjsidwell @stockogk1313 @AKnockaert amazing. And keep up the great work the promised land is near @OfficialBHAFC 💙 pic.twitter.com/kbu9FsOT7B
— Bobby Zamora (@RobertZamora25) April 10, 2017
The ex-England striker’s link to Brighton remains strong and he revealed a recent pep talk to a current player to ensure they push on for the title.
He said: “I’ve just spoken to their goalkeeper, David Stockdale. I just said to him: ‘you’re in a good position now. It’s not just about promotion, it’s about being champions.’”
“I am gutted that I won’t actually be at the game in which they can possibly clinch it. But no doubt, I’ll be back before the end of the season.”
