It’s the time of the year in soccer when teams begin to clinch promotion, or relegation, throughout the footballing pyramids all over Europe. In England, the first of three promotion slots to the Premier League has been clinched.
The first club to grab the golden ticket is Brighton & Hove Albion, who will become the 48th different team to play in the Premier League era, and will be in the top flight for the first time since 1983. They mathematically clinched promotion with a 2-1 home win over Wigan on Monday combined with a 1-1 draw between Derby County and third place Huddersfield Town.
The Seagulls as they’re known, finished third in the Championship on goal difference to Middlesbrough last season but lost in the promotion playoff semifinals 3-1 on aggregate to Sheffield Wednesday. They also made the playoffs in 2013 and 2014 and have been a stable club in the Championship since winning promotion from the third tier in 2011.
And based on the scenes in their dressing room, the news of promotion means an awful lot to both supporters and players:
WATCH: These are the scenes as @OfficialBHAFC clinch promotion to the @premierleague. https://t.co/IHU081as7C #SSNHQ https://t.co/nctbKzGoYz
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 17, 2017
Here's the moment Chris Hughton found out it was official. #BHAFC #Together pic.twitter.com/cfydU85K55
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) April 17, 2017
"So good, so good, so good…" 🎶
It's not official yet of course, but @OfficialBHAFC know promotion is all but secured! pic.twitter.com/CR3WGRATZY
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) April 17, 2017
Brighton was nearly knocked out of league football altogether 20 years ago and was almost shuttered because of debt issues around the same time. 20 years later and they are a top flight club once again.
Two more promotion spots are available, one directly to the Premier League and another via the playoff. Newcastle United have a magic number of 6 points won and/or dropped by competing clubs to make an immediate return to the top flight. Reading, Huddersfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham are holding the playoff positions with Leeds United tied with Fulham for the final spot.
[ESPN FC]
