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Why the ‘M23 derby’ is one of the fiercest in the Premier League


Every time Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace play each other, questions are raised about the origins of the intense animosity between teams whose 43-mile distance means they are in different countries.

When the clubs meet again at the Amex Stadium on Sunday (14:00 GMT), it will be the first edition of a feverish encounter for Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler and Palace’s Oliver Glasner – a coach the Albion boss has immense respect for from his time in Germany.

Hurzeler was the St Pauli boss and away on a fact-finding mission when the sides drew 1-1 at Selhurst Park last season, while Glasner became Palace manager 16 days after the 4-1 defeat at Brighton on February 3.

Here are some of the history lessons the pair may have received, as well as a look at some memorable clashes between Brighton and Palace.

Brighton-Palace rivalry: When did it start?

There were problems at matches between the teams in the mid-1970s, as well as subversion of Palace’s ‘Eagles’ nickname by Brighton fans which eventually led to Albion adopting their own nickname – the Seagulls – in direct opposition to Palace.

During the 1976/77 season. the teams engaged in an FA Cup first round encounter that required three overtimes before Palace won 1–0.

Two extremely charismatic characters were in the teams: Alan Mullery for Brighton, Terry Venables for Palace. The pair were roommates at Tottenham as players, with Spurs manager Bill Nicholson picking Mullery over Venables as captain.

Mullery was furious after Albion lost their cup tie. His captain, Brian Horton, had a penalty disallowed by referee Ron Challis before the rebound was saved and iconic Brighton striker Peter Ward also scored.

The manager produced an immortal piece of imagery when he flashed a ‘V’ sign at Palace fans celebrating at full-time, complained to Challis and threw a change at the opposition team, adding: “Palace isn’t worth it.”

Alan Mullery v Terry Venables

Martin Hinshelwood, a Palace player at the time who would go on to become a respected youth coach at Brighton and briefly manage the Seagulls in 2002, noted that Venables “always seemed to outdo Alan.”

Palace finished two points ahead of Brighton as both teams were promoted from League Three that year, and the unrelenting story of promotion battles, dramatic games and hatred between fan groups was set in motion.

Between them, Palace again beat Mullery’s Brighton to the title in 1978/79, as both teams gained promotion to League One, and five penalties were awarded inside 27 minutes in Palace’s 2-1 win in 1989, including Ian’s unerring spot-kick . Wright, who was rejected by Brighton as a youngster because he was too small.

Palace lost eight and drew two out of 10 derbies between 1979 and 1986, but they boasted the best between 1990 and 2001, spending three seasons in the Premier League and the rest in the second division, while Brighton hovered on the brink of oblivion the other end of the EFL.

After almost going out of business and remaining in the EFL for the final game of the 1996/97 season, Albion spent time in two temporary homes before finally moving to the Amex Stadium in 2011.

Palace vs Brighton: Modern results

When their wait of almost 13 years to play Palace again came to an end, it was a glorious day for the home fans at Selhurst Park, who witnessed a 5-0 drubbing in League Two, with future England striker Andy Johnson scoring a hat-trick.

Palace have lost just once in eight meetings with a 1-0 defeat at Selhurst Park in 2005 and became the first team to beat Brighton at the Amex Stadium, as well as beating them there in the 2013 Championship play-off semi-finals.

Jordan Ayew scored the only goal of the game in Palace’s first Premier League win against Brighton in 2020, and exquisite drama became the hallmark of the game over the next four meetings, three of which were decided by 90th-minute goals.

Brighton’s impressive win more than 10 months ago is the only time either team has won by more than a goal in the last 11 games between them, with Hinshelwood’s great-nephew Jack among the scorers on that occasion.

Palace’s last two defeats to Brighton also preceded the departure of their managers: Patrick Vieira’s last game in charge was a 1-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium in March 2023, while their defeat in the same surroundings last season proved to be Roy Hodgson’s last away game of his mandate.

Why is Brighton v Crystal Palace called the M23 derby?

Reports usually refer to this match as the ‘M23 derby’ to mark the journey between Brighton and London. The real road that provides a direct connection is the A23.

Brighton v Palace: Five episodes in the rivalry

Brighton 1-1 Palace, 2 October 1976

In the spirit of equality, let’s start with the tie at Brighton’s original stadium, the Goldstone Ground, which saw over 27,000 in the Third Division.

Mullery reportedly joked about Venables organizing smoke bombs on the pitch, believing the fan interruptions had hampered his team’s momentum.

As was often the case in favor of both sides, Palace took the lead against the run of play through Jim Cannon. Brighton quickly equalized with a Kenny Sansom own goal.

Palace 2-1 Brighton, 27 March 1989

A superb early goal from Ian Wright, a red card for Brighton’s Mike Trusson and a successful Mark Bright penalty put Palace 2-0 up and seemingly on course for a routine win despite Bright and Wright missing penalties in quick succession.

Alan Curbishley replied from the spot after the break before defender John Pemberton fired over the bar for the hosts. Palace reached the top via the play-offs that season, while Brighton flirted with relegation but survived.

Palace 5-0 Brighton, 26 October 2002

Steve Coppell was Palace manager in that five-penalty game and his task when the sides met again after a 13-year absence was to rescue Albion from a desperate start to the Championship season.

Unfortunately for Brighton, Coppell’s first away game only cemented his status as a Palace legend, with Johnson scoring twice in the first half. Palace’s current sporting director Dougie Freedman then scored, as did Julian Gray after Johnson completed his hat-trick.

While Palace finished in 14th place, Coppell showed his considerable expertise to revive Brighton’s season, taking their unsuccessful relegation battle to the final day of the season.

Brighton 3-0 Palace, 17 March 2013

This was Brighton’s first win over Palace in over seven years, their first at home in 25 years, their first at the Amex Stadium and their only win in the game in eight attempts between 2005 and 2017.

Spanish midfielder David Lopez scored a spectacular free kick between Leo Ulloa’s goals. At the time, Brighton were chasing a place in the Championship play-offs, while Palace were hoping for automatic promotion.

Brighton 0-2 Palace, 13 May 2013

Palace had the last laugh that season in the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs.

After a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park, two goals from Wilfried Zaha inside 20 second-half minutes earned the visitors a 2-0 aggregate victory, with the manager who masterminded Brighton’s promotion from League One and took them to their new home, Gus Poyet, leaving The Seagulls two days later.

Ian Holloway led Palace to victory over Watford in the play-off final and they have been in the Premier League ever since.

Brighton vs Crystal Palace one on one

The remarkably close total between the teams reflects the see-saw nature of their games and results against each other over the decades.

The exact figures are up for debate, but Brighton have 42 wins to Palace’s 38, according to 11v11.com31 of which ended in a draw.





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