Dear Brighton: Please host a benefit for Peter O’Sullivan

First, the good news: One of the most popular and long-serving players in Brighton history, Peter O’Sullivan, is out of hospital after being on life support since collapsing at the end of June.

The bad news: Sully faces a long, hard and potentially expensive road to making some kind of recovery from the bleed to the brain which almost proved fatal. We are now asking the club to do everything they can to support Sully and his wife Kim in the months ahead.

For those of you unaware of the feats of Peter O’Sullivan, here is a summary that will hopefully make clear why he is deserving of a benefit match or other fundraiser with the full weight of Brighton & Hove Albion behind it.

Born in Wales, O’Sullivan joined the Seagulls on a free transfer in April 1970 after failing to break into the first team at Manchester United.

Over the next 11 years, he would go onto play 491 times for the Albion. Only Tug Wilson has made more appearances.

Between 1970 and 1974, Sully played in 194 consecutive matches. That is a club record for an outfield player, with just goalkeeper Eric Gill topping it.

O’Sullivan scored 12 times from out on the wing as Brighton won promotion to the second tier in 1972-73. He took up a more central role under Alan Mullery, becoming a mainstay of the Albion side who marched from Division Three to the top flight between 1976 and 1979.

He was voted Player of the Season when Brighton just missed out on promotion to Division One at the end of the 1977-78 campaign. He missed only five games the following season as the Albion finally achieved their dream of top flight football.

O’Sullivan went onto play in all but three of the Albion’s games in their debut Division One season before joining the wonderfully named San Diego Sockers in the United States in April 1980.

Within six months, Mullery had re-signed Sully from the Sockers to boost a side struggling with second season syndrome. Sully’s time at the Albion finally came to an end at the end of the 1980-81 campaign.

The longevity of his Brighton career is made all the more remarkable when you consider that he was transfer listed three times.

Pat Saward, Peter Taylor and Mullery all nearly saw O’Sullivan leave under their watch. Each time though he showed the tenacity, the will and the fight to battle back and re-establish himself as a first choice player.

Without O’Sullivan, the scoring record of Peter Ward would not look half as good as it does. Ian Mellor, Teddy Maybank and Malcolm Poskett all benefited from his creativity.

He scored 43 times for the Albion. If they kept records of assists in the 1970s, you expect he would be miles clear of anyone else in Brighton history.

O’Sullivan was not just revered for his on-the-pitch abilities. As an absolute gentleman, he always had time for fans including joining in kickabouts with supporters in Wish Park.

He spent six years after retiring from the professional game playing for a host of non-league clubs in Sussex. Crawley Town, Worthing, Wick, Shoreham, Peacehaven and Newhaven were all lucky enough to sign the Welsh wing wizard.

At the age of 40, he helped Newhaven to win the Sussex County League Division Two title whilst working in the building industry.

Now 71, O’Sullivan collapsed and was rushed to hospital with a bleed on the brain. He was on life support in a high dependency ward at the Royal Sussex and has since returned home.

The response when Spencer Vignes revealed what had happened to Sully on Twitter shows how popular he is. Former teammates including Ward, Maybank, Brian Horton, John Ruggiero and Peter Suddaby posted messages of support.

Brian Owen at The Argus meanwhile collected letters, cards and emails from Brighton fans to be read to Sully to help in his recovery.

Over 60 were sent in from places as far flung as Russia and New Zealand. The Albion delivered a parcel of fruit and chocolates to O’Sullivan, which he is said to have smiled at when it arrived.

Unfortunately, letters, fruit and chocolate will not pay for Sully to get the treatment he needs. Which is why talk has turned to organising a benefit match to raise money for a man who gave 11 years of his life and virtually his entire professional playing career to the Seagulls.

An update on Peter O'Sullivan. 'Sully' is now home from hospital following his bleed on the brain but the road to some kind of recovery will be long, convoluted & potentially expensive. Maybe now is the time to look at staging a benefit game for his loyal #BHAFC servant? pic.twitter.com/5GaML8e8mr

— Spencer Vignes (@SpencerVignes) July 6, 2022

There are a couple of ways in which the club could help facilitate this. The upcoming Amex friendly between Brighton and Espanyol presents a prime opportunity, if it were to be turned into a Peter O’Sullivan testimonial match.

Donate all the proceeds of the game to O’Sullivan for his recovery. It might even swell the crowd, if fans knew that their attendance was supporting an Albion legend through a lifechanging injury rather than simply being a game between clubs who finished ninth in the Premier League and 14th in La Liga.

Dedicating the first home Premier League fixture of the season against West Ham United to Sully would potentially raise even more.

Bucket collections, a share of the gate receipts, anything that the club can do to co-ordinate and encourage 30,000 fans at the Amex to help O’Sullivan could make a real difference.

Or how about arranging a charity game of some description, featuring Brighton legends and involving the presence of Sully’s many ex-teammates who clearly hold him in such high regard?

There is already talk of supporters organising their own match for this purpose. Newhaven have offered to host it – as soon as their new 3G pitch has been installed – without a second thought out of recognition of the role O’Sullivan played during his time at Fort Road.

A fan-led event would raise money. What would raise even more though is the backing of the Albion. Sully has already started on the slow road to recovery and he needs help now; there is no time to uhm and ahh over what can or should be done.

In addition to keeping everyone update on Sully’s condition, Spencer has been trying without much luck so far to coerce the club into doing something.

I am trying to liaise with the club but, as of yet, no real response other than exchanging texts with Paul Camillin, head of press. Hopefully he'll be able to rattle a few consciences further up the food chain.

— Spencer Vignes (@SpencerVignes) July 6, 2022

There is a wider debate to be had here about why Brighton do not have an Ex-Players Association in place to support former Seagulls who find themselves going through hard times.

Everton and Sunderland are two examples of clubs who do this brilliantly. Their Ex-Players Associations provide a source of inspiration and comfort for players, ensuring they know that their contributions to Toffees and Black Cats history are not forgotten through emotional and financial support where necessary.

The Premier League is awash with enough money that the Albion could surely afford to set something similar up to help players like Sully.

And a Brighton benefit for Peter O’Sullivan to help him on his road to recovery would be a bloody good start. Make it happen, Albion.

If you would like to send a letter of support to Sully, the please email brian.owen@theargus.co.uk who will pass it onto Kim. Get well cards can be sent to The Argus, 33 Bond Street, Brighton, BN1 1RD.