Brighton joined the football league as a third division side in the year 1920 and remained in that division until the 1957 – 1958 season. After five years in the second division they returned to the third division in 1963 and went down to the fourth a year later. They had to be patient and wait until the end of the 1970’s for their fortunes to turn. They were promoted back in to the third division in 1977 and they reached the promised land of the top flight in 1979. The 1982 – 1983 season was probably the finest in the history of Brighton FC as they reached the FA cup final, suffering defeat against manahcetsre United in a replay, losing the match 4-0. Since 1983, they have hovered around the second, third and fourth tier of English football.