Brighton and Hove Albion are celebrating after "Falmer Friday"

Fans arriving for Saturday's match against Ipswich, at the club's temporary home at Withdean, were welcomed with a free glass of bubbly.

Paul Samrah, from the Falmer For All Campaign, said there was "one hell of a celebration" on what he called Supporters' Saturday.

The club now hopes to move into a new 23,000-seat stadium at Falmer by 2008.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced the go-ahead for the development on Friday, ending an eight-year wait.

Home games have been played at the Withdean athletics stadium in Brighton since 1999.

A banner there on Saturday had the message "John Prescott Fan Club (provisional)".

There was a jubilant mood at Saturday's match

Mr Samrah said there would be "talk of the bad times but looking ahead to the real good times of a permanent home for the Albion".

Opponents of the scheme could seek a judicial review of Mr Prescott's decision, but Mr Samrah hopes that won't be the case.

"We really feel it is the end of the road, and for the good of relations between our new neighbours I would urge Falmer residents to embrace the club."

Chairman Dick Knight said he had seen blue and white stripes, the club's colours, all around Brighton.

"This opens a new era," he said.