Thousands of signed postcards were handed to the government

They took their protest to Westminster exactly a decade after the club last played at a permanent home in Brighton.

A request for approval of stadium plans at Falmer was printed on the cards.

Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly is reviewing the club's stadium plans after permission granted by John Prescott in October 2005 was quashed.

Ten years of campaigning to the day, our message to Ruth Kelly is as strong as ever Paul Samrah Falmer For All Campaign

Feasibility studies were conducted for nine sites, including Sheepcote Valley and the club's preferred option at Falmer, which was also backed by Brighton and Hove council and the city's MPs.

However, the plans for the 22,000-seater stadium were opposed by some residents, the parish council, Lewes council and conservation groups because of its proximity to the South Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Ms Kelly is considering whether to re-open the public inquiry or grant planning permission for the Falmer development.

Chairman of the Falmer For All Campaign, Paul Samrah, said fans had sent "well over" 25,000 postcards to Ms Kelly in the past eight weeks.

He said: "Thursday 26 April is a very significant day - it will be 10 years since the Albion last played at a permanent home in the city.

"Ten years of campaigning to the day, our message to Ruth Kelly is as strong as ever."

Brighton and Hove Albion have been without a stadium since their former home - the Goldstone Ground - closed in 1997 and was then sold off.