Brighton vs Crystal Palace: M23 Derby Guide & Fan Sentiment

Brighton vs Crystal Palace: The M23 Derby, El Gatwicko and a Rivalry Like No Other

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace is one of the strangest rivalries in English football. The clubs are not traditional neighbours, their stadiums are around 40 miles apart, and yet the M23 Derby has developed into one of the most fiercely contested fixtures in the Premier League. Sometimes called the A23 Derby or, more playfully, El Gatwicko, the rivalry has a fascinating history stretching back decades.

On Sunday 18 October 2026, Brighton and Palace meet again at the Amex, with another chapter of this unusual rivalry waiting to be written. But while the players will be fighting for three points, Who2Win is asking a different question: who do football fans WANT to win?

What Is the M23 Derby?

The M23 Derby is the name commonly used for the rivalry between Brighton and Crystal Palace. The name comes from the M23 motorway, which connects the London area with the south coast, although the A23 road is actually the more direct route between the two areas.

The fixture is also known as the A23 Derby, while El Gatwicko has become another nickname used to describe the rivalry, referencing Gatwick Airport's location roughly between the two clubs.

Unlike many famous English football derbies, Brighton and Palace are not separated by just a few miles. Their rivalry is based much more on footballing history, competition and years of bad blood than simple geography.

Why Do Brighton and Crystal Palace Hate Each Other?

The modern rivalry really began to develop during the 1970s. Brighton and Palace found themselves competing against each other regularly in the lower divisions, with large crowds and increasingly heated encounters.

Things intensified during the 1976/77 season when the clubs met five times, including a controversial FA Cup tie that required multiple replays. Brighton were managed by Alan Mullery, while Palace were led by Terry Venables, former Tottenham team-mates who already had history from their playing days.

The FA Cup meeting eventually became one of the defining moments in the rivalry. Palace won the final replay 1–0 at Stamford Bridge, with the aftermath involving Mullery, Palace supporters and a notorious incident involving hot coffee. The rivalry between the two clubs had well and truly taken on a life of its own.

Brighton vs Crystal Palace in the Premier League

The rivalry has taken on an even bigger stage since both clubs established themselves in the Premier League.

Brighton finally reached the Premier League in 2017, joining Palace in the top flight and turning the M23 Derby into a regular fixture on the English football calendar. What had once been a rivalry played in the lower divisions was suddenly being watched by a huge international Premier League audience.

The modern meetings have continued to produce plenty of drama, with Palace and Brighton often separated by very little when they meet. The overall historical head-to-head record is remarkably close, underlining just how competitive this fixture has been across the years.

Recent Brighton vs Crystal Palace Meetings

The most recent meeting came at the Amex in February 2026, when Crystal Palace won 1–0, with Ismaïla Sarr scoring the decisive goal.

That followed a 0–0 draw at Selhurst Park earlier in the 2025/26 season and Palace's dramatic 2–1 victory over Brighton in April 2025.

The recent results demonstrate just how difficult this fixture can be to predict — and that's exactly what makes the Brighton vs Crystal Palace vote on Who2Win so interesting.

Brighton vs Crystal Palace: Who Will Fans WANT to Win?

Forget the bookmakers. Forget predictions. Forget who the statistics say should win.

Who do you WANT to win?

That's the question at the heart of Who2Win.

The Brighton vs Crystal Palace fixture gives football fans around the world the chance to show which side they are backing in the M23 Derby. Whether you're a Brighton supporter, a Palace fan, have a connection to one of the clubs, or simply prefer one team over the other, your vote contributes to the global picture of football fan sentiment.

And because Who2Win is about who fans WANT to win, rather than who they think will win, the results can sometimes tell a very different story from the traditional football predictions.

Why the World Is Watching the M23 Derby

Brighton and Crystal Palace have both developed significant international followings during their years in the Premier League.

Brighton's rise from the lower reaches of English football to becoming an established Premier League and European club has attracted supporters from around the world. Palace, meanwhile, have built a distinctive global identity around their South London roots, passionate supporters and memorable Premier League teams.

That means the Brighton vs Crystal Palace rivalry is no longer simply a battle between Sussex and South London. Premier League football's global reach means fans from all over the world can now take part in the debate over who should win El Gatwicko.

Brighton vs Crystal Palace 2026 Fixture Details

The next Brighton vs Crystal Palace Premier League fixture takes place on Sunday 18 October 2026.

Venue: American Express Stadium, Brighton

Kick-off: 2:00pm

Competition: Premier League

Fixture: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace

Rivalry: M23 Derby / A23 Derby / El Gatwicko

With the Amex hosting the latest chapter, Brighton will be looking to claim bragging rights on home soil while Palace will be hoping to repeat their recent success in this fixture.

Vote on Who2Win

The M23 Derby is about rivalry, history and bragging rights — but there's one question only the fans can answer.

Who do you WANT to win?

Cast your vote on Who2Win and see how football fans around the world are backing Brighton or Crystal Palace. Your vote helps build the global fan picture of one of the Premier League's most unusual and fiercely contested rivalries.

Brighton or Crystal Palace — who do you WANT to win?