The local boy went on as substitute for Mauricio Taricco during a 3-0 win over Southampton at the Amex in 2011-12 as Gus Poyet’s injury and suspension-ravaged side stunned the Championship leaders.
It turned out to also be his last league game for the club, although he played againast Wrexham in the FA Cup.
But he hopes to put what he has learnt since then in a distinguished EFL career to good use back home as he turns out for Whitehawk in the Isthmian premier.
Hall has returned to non-league after the rigours of full-time football proved too much following a hip-flexor injury.
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He has family history at Hawks, where his dad Terry and brother Craig played, and hopes the lesser physical demands allow him to remain in the game.
Hall was part of what felt like a production line of homegrown Albion centre-backs including Adam Virgo, Joel Lynch, Steve Cook, Tommy Elphick, Adam El-Abd and Lewis Dunk.
He told The Argus: “It feels like forever ago now. I'm 34 at the end of this month, so I'm still quite young, but it feels like forever.
Grant Hall in action against Southampton _(Image: Simon Dack)_
“I remember making my debut at the Amex against Southampton. Coming on at left-back, 0-0, ended up winning the game 3-0.
“That was a lot of mixed emotions. My family were there, so it was a really proud moment for my family, and for me to make my debut for Brighton.
“I got released from Brighton as a 16-year-old, went to Lewes and played non-league, played Conference and sort of came out of my shell a little bit and never looked back when I went back to Brighton and then managed to make a good career in the game.”
From being a squad player with a Championship club, Hall made an eye-catching move to Spurs.
He said: “It was an opportunity I felt I couldn't really turn down at the time.
“I obviously didn't manage to play for Spurs, but I feel like I became a better player, playing with world-class players day in, day out, training with them, and I got some good loans as well, to good clubs in the Championship.
“That put me in good stead for the future.
“I went to QPR, spent five years there, captained them in my last season, and obviously Middlesbrough as well.
“I've managed to make a career in the Championship, which is still a very good level.
“My aspirations were to play Premier League but due to injuries, and other things, it just didn't materialise but I'm happy I had a career in a game that I did.”
Hall worked under the guidance of coaches including Tim Sherwood, Les Ferdinand and ex-Albion full-back Chris Ramsey at Spurs and later followed the latter two to QPR.
He said: “I was playing with the top players day in and day out at Spurs.
Playing for Lewes as a teenager _(Image: Argus)_
“Gareth Bale was still there so I was learning a lot and the level was different to when I was at Brighton.
“Obviously Brighton's a great team now, of course, in the Premier League and I think they have done fantastically well to get there.
“But, back then, I saw the step up and level when I went to Spurs and I think it helped me develop as a player as well.”
Hall enjoyed playing for Poyet but added: “We had a little bit of a falling out towards the end because I was training with the first team, and I think I was developing and doing well.
“And then we had a conversation. He said I was going to go back and train with the 21s because they brought in a player on loan and I disagreed with that.
“I think it wasn't benefitting my development as a player.
“I thought I had outgrown the development team at the time, to be honest.
“So that was a reason why I left as well because I felt like I had quite a few players in front of me at the time.”
Hall considers QPR as the main stop in a career which also took in Swindon, Middlesbrough, Rotherham, Birmingham and Blackpool.
But now it is about doing a job for Hawks boss Shaun Saunders.
“I know the manager well, I've known him for years, so I wanted to help him out.
Hall is enjoying his football at Whitehawk _(Image: Andy Schofield)_
“And it's part-time as well. Training once a week and then games.
“I’ve only played a few games, so I'll see if it holds up to it, but I'm hoping it will.
“I remember running up and down as a kid playing here and all my mates used to come here.
“So it's a family club for me. I know everyone here.
“It's local and it keeps me playing, obviously not to the same level, but it still keeps me within the game.
“I still enjoy football. If I continue to contribute, then I will continue to play.
“Other than that I'm just enjoying being at home with the kids.
“I'm doing some coaching as well for our kids' academy in the evenings.
“I haven't quite figured out what path I want to go down yet.
“But, if I feel like I've still got two or three years left in me doing this, I will.”