Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. facts for kids

Brighton & Hove Albion

Full name	Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Albion The Seagulls
Short name	Brighton
Founded	24 June 1901; 124 years ago (1901-06-24)
Ground	Falmer Stadium
Ground Capacity	31,876
Owner	Tony Bloom
Chairman	Tony Bloom
Head coach	Fabian Hürzeler
League	Premier League
2018–19	Premier League, 17th of 20
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, often just called Brighton, is a professional football team from Brighton and Hove, England. They play in the Premier League, which is the top football league in England. Their home stadium is the Falmer Stadium.

The club was started in 1901. Their nicknames are "The Seagulls" or "The Albion." Early on, they played in the Southern League. In 1910, they won their first big trophy, the FA Charity Shield, beating Aston Villa. They joined the Football League in 1920.

From 1979 to 1983, Brighton played in the First Division, which was the top league back then. They also reached the 1983 FA Cup final but lost to Manchester United. They were moved down to a lower league in the same season.

In the late 1990s, Brighton faced money problems and were in a lower league. A new group took over the club and saved it. They earned promotions in 2001 and 2002, moving back up to the second tier. In 2011, they moved into the Falmer Stadium after many years without a permanent home.

In the 2016–17 season, Brighton finished second in the Championship. This meant they were promoted to the Premier League, returning to the top flight after 34 years. In the 2022–23 season, Brighton finished sixth in the Premier League. This was their highest ever finish and allowed them to play in the UEFA Europa League, their first time in a European competition.

Brighton's Football Journey: A Club History

How Brighton & Hove Albion Started (1901–1972)

Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. began in 1901. In 1920, they joined the Football League's new Third Division. Before that, they were part of the Southern League. In 1910, they won the FA Charity Shield, which was a national trophy. They beat Aston Villa, who were the Football League champions.

Brighton stayed in the Third Division South until the 1957–1958 season. That year, they won the title and moved up to the Second Division. They stayed in the second tier until 1962. Then, they were moved down again in 1963, ending up in the Fourth Division for the first time. They won the Fourth Division title in 1964–1965. They returned to the Second Division in 1972 as runners-up.

The Mike Bamber Era (1972–1987)

Mike Bamber became Brighton's chairman in 1972. He brought in famous managers like Brian Clough and later Alan Mullery. In 1979, under Mullery, Brighton was promoted to the First Division. This was a big achievement for the club.

The 1982–83 season was a mix of good and bad results. Manager Mike Bailey was replaced by Jimmy Melia. However, Brighton was moved down from the top league in 1983.

Despite this, Brighton reached their first ever FA Cup final that season. They drew 2–2 with Manchester United in the first match. Gordon Smith and Gary Stevens scored for Brighton. In the replay, Manchester United won 4–0.

Tough Times and a New Beginning (1987–1997)

Former Brighton chairman Dick Knight helped save the club.

Brighton was moved down to Division Three in 1987 but came back up the next season. In 1991, they lost a play-off final at Wembley. They were moved down again in 1992 and then to Division Three in 1996. The club was in serious financial trouble. The directors decided to sell their home ground, the Goldstone Ground, to pay off debts.

Manager Jimmy Case was fired, and Steve Gritt took over. Brighton's performance improved, but they lost two points because fans protested the sale of the Goldstone Ground. A lifelong fan, Dick Knight, took control of the club in 1997. He led the effort to remove the old board and save the club.

On the last day of the season, Brighton had to play Hereford United. If Brighton won or drew, they would stay in the league. Brighton scored an own goal, but Robbie Reinelt scored a late goal. This meant Brighton stayed in the league, and Hereford was moved down.

The Withdean Years and Tony Bloom's Arrival (1997–2011)

After selling the Goldstone Ground in 1997, Brighton played at Gillingham's stadium for two seasons. In 1999, they moved to Withdean Stadium in Brighton. This was an athletics track that was changed for football.

In the 2000–01 season, Brighton had a great year. They won the Division Three title and were promoted. Manager Micky Adams left in 2001, and Peter Taylor took over. Brighton continued their success, winning the Division Two title and earning a second promotion in a row. Just five years after almost going out of business, Brighton was only one division away from the Premier League.

In 2009, Tony Bloom became the new chairman. He helped get £93 million to build the new Falmer Stadium. Brighton's last season at Withdean was 2010–11, where they won League One under manager Gus Poyet. The next season, Brighton changed their club badge to look like an older design. This was to celebrate returning to a proper home stadium.

Moving to the New Stadium and Premier League Promotion (2011–2017)

The Falmer Stadium (also known as the Amex) hosted its first league match in 2011. Brighton won 2–1 against Doncaster Rovers. In the 2012–13 season, Brighton finished 4th but lost in the play-off semi-finals to Crystal Palace. Manager Gus Poyet was later replaced by Óscar García.

In 2014, Brighton secured a 6th-place finish on the last day of the season. They lost in the play-offs again, and García resigned. Sami Hyypiä became manager but left after four months. Chris Hughton took over. Brighton had a great run in the 2015–16 season, going unbeaten for 21 games. They finished 3rd and lost in the play-offs again.

Brighton started the 2016–17 season with an 18-match unbeaten run. They stayed in the top promotion spots for most of the season. On April 17, 2017, they won 2–1 against Wigan Athletic at home. This win secured their promotion to the Premier League!

Life in the Top Division (2017–Present)

Brighton's first season in the Premier League was successful. They finished 15th, securing their spot in the league. The next season was tougher, but they avoided being moved down, finishing 17th. In the FA Cup, Brighton reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1983, losing to Manchester City. Chris Hughton was then replaced.

Graham Potter became the new head coach. Brighton finished 15th and 16th in his first two seasons. This meant they stayed in the Premier League for a fifth season, longer than their previous time in the top flight.

The 2021–22 season was amazing. Brighton finished ninth in the Premier League, their highest ever finish, with a record 51 points. In September 2022, Potter left to manage Chelsea.

On September 18, 2022, Roberto De Zerbi became Brighton's new head coach. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister helped Argentina win the final. Brighton reached another FA Cup semi-final, losing to Manchester United. On May 21, 2023, Brighton qualified for European football for the first time ever! They beat Southampton 3–1. A few days later, they secured a spot in the group stage of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League. Brighton finished the season in sixth place with a record 62 points.

On December 14, 2023, Brighton won their Europa League group, beating Marseille 1–0. They reached the round of 16 but were knocked out by Roma. On May 18, 2024, Brighton and De Zerbi decided to part ways. Brighton finished the 2023–24 season in 11th place.

Fabian Hürzeler was appointed head coach in June 2024. At 31, he became the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history. He had previously led FC St. Pauli to promotion in Germany. His first match for Brighton was a 3-0 win against Everton on August 17, 2024.

Brighton's Home Grounds

The Goldstone Ground (1902–1997)

Goldstone Ground, Brighton's home for 95 years.

For 95 years, Brighton and Hove Albion played at the Goldstone Ground in Hove. However, the club's leaders decided to sell the stadium. This decision was very unpopular with fans. The club received very little money from the sale.

In their last season at the Goldstone, 1996–97, the team was in danger of being moved out of the Football League. They won their final game at the Goldstone against Doncaster Rovers. This set up a crucial match against Hereford United, where the winner would stay in the league. Brighton drew 1–1, and Hereford was moved down instead.

The Withdean Stadium (1999–2011)

Withdean Stadium, Brighton's temporary home from 1999 to 2011.

For two years (1997–1999), Brighton shared Priestfield Stadium with Gillingham F.C. Then, they returned to Brighton to play at Withdean Stadium. This stadium was mainly used for athletics and was not ideal for football. It had even been a zoo before!

Because of the costs of planning for a new stadium and the low ticket sales at Withdean, the club had a large debt. Fans helped raise money, and a song called 'Tom Hark' even became a hit, helping to spread the word about their need for a new home.

The Falmer Stadium (2011–Present)

Brighton fans at Falmer Stadium during the first league game against Doncaster Rovers.

Brighton's current home ground is the Falmer Stadium, also known as the American Express Stadium or the Amex. It is located in Brighton.

After many delays and legal challenges, permission to build the Falmer Stadium was finally given. Construction began in December 2008. On May 31, 2011, the club officially received the keys to the stadium. This marked the end of 14 years without a proper home ground.

The stadium first had 22,374 seats. In 2012, the club applied to increase the capacity by 8,000 seats. This was approved, and the stadium was expanded to 27,250 seats for the 2012–13 season. It was further expanded to 30,750 seats by May 2013. In 2021, the stadium was expanded again to 31,800 seats.

Team Colors and Badge

For most of their history, Brighton has worn blue and white shirts, usually with stripes. They have used different combinations of white and blue shorts and socks. Sometimes, their kit has been all white or plain royal blue.

Kit Makers and Sponsors

Since 2014, Nike has made Brighton's kits. Before that, other companies like Bukta, Admiral, Umbro, and Adidas made their uniforms.

Their main shirt sponsor is currently American Express. Over the years, they have had various sponsors like British Caledonian Airways, Phoenix Brewery, and Skint Records. Their sleeve sponsor is now Experience Kissimmee.

Team Rivalries

Brighton's main rival is Crystal Palace. Even though they are about 40 miles apart, their rivalry started in the 1970s. It began with a strong dislike between their managers, Alan Mullery (Brighton) and Terry Venables (Palace).

In the 1976–77 season, both teams were fighting for promotion from the Third Division. This created a fierce competition between them. The A23 road connects Brighton and Croydon (where Palace's stadium is). Because of this, some people call their matches the A23 or M23 derby, but fans usually don't use these names.

Brighton is a bit isolated from other teams in the south of England. Matches against Southampton and Portsmouth are sometimes called local derbies by the media. However, most fans don't see them as true rivals because the clubs are more than 60 miles apart. Southampton and Portsmouth already have their own strong rivalry.

Brighton's Players

First-Team Squad

Here are the players currently in Brighton's main team:

No. Position Player 1 GK Bart Verbruggen 2 DF Tariq Lamptey 3 DF Igor Julio 4 DF Adam Webster 5 DF Lewis Dunk (captain) 6 MF James Milner 7 MF Solly March 8 MF Brajan Gruda 9 FW João Pedro 10 FW Julio Enciso 11 MF Simon Adingra 14 FW Georginio Rutter 15 MF Jakub Moder 17 MF Yankuba Minteh

No. Position Player 18 FW Danny Welbeck 20 MF Carlos Baleba 22 MF Kaoru Mitoma 23 GK Jason Steele 24 DF Ferdi Kadıoğlu 26 MF Yasin Ayari 27 MF Mats Wieffer 28 FW Evan Ferguson 29 DF Jan Paul van Hecke 30 DF Pervis Estupiñán 33 MF Matt O'Riley 34 DF Joël Veltman 41 MF Jack Hinshelwood

Players on Loan

Some players are currently playing for other teams to gain more experience:

No. Position Player 16 MF Jeremy Sarmiento (at Burnley until end of season) 19 DF Valentin Barco (at Sevilla until end of season) 31 MF Abdallah Sima (at Brest until end of season) 36 MF Andrew Moran (at Stoke City until end of season) 39 GK Carl Rushworth (at Hull City until end of season) 40 MF Malick Yalcouyé (at Sturm Graz until end of season)

No. Position Player GK Tom McGill (at MK Dons until end of season) GK Kjell Scherpen (at Sturm Graz until end of season) MF Facundo Buonanotte (at Leicester City until end of season) MF Amario Cozier-Duberry (at Blackburn Rovers until end of season) MF Ibrahim Osman (at Feyenoord until end of season)

Youth Teams and Academy

Brighton also has youth teams, including the Under-21s and the Academy. The Under-21s play in the Premier League 2, which is the top league for youth teams in England. They also play in other competitions like the EFL Trophy. The academy helps train young players, with the Under-18s squad competing in their own league.

Academy players who have been part of the main team for the 2024–25 season:

No. Position Player 32 MF Cameron Peupion 38 GK Killian Cahill 44 DF Ruairi McConville

No. Position Player 47 DF Imari Samuels 48 DF Ed Turns

Club Managers

Many different managers have led Brighton & Hove Albion over the years. Here is a list of some of them:

Club Leadership

Here are some of the important people who help run Brighton & Hove Albion:

Football Staff

First-Team Coaching
Head Coach	Fabian Hürzeler
Assistant Head Coach	Jonas Scheuermann
Technical Coach	Andrew Crofts
Goalkeeping Coaches	Jack Stern Marco Knoop
Chief Analyst	Eoin Bradford
Tactical Analysts	Max Lesser Jack Sheard
Recruitment
Head of Recruitment	Vacant
Loan Manager	Gordon Greer
Academy
Academy Manager	Ian Buckman
Under-21s Head Coach	Shannon Ruth
Under-21s Assistant Head Coach	Gary Dicker
Medical & Performance
Head of Medicine	Florian Pfab
Head of Performance	Gary Walker
Club Doctor	Tim Buck

Brighton's Achievements

Brighton & Hove Albion has won several titles and cups throughout its history. Here's a look at their main achievements:

Brighton & Hove Albion's historic league position over the years.

League Titles

• Second Division / Championship (Level 2)
  • Runners-up: 1978–79, 2016–17
• Third Division South / Second Division / League One (Level 3)
  • Champions: 1957–58, 2001–02, 2010–11
• Fourth Division / Third Division (Level 4)
  • Champions: 1964–65, 2000–01
• Southern League
  • Champions: 1909–10

Cup Wins

• FA Cup
  • Runners-up: 1982–83
• FA Charity Shield
  • Winners: 1910
• Sussex Senior Challenge Cup
  • Winners (15 times): 1942–43, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22
• The Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup
  • Winners: 1959–60, 1960–61.

See also

In Spanish: Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club para niños