History of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. facts for kids

The history of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. started in 1901. The club first played in the Southern Football League, and then joined the Football League in 1920. They moved up to the top division, the Football League First Division, in the 1978–79 season. After a few years, they were relegated in the 1982–83 season. The team returned to the top league, now called the Premier League, for the 2017–18 season.

Brighton & Hove Albion played their home games at the Goldstone Ground from 1902 to 1997. After the stadium was sold, the club played in Gillingham for two years. Then, they moved to Withdean Stadium from 1999 to 2011. In 2011, a new stadium called Falmer Stadium was finished. It has been the club's home ground ever since. On September 21, 2023, Joao Pedro scored Brighton's first-ever goal in a European competition from a penalty kick. This made him the first player in the club's history to do so.

How the Club Started

The club was first created on June 24, 1901, and was called Brighton & Hove United. The name quickly changed to Brighton & Hove Albion. The new club took the place of an older team, Brighton & Hove Rangers, in the Southern Football League. In 1910, while in the Southern League, they won their only national trophy so far: the FA Community Shield. They beat the Football League Champions, Aston Villa, in that match.

The club first played at the Hove County Ground. Some games were also held at the Goldstone Ground, which was used by Hove F.C. From 1902 onwards, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. and Hove F.C. shared the Goldstone Ground.

In 1920, 19 years after the club began, they were chosen to join the Football League's new Third Division.

Club Badges and Nicknames

The first known badge (from 1946 to 1975) used by Brighton & Hove Albion showed the traditional coat-of-arms for the towns of Brighton and Hove. Sometimes, a mix of the Hove shield and Brighton's dolphin badge was used. A fancy shield was also on the team shirts in the late 1950s.

During the 1974/75 season, the club was known as 'The Dolphins'. A new club badge with a dolphin was introduced the next season. However, both this nickname and badge didn't last long. Before a big game against their rivals, Crystal Palace, some Palace fans chanted "Eagles, Eagles." A group of Brighton & Hove Albion fans replied with "Seagulls, Seagulls!" This is how the club got its famous nickname, 'The Seagulls'.

Since then, the club has been known as 'The Seagulls'. In 1977, the club badge changed again to show a seagull. A round seagull badge was used until 1998. The current design was then introduced by new chairman Dick Knight. He wanted a fresh start for the club.

For the club's 100th birthday season (2001/02), the shirts didn't have a seagull badge. Instead, they used the traditional shields of the old Brighton and Hove areas. The Brighton shield shows Martlets (birds often seen in Sussex symbols) and coral, both representing the sea. The Hove shield also has martlets and a ship that ran aground. This ship remembers French attacks on the Hove coast in the early 1500s.

Key Chairmen and Managers

Mike Bamber was the Chairman of Brighton from October 1972 until 1983. He brought famous managers like Brian Clough and Alan Mullery to the club. Mullery led the team to the First Division in the 1978/79 season. Bamber also appointed Jimmy Melia, who guided the club to their only FA Cup Final in 1983. After the team was relegated in the 1982/83 season, Mike Bamber stepped down.

Brian Clough's Short Stay

After leaving Derby County F.C., Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor joined Brighton. At the time, Brighton was at the bottom of the Third Division. Clough was not as successful here as he had been before. He won only 12 of his 32 games. For example, his team lost 4–0 to Walton & Hersham in an FA Cup replay. In December 1973, they lost 8–2 at home to Bristol Rovers. Clough left Brighton in July 1974 to manage Leeds United. Peter Taylor stayed for two more seasons.

Reaching the Top Division (1979–1983)

Brighton didn't have much success until 1979. Under manager Alan Mullery, they were promoted to the Football League First Division. This was the top league in English football.

In their first season in the top flight, they started badly with a 4–0 loss to Arsenal. But an away win against European Cup holders Nottingham Forest helped them recover. Brighton finished the season safely away from relegation.

The next season, Brighton was again in danger of relegation. But wins in their last four games kept them safe. Mullery then left after a disagreement with chairman Mike Bamber. He was replaced by Mike Bailey.

The 1981–82 season was Brighton's best in the top league. They finished 13th, their highest league position ever at that time. The next season, 1982–83, started with mixed results. They beat Arsenal and Manchester United but also had heavy losses. Mike Bailey lost his job in December 1982. Jimmy Melia took over, but he couldn't stop the team from being relegated. Brighton finished last that season.

Despite being relegated, Brighton reached their first (and only) FA Cup final in 1983. 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.

Falling Down the Leagues (1983–1996)

Brighton's first season back in the Second Division started with three losses. But then they had a good run, including a huge 7–0 win over Charlton. However, another three defeats led to Melia losing his job. Former player Chris Cattlin took over and kept Brighton safe in mid-table.

In 1984–85, Brighton almost returned to the top league, missing promotion by just two points. But the next season, they dropped to 11th place. Cattlin was replaced by Alan Mullery, who returned as manager. Mullery resigned in early 1987 due to poor results and money problems. Brighton then won only two more games that season and were relegated again, this time to the Football League Third Division.

New manager Barry Lloyd helped Brighton get back to the Second Division quickly. In 1990–91, Brighton aimed for promotion to the First Division and finished sixth. They reached the play-off final but lost 3–1 to Notts County at Wembley.

The club's fans hoped for promotion to the new Premier League in 1991–92. Instead, they fought against relegation and lost. Brighton started the 1992–93 season in the new Division Two.

Barry Lloyd left in December 1993 and was replaced by Liam Brady. Brady lasted two years before Jimmy Case took over. But it was too late to stop Brighton from going down to Division Three at the end of the 1995–96 season.

At the same time, the club was in serious financial trouble. The directors decided to sell the Goldstone Ground to pay off huge debts.

Almost Losing Everything (1996–1998)

Jimmy Case was fired after a terrible start to the 1996–97 season. Brighton was stuck at the bottom of the league. It looked like they would be relegated from the Football League, just 14 years after almost winning the FA Cup. The club's directors hired Steve Gritt, hoping he could save them.

Brighton's form slowly got better under Gritt. However, their chances of survival were hurt by a two-point deduction. This was punishment for fans invading the pitch to protest the sale of the Goldstone Ground.

By the last day of the season, Brighton was off the bottom of the table. They had to play Hereford United, the team directly below them. If Brighton won or drew, they would be safe. Brighton defender Kerry Mayo scored an own goal in the first half. It seemed their 77-year stay in the league was over. But a late goal by Robbie Reinelt saved the day. Brighton stayed in the league based on goals scored. Hereford United was relegated instead.

The Goldstone Ground was sold in 1997. This meant Brighton had to play their home games about 70 miles away at Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium.

The 1997–98 season saw Brighton continue to struggle. But they were never in real danger of relegation because Doncaster Rovers had an even worse season. The club's directors wanted to move forward. Gritt was replaced by former club captain Brian Horton in February 1998.

Brighton kept playing at Gillingham for the 1998–99 season. They were doing well under Brian Horton. In January 1999, Horton left. Jeff Wood became the new manager. After a good start, Brighton's form dropped, and Wood was sacked in April 1999. Micky Adams was appointed Brighton's new manager. Brighton finished 17th, avoiding another relegation fight.

Back Home to Brighton (1999–2000)

For the start of the 1999–2000 season, The Seagulls moved back to Brighton. They began playing their home games at Withdean Stadium, which was an athletics track. The season started well with Darren Freeman scoring three goals in a 6–0 win against Mansfield. Brighton's form was mixed at first as the new team tried to work together.

A highlight was Darren Freeman scoring the first goal of the new millennium on January 3, 2000. In February 2000, Brighton signed a forward named Bobby Zamora on loan. Zamora made an instant impact, scoring in his first game. Brighton then went on a great run of 8 wins and 6 draws. This run came too late for a play-off spot, and Brighton finished 11th.

Two Promotions in a Row (2000–2002)

The 2000–01 season was Brighton's first successful season in 13 years. They won the Division Three title and were promoted to Division Two. They started well in Division Two and looked set for another promotion. Micky Adams left in October 2001 to join Leicester. He was replaced by former Leicester manager Peter Taylor.

Brighton continued their good form under Taylor. They ended the season as Division Two champions, winning 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.

Another Tough Season (2002–2003)

Peter Taylor decided not to renew his contract. So, Brighton promoted youth team manager Martin Hinshelwood. However, Brighton had a terrible start to the 2002–03 Division One season. After winning their first game, they lost 12 games in a row. This included a 5–0 defeat by rivals Crystal Palace. Hinshelwood then became Director of Football, and Steve Coppell took over as manager.

Coppell's time started brightly, but Brighton still lost their 12th game in the streak. They stopped the losing run by beating Bradford 3–2. Brighton improved a lot under Coppell and almost managed a miracle survival. They stayed in the fight until the last game of the season. At the end of this season, Bobby Zamora, who had been a top goalscorer, was sold to Tottenham for £1,500,000.

Up and Down Again (2003–2006)

Coppell moved to Reading in October 2003. He was replaced by Mark McGhee. McGhee had helped other teams get promoted before. He achieved promotion with Brighton in his first season. They had a dramatic play-off semi-final against Swindon, winning on penalties. Then, they beat Bristol City 1–0 in the 2003–04 Division Two play-off final. This earned them a spot in the new Coca-Cola Football League Championship for the 2004–05 season.

Albion finished 20th out of 24 clubs in 2004–2005, just avoiding relegation by one point. This was their highest league position in 14 years. But Brighton were relegated two games before the end of the 2005–06 Championship season after a disappointing year.

Dean Wilkins and Micky Adams Return (2006–2009)

The 2006–07 season began with uncertainty about manager Mark McGhee. He was eventually sacked in September 2006. Dean Wilkins was made caretaker-manager and then given the job permanently. It was a difficult season for the new management team and the young squad. There were some good moments, like beating Leyton Orient 4–1 twice and an 8–0 win in the FA Cup.

The 2007–08 season was much better. The first team finished seventh in League One, just 7 points off the play-offs.

Despite a good season, Dean Wilkins was sacked in May 2008. It was then announced that Micky Adams would return as manager. The 2008–09 season started strongly. A highlight was winning a penalty shootout against Manchester City in the Football League Cup. Adams later left the club by mutual agreement.

Tony Bloom's Era

Russell Slade (2009)

After three weeks without a manager, Brighton appointed Russell Slade in February 2009. Brighton lost his first two games, and it looked like they would need a miracle to stay up. Amazingly, Slade won 5 of Brighton's last 7 games. The fight against relegation went down to the very last game. A 1–0 win over Stockport County secured Brighton's place in the league by just two points. Brighton finished 16th.

After a poor start to the 2009–10 season, Slade was sacked on November 1, 2009.

Gus Poyet (2009–2013)

Gus Poyet, a former player for Chelsea and Tottenham, became the new manager on November 10, 2009. He won his first game, beating local rivals Southampton F.C. 3–1. Around this time, Tony Bloom, a fan of Brighton, became the new chairman. The team slowly climbed the league. They had some big wins, including a 5–0 victory at Wycombe. Brighton managed to stay in League One on April 24, 2010. They finished the 2009–10 Season in 13th place.

In the 2010–11 Season, Brighton's strong defense helped them reach the top of the league. They won promotion on April 12 at the Withdean Stadium after a 4–3 win. The team then secured the League One title on April 16. Brighton was undefeated at the Withdean Stadium for over a year, a run of 27 games. They only lost two home games all season. Brighton's 24 points in March matched a Football League record for points in one month. A victory parade was held on Brighton seafront on May 8, 2011.

After moving Brighton to the Championship as champions, Poyet started rebuilding the team. Key players like Elliott Bennett and top scorer Glenn Murray left. The Seagulls brought in many new players, including Craig Mackail-Smith for a club record fee.

The New Stadium

Chairman Tony Bloom invested £93 million to build the new Falmer Stadium without the club taking on debt. The stadium was finished in 2011. Brighton moved there 14 years after leaving the Goldstone Ground. Brighton's first game at the new stadium was a 2–0 win for their reserve team on July 16, 2011. The first goal was scored by Gary Hart, who had also scored the first goal at the Withdean Stadium. Brighton's first team played their first game at the Amex against Tottenham in a friendly on July 30, 2011.

On August 6, 2011, Brighton played their first competitive game at Falmer Stadium against Doncaster Rovers. Brighton won 2–1 with a goal in the 98th minute. The first goal in a competitive first team match at Falmer Stadium was scored by Doncaster Rovers player Billy Sharp. Brighton player Will Buckley scored twice to win the game. Brighton's first loss at the new stadium was a 3–1 defeat to rivals Crystal Palace on September 27, 2011.

Brighton finished the season in 10th place, their highest finish in the English leagues for over two decades. The club announced that Falmer Stadium would be expanded to 27,500 seats.

Brighton finished fourth in the 2012–13 season. However, they lost to Crystal Palace in the play-off semi-final on May 13, 2013. A few days later, Poyet was suspended and then dismissed for an alleged breach of contract.

Óscar García and Sami Hyypiä (2013–2014)

On June 26, 2013, Brighton appointed Óscar García as head coach. The team was defeated by Derby in the Championship play-off semi-finals in May 2014. Oscar Garcia resigned after the game.

Sami Hyypiä became the manager in June 2014. Hyypiä won two of his first four games, but only one more in the next 18 league games. He resigned in December 2014 after only six months in charge.

Chris Hughton (2014–2019)

Chris Hughton was appointed manager on December 31, 2014. Brighton was only two places above relegation when he took over. Hughton managed to keep them from being relegated. In the 2015–16 season, the team became a strong contender for promotion to the Premier League. They had a 21-match unbeaten run at the start of the season. This was a club record. Brighton narrowly missed automatic promotion that season. They then lost their play-off semi-final. Despite the loss, Hughton signed a new four-year contract.

Promotion to the Premier League

The 2016–17 season started well for Brighton. The team reached the number one spot in January 2017. The club gained automatic promotion to the Premier League with a 2–1 win over Wigan in April 2017. This was only the club's second time in the top league, and their first since the 1982–83 season.

In the 2017–18 season, Brighton won their first-ever Premier League game on September 9, 2017. They beat West Bromwich Albion 3–1. They also beat Arsenal for the first time since 1982. A win against Manchester United secured their survival in the Premier League.

Brighton started their 2018–19 season with an away loss. But they won their next home game against Manchester United. The team stayed in mid-table until a series of losses in the second half of the season. They struggled but managed to avoid relegation. They reached the semi-final of the 2018–19 FA Cup, but lost to Manchester City. The club was not happy with a 17th-place finish, and Hughton was sacked at the end of the season.

Graham Potter (2019–2022)

On May 20, 2019, chairman Tony Bloom announced that Graham Potter from Swansea would take over as manager.

On September 8, 2022, the club announced that Graham Potter would leave Brighton to join Chelsea FC. Andrew Crofts, the club's U-23 head coach, became the interim-head coach.

Roberto De Zerbi (2022–present)

On September 18, 2022, De Zerbi was announced as the new head coach. His first match was a 3–3 draw against Liverpool. Brighton got their first win under De Zerbi against Graham Potter's Chelsea side, a 4–1 victory. Brighton narrowly lost the FA Cup semi-final to Manchester United on penalties. They finished the 2022-23 Premier League season in 6th place. This was the club's highest-ever league finish. It also meant they qualified for European competition for the first time in their history. In September 2023, Brighton lost their first game in the Europa League 2-3 against AEK Athens.