Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, commonly referred to asBrighton, is a professionalfootball club based inBrighton and Hove, East Sussex, England. The club competes in thePremier League, the top tier ofEnglish football. Their home ground has beenFalmer Stadium since 2011, having played at theGoldstone Ground for most of the 20th century.
By the late 1990s, Brighton were in the fourth tier of English football and having financial problems. After narrowly avoiding relegation from the Football League to theConference in 1997, a boardroom takeover saved the club from liquidation. Successivepromotions in 2001 and 2002 brought Brighton back to the second tier, and in 2011, the club moved into the Falmer Stadium after 14 years without a permanent home ground. In the2016–17 season, Brighton finished second in theEFL Championship and were thus promoted to the Premier League, ending a 34-year absence from the top flight. In the2022–23 season, Brighton finished sixth in the Premier League, their highest top flight finish ever, and qualified for theUEFA Europa League; their first participation in European club football.
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. were founded in 1901 and 19 years later, in 1920, they were elected tothe Football League's newThird Division – having previously been members of theSouthern League. In the Southern League they won their only national honour to date, theFA Charity Shield, which at that time was contested by the champions of the Southern League, and the Football League, by defeating Football League championsAston Villa in 1910.[3] Following their switch to the regionalised Third Division South in 1921, they remained in this division until the 1957–1958 season, when they won the title, securing promotion to the Second Division at the same time as the regionalised North and South divisions merged into a national Third and Fourth Division for the 1958–1959 season. Albion retained their second tier status until relegation in 1962, suffering a successive relegation in 1963 and slipping into the Fourth Division for the first time. They won the Fourth Division title in 1964–1965 and remained in the Third Division until 1972 when as runners up they secured promotion back to the Second Division.
Mike Bamber was the chairman of Brighton from October 1972 until 1983. He famously broughtBrian Clough to the club in 1973 and later appointed former England playerAlan Mullery as manager. Brighton's life as aFootball League club had brought little in the way of success and headlines until 1979, when, under Mullery's management, they werepromoted to theFirst Division asSecond Divisionrunners-up. The 1982/83 season saw an inconsistent start for the club, with victories overArsenal andManchester United mixed in with heavy defeats. Manager Mike Bailey eventually lost his job at the start of December 1982.Jimmy Melia took over as manager, but was unable to turn the situation around and Brighton, after four seasons in the top flight, were relegated in 1983, finishing in last place.
Despite their relegation, that season Brighton reached their firstFA Cup final and drew 2–2 with Manchester United in the first match. Brighton's goals were scored byGordon Smith andGary Stevens. The final featured an infamous "miss" by Gordon Smith with the last kick of the game in extra time, prompting theBBC commentator Peter Jones to utter the well-known phrase "...and Smith must score". Smith's kick was saved by the Manchester United goalkeeper,Gary Bailey. In the replay, Manchester United won 4–0.
Relegation, last years, and saved by Knight (1987–1997)
Former Brighton chairmanDick Knight, who ultimately saved the club
After four seasons, relegation to Division Three came in 1987, but the Albion were promoted back the next season. In 1991 they lost the play-off final at Wembley to Notts County 3–1, only to be relegated the next season to the newly named Division Two. In 1996 further relegation came to Division Three. The club's financial situation was becoming increasingly precarious, and the club's directors decided that theGoldstone Ground would have to be sold to pay off some of the club's large debts. ManagerJimmy Case was sacked, after a very poor start to the 1996–97 season left Brighton at the bottom of the league by a considerable margin. The club's directors appointedSteve Gritt, the former joint manager ofCharlton Athletic, as manager—Gritt was relatively unknown. Brighton's league performance steadily improved under Gritt, although their improving chances of survival were put under further threat by a two-point deduction by theFootball Association, imposed as punishment for a pitch invasion by fans who were protesting against the sale of theGoldstone ground. A lifelong fan namedDick Knight took control of the club in 1997 having led the fan pressure to oust the previous board following their sale of the club's Goldstone Ground to property developers.[4]
By the last day of the season, after being 13 points adrift at one stage, they had risen from the bottom of the table and had to play the team directly below them,Hereford United, to avoid relegation from the league. If Brighton won or drew, they would be safe. Brighton defenderKerry Mayo scored an own goal in the first half, and it appeared that Brighton's 77-year league career was over. But a late goal fromRobbie Reinelt ensured that Brighton retained their league status, based on number of goals scored (despite Hereford having a better goal difference as, in the Football League at the time, goals scored took precedence), and Hereford's 25-year league run was instead over.
The sale of the Goldstone Ground went through in 1997, leading to Brighton having to play some 70 miles away at Gillingham'sPriestfield stadium for two seasons.Micky Adams was appointed Brighton's manager in 1999. For the start of the 1999–2000 season the Seagulls secured a lease to play home games atWithdean Stadium, a converted athletics track in Brighton owned by thelocal council. 2000–01 was Brighton's first successful season for 13 years. They were crowned champions ofDivision Three and promoted toDivision Two. Adams left in October 2001 to work asDave Bassett's assistant atLeicester, being replaced by former Leicester managerPeter Taylor. The transition proved to be a plus point for Brighton, who maintained their good form and ended the season asDivision Two champions – winning a second successivepromotion. Just five years after almost succumbing to the double threat of losing theirFootball League status and going out of business completely, Brighton were one division away from thePremier League.
In May 2009, Knight was replaced as chairman at Brighton byTony Bloom, who successfully secured £93 million funding for the newFalmer Stadium and 75% shareholding at the club.[5]
Brighton's final season atWithdean was 2010–11, in which they wonLeague One under the management ofGus Poyet. The following season, Brighton changed their crest to a design similar to the crest used from the 1970s to the 1990s. This was to reflect on the club returning home after not having a stadium since 1997.
Move to new stadium and promotion under Hughton (2011–2017)
TheFalmer Stadium hosted its first league match on the opening day of the 2011–12 season againstDoncaster Rovers, who were the last opposition to play at theGoldstone in 1997. The game finished 2–1 to Brighton. The 2012–13 season saw Brighton finish 4th and lose in the play-off semi-finals toCrystal Palace. Poyet was suspended as manager following controversial comments made in his post-match interview,[6] and was later sacked as manager and replaced byÓscar García.
On the final day of the 2013–14 season, Brighton beatNottingham Forest 2–1 with a last minute winner fromLeonardo Ulloa to secure a 6th-place finish. After losing toDerby County in the play-offs semi-finals, García resigned.Sami Hyypiä was appointed manager for the 2014–15 season but resigned after just four months due to a poor run of results, replaced byChris Hughton. In the following campaign Brighton challenged for promotion again, buoyed by a 21-game unbeaten run from the opening day to 19 December. On the final day of the season Brighton travelled to Middlesbrough and needed to win to secure promotion to thePremier League, but a 1–1 draw meant 3rd and a play-off place, where defeat toSheffield Wednesday was Brighton's third playoff semi-final defeat in four seasons. MidfielderBeram Kayal, who joined fromCeltic in January 2015, was voted the club’s Player of the Season for 2015–16 and contributed to Brighton’s promotion push and subsequent Premier League survival campaigns.[7]
Brighton started 2016–17 with an 18-match unbeaten run, taking them to the top of the league for much of December and January. They remained in the automatic promotion positions for most of the rest of the season, and clinched promotion to the Premier League after a 2–1 win against Wigan Athletic at home on 17 April 2017.[8]
Brighton's first season in thePremier League was largely successful, with the club rising into the top half several times in the season. After being one point above the relegation zone in January, victories over Arsenal and Manchester United in the final months of the campaign helped secure a 15th place finish.
The club endured a difficult second season in the top division, narrowly avoiding relegation with a 17th-place finish. In the FA Cup, Brighton reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1983, losing 1–0 toManchester City. Hughton was sacked following the end of the season due to the poor run of results.[9]
Following Hughton's sacking,Swansea City managerGraham Potter was appointed as the new head coach on a four-year contract.[10] Potter extended his contract by two more years in November 2019.[11] From March to June 2020, the season was suspended due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[12] Brighton finished 15th and 16th in Potter's first two seasons, securing a historic fifth season in the Premier League in May 2021 that ensured their current spell in the top flight exceeded their previous run from 1979 to 1983.[13]
The club's2021–22 season saw a ninth-place finish in the Premier League, the highest Brighton had ever finished in English top flight football, with a record tally of 51 points.[14] In September 2022, Potter left the club to become head coach ofChelsea, following the dismissal ofThomas Tuchel.[15]
On 18 September 2022, Brighton announcedRoberto De Zerbi as the club's new head coach.[16] The league season was paused for the2022 FIFA World Cup, in which Brighton midfielderAlexis Mac Allister played an important role inArgentina's victory in the tournament including starting and assisting in thefinal. Brighton reached their second FA Cup semi-final in four seasons, losing on penalties to Manchester United following a 0–0 draw.[17] On 21 May 2023, Brighton qualified for European football for the first time in their history with a 3–1 victory overSouthampton.[18] Three days later, after a 1–1 draw with Manchester City, Brighton secured qualification for the group stage of the2023–24 UEFA Europa League.[19] Brighton finished the season in sixth-place with a record tally of 62 points.
On 14 December 2023, Brighton topped their UEFA Europa League group, qualifying for the round of 16 after defeatingMarseille 1–0.[20] Brighton would be eliminated in the round of 16 byRoma in a 4–1 aggregate loss on 14 March 2024.[21] On 18 May 2024, Brighton and De Zerbi mutually agreed to end his contract at the end of the2023–24 season as Brighton fell to 11th on the final day of the season with 48 points, leapfrogged by their arch rivals Crystal Palace on goal difference after being ahead all season.[22]
In June 2024, De Zerbi was replaced byFabian Hürzeler who became the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history at 31 years old.[23] Hürzeler had been manager of FC St. Pauli, where he led the team to promotion back to the top tier of German football after a 13-year absence.[24] His first official match in charge of Brighton was on August 17, 2024, against Everton. Brighton won the match 3–0.[25] Brighton finished the2024–25 season in 8th place.[26]
For 95 years Brighton and Hove Albion were located at theGoldstone Ground inHove, until the board of directors decided to sell the stadium. The sale, implemented by majority shareholderBill Archer and his chief executiveDavid Bellotti, proved controversial, and the move provoked widespread protests against the board. The club received little if any money from this sale.[27]
In their last season at the Goldstone,1996–97, the Seagulls were in danger of relegation from theFootball League. They won their final game at the Goldstone againstDoncaster Rovers,[28] setting up a winner-takes-all relegation game atHereford United, who were level on points with the Seagulls. Brighton drew 1–1, and Hereford were relegated to theFootball Conference on goals scored.[29]
Withdean Stadium, Brighton's home from 1999 to 2011
For two years, from 1997 to 1999, the club sharedPriestfield Stadium, the ground ofGillingham, before returning to Brighton to play atWithdean Stadium. This is not predominantly a football ground, having been used for athletics throughout most of its history, and previously as azoo.[30]
Because of the cost of the public enquiry into planning permission for a new stadium, rent on Withdean Stadium, fees paid to use Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium, and a general running deficit due to the low ticket sales inherent with a small ground, the club had an accumulated deficit of £9.5 million in 2004. The board of directors paid £7 million of this; the other £2.5 million had to be raised from the operations of the club. In an effort to achieve this, a fund-raising appeal known as theAlive and Kicking Fund was started, with everything from nudeChristmas Cards featuring the players to a CD single being released to raise cash. On 9 January 2005 this fund-raising single 'Tom Hark' went straight in at number 17 in the UK chart, gaining it national airplay onBBC Radio 1.[31]
Brighton fans at Falmer Stadium during the first league game at the stadium againstDoncaster Rovers
The club's home ground isFalmer Stadium, located in Village Way, Brighton.
On 28 October 2005, theOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister announced that the application for Falmer had been successful.Lewes District Council contestedJohn Prescott's decision to approve planning permission for Falmer, forcing ajudicial review. This was based on a minor error in Prescott's original approval which neglected to state that some car parking for the stadium is in the Lewes district as opposed to the Brighton & Hove unitary authority. This caused further delay. Once the judicial review ruled in favour of the stadium, Lewes District Council said that it would not launch any further appeals.
Building of Falmer Stadium started in December 2008. On 31 May 2011 the club officially completed the handover and was given the keys to the stadium with an initial capacity of 22,374 seats, signifying the end of 14 years without a designated home. During January 2012, the club submitted an application to Brighton and Hove City council to increase the stadium capacity by a further 8,000 seats as well as to add additional corporate boxes, new television facilities and a luxury suite.[32] This was granted unanimously by Brighton & Hove City Council's planning committee on 25 April 2012. The stadium was then expanded to 27,250 for the start of the 2012–13 season and then further to 27,750 during December 2012 before reaching 30,750 during May 2013.
In 2020, the club submitted plans to expand the stadium from 30,750 seats to 32,500 including additional hospitality. In 2021, the stadium was expanded to 31,800 with additional works yet to be done.[33]
For most of Brighton's history they have played in blue and white shirts, usually striped, with different combinations of white and blue shorts and socks,[34] though this changed to all white briefly in the 1970s and again to plain royal blue in the early 1980s.[35]
Since 2014, the club's kit has been manufactured byNike. Previous manufacturers include Bukta (1971–74, 1977–80),Admiral (1974–75, 1994–97),Umbro (1975–77),Adidas (1980–87), Spall (1987–89), Sports Express (1989–91), Ribero (1991–94), Superleague (1997–99), andErreà (1999–2014).Their current shirt sponsors areAmerican Express. Previous sponsors have includedBritish Caledonian Airways (1980–83), Phoenix Brewery (1983–86), NOBO (1986–91),TSB Bank (1991–93), Sandtex (1993–98), Donatello (1998–99),Skint Records (1999–2008), IT First (2008–11), and BrightonandHoveJobs.com (2011–13). Their current sleeve sponsors areExperience Kissimmee.[36] Previous sleeve sponsors includeJD Sports,[37] and Snickers UK.[38]
Even though the two clubs are almost 40 mi (64 km) apart,Crystal Palace are Brighton'smain rival, dating back to the 1970s and hostility between managersAlan Mullery andTerry Venables, who took charge of Brighton and Palace respectively in 1976 ahead of a close season in theThird Division which saw the two teams vying withMansfield Town. The season finished with both Palace and Brighton beaten to the title by Mansfield; however both sides were promoted and the hostility between the two managers had forged an intense rivalry between both teams. This continued into the following season in theSecond Division as Brighton, who had finished their season at the top, fell into second after Palace won a previously postponed game against Burnley the following weekend to beat Brighton to the title by one point.[39] In addition, theA23 road runs directly between Brighton and Croydon, where Palace'sSelhurst Park stadium is based. This has led to the media labelling the rivalry as both the A23 andM23 derby,[40][41] although fans of both clubs do not use this term.
Situated inEast Sussex, Brighton find themselves isolated from most other teams, leaving them without an establishedlocal derby. Matches against fellow south coast outfitsSouthampton andPortsmouth are occasionally labelled as local derbies by the media, but most fans of either team do not consider the other to be their rivals due to the over 60 mi (97 km) distance between the clubs, and the alreadywell-established rivalry between Southampton and Portsmouth.[42][43]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Academy players who have been named in a first-team matchday squad during the 2025–26 season.Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^(Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club), BHAFC (17 August 2024)."match-centre. gameId=2444472".www.brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved19 September 2024.
