The plan
Despite a strong start, Brighton endured a frustrating end to last season. Finishing seventh, one place down on the previous campaign, and narrowly missing out on their record points tally will have been a disappointment for Hope Powell and her side.
This summer’s exodus of players will have concerned fans. The departure of the ever-present Maya Le Tissier to Manchester United has left a defensive hole to fill. Equally, the loss of Finland’s Emma Koivisto and playmaker Inessa Kaagman has presented Powell with a recruitment headache.
Players have come in, although a few more bodies would not go amiss. There has been an emotional reunion on the south coast as Rebekah Stott arrives back at her former club with unfinished business to take care of. Early in 2021 the New Zealand defender was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma and travelled home to receive treatment. She is in remission and returns with the aim to make the World Cup next year.
The full-back Poppy Pattinson has arrived from Everton along withVeatriki Sarri, who impressed with Birmingham last year. Norwegian forward Elisabeth Terland and South Korea’s Yeeun Park have been recruited and Jorja Fox, a Chelsea academy graduate and young England defender, has been drafted in on loan. There is also talent to nurture at the club. Players such as Maisie Symonds and Libby Bance will be looking for more minutes and a chance to express themselves at the top level.
There is no doubt Brighton are a club with a strong commitment to their women’s side. Last week saw the official opening of the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre, a multimillion-pound investment providing the women’s team with state-of-the-art facilities. A new strategy – “Pathway towards top four” – was launched in April with aims to develop an elite culture over the next two years.
Brighton’s opener against Aston Villa at the Amex will be a good parameter of where they are at. Their ambition will be to finish in the top half but the challenge is a stiff one with every club strengthening.
The manager
Powell needs no introduction. One of the pioneers of the women’s game in England, she has played a huge role in its progression. This will be her sixth season in charge of Brighton, where she has been integral to the project since they entered the WSL and to the club’s wider development. Her teams are typically compact and tough to pass through. They press with energy and have a hard-working forward line.
Key player
The goalkeeper Megan Walsh is the definition of safe hands between the sticks. The 27-year-old is one of the best shot stoppers in the league and made the most saves last season with 75. At the beginning of 2022 she became the first keeper in the WSL to make 500 saves. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, bringing her Brighton’s player of the season and players’ player awards in May.
Big summer signing
Sarri has proved her worth over the past few seasons. The Greece international started her career in England with Leeds United in 2017. She has moved through the divisions, from the fourth to the top, a feat not often achieved. She arrived in the summer from Birmingham, where she won their player of the year award last season. She is a strong ball carrier, often driving through the middle, with a solid delivery and calm finish.
Euro 2022 delight/heartache
It was a frustrating summer for the Seagulls featuring at Euro 2022. The defender Emma Kullberg was part of the Sweden squad that reached the semi-finals. However, she saw no minutes, partly due to testing positive for Covid during the tournament. New recruit Elisabeth Terland made a substitute appearance for Norway in their disastrous 8-0 defeat by England. Norway crashed out at the group stage.
Bring on the crowds
Brighton was front and centre of England’s journey to becoming European champions, hosting two memorable evenings of international football. Buoyed on by the increased pull of the sport, the Seagulls’ first two home games, against Aston Villa and Reading, will be played at the Amex and are sure to attract strong attendances. Enhancing the fan experience at Crawley Town, where they play most of their home games, has always been at the forefront. The club have seen a spike in the number of season tickets sold, with 1,300 purchased by 20 August.
