Following a record-breaking campaign, Albion midfielder Maisie Symonds reflected on a record breaking campaign for Albion.
In Dario Vidosic’s first season as our women's first team head coach, the team secured a historic fifth-place finish — the club’s highest ever in the WSL.
“I just feel incredibly proud,” Symonds said. “I’m so proud of the girls, it’s been an amazing season.
“We can look back on moments where we know we could’ve done better, but at the end of the day, we’ve made history and that’s something to be proud of.”
She spoke about the squad’s ambition and belief throughout the year, and how they pushed themselves to achieve something unexpected.
“It just felt like we were going for more and more throughout the season. We wanted to do something we’d never done before and we’ve really been going for this fifth spot.
“We’ve had tough moments since Christmas. We lost a bit of form but the way the girls stuck together, pulled through and got some really important results just showed the togetherness and I’m so proud of them.
After signing for the club in 2021, she admitted her connection runs deep, describing how her time at Brighton has grown into something much more personal.
Maisie Symonds celebrates record-breaking win against Arsenal. 📸 Kyle Hemsley
“I’ve always bought into the vision of the club and I’ve fallen in love with Brighton since I’ve been here,” she added.
“To see the vision coming to fruition and moving forward, it’s everything. It’s something that more people can buy into, we can keep pushing on.
"We’ve got bigger dreams. We want to be better than fifth, and hopefully we can make that happen.”
Symonds also pointed to the shift in mindset brought in by head coach Dario Vidosic and the impact it had on the squad.
Dario Vidosic's debut season in the WSL has been a historic one for the club. 📸 Paul Hazlewood
“The full commitment of everyone has been key. I remember when Dario arrived in the summer and we believed that we weren’t going to just be a hard team to beat, but we were going to try and win the league.
"The mentality changed with the players we brought in and the hard work everyone put in. I can’t say just how proud I am of the players and staff for everything they’ve done this season."