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Women's First Team History

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The early days – Brighton GPO and C&C Sports

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Following England’s World Cup success in 1966, women’s football found momentum in Brighton, with the suggestion for a women’s team put to the social club at the Brighton General Post Office (GPO). It soon came to fruition and was originally made up of telephonists, who would play in various charity matches.

Teams began to form within various companies and although women’s football was banned by The FA at the time, by 1969, there were enough teams and players to form the Sussex Martlet League.

Separately, The Albion Supporters' Club also formed a women's team, Albion Ladies, which entered the league in 1971, winning it several times. In 1976 they even reached the semi-final of the national Women's FA Cup but then disbanded.

Such were the rules, women’s football teams couldn’t play on FA pitches or use FA referees and were only allowed to use a size four ball, while halves were typically 35 minutes long.

The official Albion teams had to play home games on public parks and recreation grounds such as Buckingham Park and Waterhall at least until the FA withdrew its ban in 1972.

No changing rooms tended to be available and if there were, the women’s team weren’t allowed to use them.

Once the league was up and running, it went from strength to strength and later expanded to two divisions.

In 1979, Brighton GPO were sponsored by sports shop Clapshaw & Cleave, where their player Julie Hemsley worked, as C&C Sports.

In 1979/80, the now named C&C Sports, who were the kit sponsors – had won the Sussex Martlet League title, the League Cup and the Division One Cup, before joining the Home Counties League, which was thought of as a stronger division.

Home games were played at Southwick FC and while it involved more travelling and more commitment, the women’s team won promotion from Division Two after a couple of seasons.

East Preston was also used as a base, with the ground receiving a grant to help develop the facilities.

The bigger the club got, the bigger the hunt was for facilities to host the growing interest in women’s football.

Becoming officially associated with Albion

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The origins of Brighton & Hove Albion women’s football team can be traced back to 1990, where local sports retailers, C&C Sports, became affiliated to Brighton & Hove Albion following the initiation of Albion’s Football in the Community scheme.

The affiliation saw the team named as Brighton & Hove Albion Women & Girls’ FC, playing their matches at Sussex University, before moving to Withdean Stadium. This also coincided with a change to the league structure, with the club joining the Premier Division of new South East Counties Women’s League formed from he Sussex Martlet League and Kent/Surrey clubs.

By 1991 Albion player Julie Hemsley was working with Albion as a coach on an initiative for the club and the FA. When the club launched a new football in the community scheme the following year, 1990, C&C Sports officially became Brighton & Hove Albion Women and Girls Football Club.

First team home games were played at Withdean Stadium in a new South East Counties League, and in 1991 they joined the new WFA National League's Division One South.

Julie was then promoted to assistant football in the community development officer, a role that was specifically focused on the development of women’s and girls’ football. She would later combine her role with Albion with work with the England national team as assistant manager.

She became the first woman to be named on the FA Council with responsibility for the development of women’s and girls’ football.

During her time with the FA she worked with future England and Albion boss Hope Powell.

From there, the women’s and girls’ team grew from a first and reserve team, to 14 teams across all ages, with the club opening a centre of excellence in the mid-1990s.

Several divisional changes took place during the mid-nineties and in 1994, Albion were competing in the newly rebranded FA Premier League Southern Division, the second tier of women’s football.

Albion also played three matches at the Goldstone Ground, including games against Milton Keynes and Horsham, as well as against Whitehawk in the Sussex Women’s Cup semi-final.

The club had players representing England at different age groups including Angela Banks, Alex Cottier, Layla Young, Kerry Dawkins, Tammy Waine, Natalie Birch, Julia Brunton, Donna Smith, Sue Law, Julie Hemsley, Julia Manning, Sue Law, Alex Cottier, Donna Smith, Angela Banks, Layla Young, Tara Proctor, Josie Clifford - Natalie Birch also played at under-21 level. Sophie Perry was a full Republic of Ireland international.

In 1995 the club won the inaugural Sussex Women’s Cup, a competition that they would have considerable success in.

A two season stint in the top-flight at the turn of the century saw Albion competing with the biggest teams week in, week out. Following this, Albion were back playing in the second and third tiers.

Despite the relegations, the club’s success in the biggest women’s football division in the country would see interest grow considerably in women’s football in Sussex, which was built on by the Albion in the Community and Sussex County FA.

The modern era

Women’s football changed to play their league season over the summer following the introduction of the Women’s Super League (WSL) in 2011, and in 2014 a second division was added. Despite applying for a licence to play in the newly formed season tier, Albion were ultimately unsuccessful in their bid.

However, this didn’t hold the club back, firstly setting a record 3,256 attendance for a Women’s Premier League match in 2015, and just one season later Albion won the Premier League Southern Division. Just one game stood in their way to promotion to WSL 2, and a 4-2 play-off victory over Sporting Club Albion (now West Bromwich Albion) secured the team’s WSL status for the first time.

Changes back to playing a winter league meant that Albion had to wait over 15 months for their league bow, playing the Spring Series, without any promotion or relegation, during this time.

During the Spring Series, former Albion midfielder George Parris took interim charge of the side. Former England national team manager Hope Powell was then appointed as manager in September 2017.

Albion finally kicked off their WSL 2 campaign during that month with a 1-0 win away at Aston Villa and had a successful season, finishing as runners-up to eventual title winners Doncaster Rovers Belles.

Due to further changes announced by the FA, Albion’s second-place finish didn’t result in promotion and instead each WSL club had to reapply for a licence to play in one of the two divisions.

Albion applied for a licence to play in the top tier of women’s football and it was announced in December 2017 that the club was successful in its application. As part of the licence, a fully professional Albion moved to the Broadfield Stadium, the home of Crawley Town FC.

In their first season in the FA Women's Super League, Albion secured a ninth-place finish in 2018/19 under the management of the former England head coach Hope Powell.

In October 2022 Powell was replaced by the German coach Jens Scheuer, who left his position in March 2023 by mutual consent. After coach Amy Merricks took charge on a temporary basis, the permanent role of head coach was taken by Melissa Phillips, who left her position in February 2024. Mikey Harris took on team responsibilities for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign before Australian Dario Vidosic took on the role in June 2025.

Under Vidosic, Albion went from strength to strength. The additions of England stars Nikita Parris and Fran Kirby strengthened the squad and the 2024/25 campaign was Albion’s best yet as we finished fifth in the WSL. In addition, Maisie Symonds and Michelle Agyemang were promoted to the England squad for the first time.