Brighton women and their good businesses
Brighton women are somewhat under the radar when it comes to women's football, but they have made many steps that are not always celebrated. The club was in a position of either fully supporting the men's side to gain promotion to the Premier League or investing in the women's side as well. By late 2017 and early 2018, the club made a serious commitment to women's football and pledged millions to secure a place in the WSL.
In 2019, they announced plans to move the team into the men's training facility, followed by the £8.5 million investment in the new training facilities, which were completed in 2021
They have proposed a purpose-built stadium that develops as the women do. It is a stadium where its building blocks can be added to when necessary. This will be ready ideally by the 2027-28 season. This ground will be built for fans and the players in mind. This means cubicles, not urinals in the changing room. To have breast feeding and baby changing rooms. To be designed for the needs of women. This stadium will grow with the women's side.
Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman Paul Barber said some clubs have different strategies from ours, but a women's stadium would be a wonderful thing to have back in the city.
"We think it would help us build an audience for the women's team that we don't currently have, and we see this as a long-term project.
"The women's game is growing rapidly and we see it as a very viable proposition for the future."
Brighton's plans for the stadium include a "slightly modular" approach that will allow them to expand the size of it as the audience grows.
But Barber admitted it is "not inconceivable" that both men's and women's first teams would play regularly at the American Express Stadium in the future.
They have done a lot of work building the squad they have now. In the men's game, it seemed like Chelsea loves to buy Brighton players but in the women's game, it is the other way round. The signed Fran Kirby to bring in that leadership and experience in winning trophies for club and country and this move was a free transfer. To have a lioness and a Euro-winning lioness boosted their fan base for sure. Her coming was seen as a statement of ambition, in part because she was drawn to the club’s commitment to women’s football and its training facilities. She is just one example of them signing experienced players.
They have become an excellent loan location for bigger clubs. They have signed Michelle Agyemang on loan from Arsenal for the last year, with another season to come. An example of bringing young talent on loan to gain more first-team experience. Brighton sees her as someone with potential who can contribute in attack.
Another loan example is Rosa Kafaji, again from Arsenal. However, it adds depth and versatility to the front line, especially for a club that might not have the resources to pay the full salary of many players. Having that squad depth through loans is ideal.
As a club, they have historically been the setting of major women's tournaments; they have recently hosted the Women’s Rugby World Cup at the AMEX and did the same for the women's Euro 2022. They are financially supporting, hosting, and bringing women's sport to their local community.
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