Brighton & Hove Albion: the back story

About Brighton & Hove Albion: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Brighton Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Brighton & Hove Albion was formed at a meeting in the Seven Stars pub on Ship Street on 24 June 1901, and celebrated its 125th birthday in June 2026 with a blue plaque on the pub. After 95 years at the Goldstone Ground in Hove, two seasons sharing Gillingham’s ground and twelve at Withdean, the club opened the American Express Stadium at Falmer in 2011, was promoted to the Premier League in 2017 and qualified for Europe for the first time in 2023.

Few clubs carry their story as close to the heart as Albion. It is a story of a city that would not let its club disappear.

Born in a pub

The club was formed at a meeting in the Seven Stars on Ship Street, Brighton, on 24 June 1901. It was first to be called Brighton & Hove United; after Hove FC objected, the name became Brighton & Hove Albion before the first season began. On its 125th birthday, 24 June 2026, a blue plaque was unveiled at the pub, marking the club’s birthplace.

Take the train to Falmer for a match day, and raise a glass at the Seven Stars first.

The Goldstone and the 1983 final

From 1902 Albion shared the Goldstone Ground in Hove with Hove FC, buying it outright in 1930. Its greatest day came in 1983, when Albion reached the FA Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley: Gordon Smith scored, Gary Stevens equalised late, and the game finished 2-2 after extra time. United won the replay five days later.

Exile and Withdean

In 1997 the club left the Goldstone after its final home game, against Doncaster Rovers, and the ground was demolished. Albion spent two seasons sharing Gillingham’s ground in Kent, then came home in 1999 to Withdean, a former athletics stadium with an initial capacity of just 6,000, while fans campaigned for a new stadium.

The Amex and Europe

The American Express Stadium at Falmer, beside the University of Sussex, opened in 2011. Promotion to the Premier League was sealed on Easter Monday, 17 April 2017, and in 2022–23 Albion finished sixth, the club’s best league finish, to qualify for the Europa League for the first time.

Our advice: Falmer station is right by the stadium; on match days trains run from Brighton and Lewes. Check the club’s site for tickets and stadium tours.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Brighton & Hove Albion: the back story before you go.