Brighton and Hove Albion have experienced the ups
and downs of life in the past three seasons with two
Championships and then relegation. Add that to their
nomadic existance since leaving the Goldstone Ground,
and you can see why their Community Affairs Manager
Steve Ford describes them as “turbulent times.”
“After our ground was sold we had to play at Gillingham
and since then we’ve been in temporary accommodation
at the Withdean Stadium,but instead of treading water we’ve
kept on working and developing to the extent that our efforts have been recognised with a couple of awards which have been central to the club’s bid in trying to gain planning permission for a new stadium,” he says.
If things go to plan ,Brighton are hoping that within three
years they will have a brand new 22,000-seater stadium
to move into ,bringing their work in the community even
more into focus.
The club have developed an extensive Football Disability
Project, and thanks to money from the Football
Foundation ,have been able to appoint a Disability
Football Development Officer in Teresa Sanders who works
with all age groups from youngsters to people who’ve retired.
Their Seagulls Specials organisation has recently been voted the most popular leisure activity for young people in Brighton and Hove.
“We also now have a Study Support Centre in full swing after a grant from the Learning and Skills Council,where we’ve converted a portable building into an I.T.suite which is equipped to cater for people of any age to use during the day and evening,”Steve adds.
“One other aspect of our work we’re particularly pleased with is in the East Brighton area – a deprived “new deal”
region - where Darren Teague and his team help deliver
the football message alongside the work done by the City
Council,the Youth Offenders Team and the Police,” he says.
“We’ve been very well received with our anti-drug messages
in schools and the community in general.”
When you take into account the fact that the club also run
a thriving Junior Section under Matt Hicks with some 1,200
members, you can see why the focus at Brighton is on the
proposed new stadium which will help Steve and his staff to
further realise their full potential in the Sussex area.
