I went to watch Brighton Women three times, last season. So it was with great pleasure that I read they had made a star signing, in the form of Chelsea and England International – Fran Kirby.
Kirby started every Euro 2022 game, but struggled to get on the pitch in the WSL for Chelsea in recent times.
If Kirby can stay fit, it will be the latest move in a welcomingly aggressive push for Brighton to develop and sustain a popular, successful women’s team.
A purpose-built stadium is in the offing, home games at Crawley’s Broadfield Stadium are selling out, and there has been the ocassional stand-out performance. The late away win against City in November 2023 being an obvious example of what the side is capable of.
The fan base is loyal. That means the ethos of Brighton isn’t just supportive of the team because they feel obligated by a vacous mentality of tick-box inclusivity, they also have faith that it’s a sound decision on a commercial baisis.
The sporting mission is to become a top 4 side in the WSL. With that territory, comes compeition. My beloved Man United side are keen to snap up Brighton’s Elisabeth Terland on a free transfer, upon expiry of her contract with the Seagulls.
I am hugely impressed with the talent and clinical markmanship of Terland. Less impressed with United’s attitude to our women’s team. It has always seemed that the club has viewed the women’s team through the lens of it being a distraction from the men.
Brighton is different though. Owner and chairman, Tony Bloom has made all the right noises. Speaking of the healthy financial position of the wider club. He believed the finances were there to build the infrastructure for the womens team’s ground. You’d struggle to imagine United re-investing money in such a way.
Build it and they will come. The foundations installated by Bloom and Brighton helped get people to come. Signing Kirby is a colossal signal of intent, that Brighton haven’t stop building. And that means only more and more fans will continue to keep coming.
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