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.