Message from Tony Bloom

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The chairman's programme notes from the final game of the season against Manchester United.

2026-05-25T09:00+01:00

Albion chairman Tony Bloom MBE. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Our final home game of the season presents us with the opportunity of securing a European spot for only the second time in our 125-year history.

Every campaign brings its fair share of highs and lows and this one has been no exception. It has undoubtedly been a season where both our men’s and women’s teams have made significant progress and we should all take great pride in what they have achieved.

For Fabian Hurzeler and the squad to be in contention to qualify for the Champions League going into the last game of the season as we prepare to face Manchester United today is a magnificent achievement. It speaks volumes for the outstanding ability we have both in our squad as well as Fabian and his coaching staff. It’s been great to see Fabian build on the foundations he laid in his first season, and I am delighted that we agreed a new three-year contract with Fabian earlier this month.

In the past couple of months, we have produced some of the most consistent form of all our time in the Premier League – and it has been rewarding to see the way our squad has evolved, with the experienced players setting a high standard and great example for our younger players.

A few individual achievements have stood out. Danny Welbeck has scored 13 Premier League goals this season (so far!) – the highest tally of his career; Lewis Dunk has passed 500 appearances for the club; and James Milner has broken the Premier League appearance record.

Several of our under-21s have made first-team debuts this season, reflecting the strength of our pathway and the excellent work in our academy by Shannon Ruth and his staff, culminating in winning the PL2 Play-Off Final at the Amex last Saturday night.

We have several players heading off to the World Cup in North America this summer and, on behalf of everyone at the club, I wish them all well.

Albion celebrate booking their place in the FA Cup final after beating Liverpool 3-2. 📷James Boardman

Our women’s team have had an outstanding season, reaching the Women's FA Cup final for the first time in our history. It will be a proud moment for everyone associated with Brighton & Hove Albion next Sunday when they walk out at Wembley Stadium to take on Manchester City.

I’d like to offer my congratulations to Dario Vidosic, his staff and, of course, the players. They will go into the final in great form, with standout wins over Arsenal and Manchester City in recent weeks, and I know they will approach the game confidently, doing everything they possibly can to win the cup.

On a personal level, it has not been an easy season for Dario with the sad loss of his father – and our coach – Rado, but Dario’s commitment and leadership, even when he was back home in Australia, ensured continuity and progress throughout what was a challenging period.

Looking ahead, the recent announcement of our plans for Europe’s first purpose-built women’s stadium at the Amex marks another significant step forward for the club, with the aim of opening in time for the 2030/31 season. This is a clear indication of the commitment, ambition and long-term vision we have for our women’s and girls’ programme.

This year, we celebrate our 125th anniversary with a series of special events, culminating in an anniversary match in September. Our Player Awards dinner was a great way to kick off the celebrations earlier this week and I’d like to congratulate Men’s Player of the Season Ferdi Kadioglu, Women’s Player of the Season Fran Kirby and all the award-winners. It really was a special night which showcased all that is good about our club, on and off the pitch, and which gives me as chairman a special sense of pride.

Finally, I would like to thank Paul Barber and our management team, together with all the staff, for the part they have played in making this another successful season. As we celebrate 125 years and look back on our history, there is so much to be positive about in terms of our future, not least for our supporters, who continue to give all our teams such wonderful backing home and away and with such passion.

Let’s all hope for a winning end to the season this afternoon. I hope you enjoy a great summer, and I look forward to seeing you all again at the Amex in August for our special pre-season anniversary friendly.

Tony