Ten years and counting at Albion for Evie Milner

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Olivia Jackson

2025-10-28T06:00+00:00

Evie Milner made her first-team debut against Bristol City in the League Cup last season. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Academy player Evie Milner has been at Albion for ten years and says she is “Brighton through and through.”

“It feels like I'm in a dream half the time. Wearing the (Albion) badge every day, walking around with it. It’s just an unreal feeling, especially when you see everyone," Evie explained.

“I walk in the building, and I have a chat with Fran Kirby. My mum goes, ‘How was today?’ Yeah, I had lunch with Fran Kirby, that doesn't sound real. I go into school, and I sometimes realise how lucky I am when I say stuff like that. Michelle's (Agyemang) just gone and scored a banger in the Euros, and I say, ‘I saw her the other day’ and everyone goes ‘no way!’

“I try not to take it for granted, every day is something fun and hopefully it will just keep going.”

Evie’s family lives and breathes football, especially her grandpa who has been extremely supportive during her footballing journey.

Evie Milner is determined to make the most of opportunities in the first-team environment this season. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

“He used to be a football coach for Wick Dynamos. A lot of people in my family have played a lot of football growing up. He drove me to London yesterday just for a football session, it's a five-hour drive just to take me to an hour-long session. That shows everything about his commitment and the love I feel for my family is huge.”

The 18-year-old made her debut for the Albion last season against Bristol City in the League Cup.

“The dream since I was a little girl was to step on that pitch and then I was on that pitch. Watching back the videos afterwards and seeing my mum's face afterwards was a special moment," she added. "Then all the fans are clapping for you after the game when I used to be a fan watching on."

“My mum Louise is my biggest supporter, no matter if I've had a good or a bad game. She encourages and criticises because she knows me best so she can tell me what I've done wrong.”

“I think she cried when I made my debut and my granddad had quite a nice moment between them. She just kept telling me how proud she was and tells me that when the moment to play comes again, to be calm and take it.”

Another source of inspiration for Evie is her older brother (Alfie) who plays disability football in a team coached by her uncle.

“Some have had head injuries and others struggle to run but they are still kicking a ball.

“It's beautiful to watch. I go every Thursday and see the challenges the team face to play football, but every one of them just loves it. It's a joy to see their faces light up.

“He says he's a better player than me and I believe him! The courage they have is crazy. I've had to help him a lot, but he's also helped me a lot in the way that he deals with everything.”