The new front of the American Express Community Stadium’s club superstore now features imagery of players from the club’s elite men’s and women’s teams, accompanied by players from the club’s senior amputee, powerchair, cerebral palsy and deaf teams.
The huge 120m2 graphic fronts the American Express Community Stadium, featuring players from the Premier League and Women’s Super League, alongside players who compete in the national leagues run by the Wheelchair Football Association (WFA), Cerebral Palsy Sport (CP Sport), England Amputee Football Association (EAFA) and England Deaf Football (EDF).
Callum Budd, Brighton & Hove Albion Cerebral Palsy Football Club player; Carl Philips, Brighton & Hove Albion Deaf Football Club; Freddie Strachan, Brighton & Hove Albion Powerchair Football Club; and Connor Cruise, Brighton & Hove Albion Amputee Football Club, all play for the club’s senior elite disability teams.
They feature alongside Laura Rafferty, Ini Umotong, Lewis Dunk and Pascal Gross on the front of the American Express Community Stadium.
All the players compete at a national level and the club is hoping to raise awareness of all the club’s senior teams that compete in their respective national league competitions.
The launch of the club’s new home and alternative kits for the 2018/19 season, featured all the same players from the six senior squads.
“The progress the club has made both on and off the pitch since the club’s move to the American Express Community Stadium is something every supporter should be immensely proud of.
“The foundations of this, especially the club’s work in disability sport, began well before the foundations of the stadium were laid, and we continue to be a club that is committed to our local community, every player who competes for the club, and our supporters,” stated chief executive Paul Barber.
“Albion Together is a simple way to summarise our club’s approach to furthering the development of football at all levels. As well as the senior teams featured on the shop front, we have a category one academy and our under-13s will compete in the Premier League 2 next season, following promotion.
“Our Girls’ Regional Talent Club is also tier one category. Albion in the Community also delivers football locally across all levels of ability and this is best recognised by those players who compete for Brighton & Hove Albion’s elite disability squads.
“With sell-out crowds at the Amex throughout last season, the club is committed to continuing to grow participation, developing talent and continuing to grow attendances in football, as well as competing for success on the pitch next season. Our one club, one ambition philosophy was to have every Brighton & Hove Albion team compete at the highest level - this season, for the first time in 117 years, that ambition has now been realised.
“Our next challenge is to ensure we maintain our status for all our teams and continue to progress” stated Barber.