Top-flight Albion

For the first time in the club’s history, Brighton & Hove Albion’s first team, under-23s, under-18s and women’s team will compete in the top flight of their respective league pyramids this season.

Chris Hughton’s team will begin their second season in the Premier League against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday 11th August - as they look to improve on their 15th-placed finish from the previous campaign.

Boosted by a host of summer signings, the Seagulls will take on the country’s strongest sides in search of securing another season in the top tier of English football.

Simon Rusk’s under-23s impressively gained promotion to the Premier League 2 Division 1 last season, thanks to their play-off final victory over Aston Villa, and the Seagulls will now meet the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Rusk’s side will also compete in the Premier League International Cup and play against Bayern Munich, Benfica and Everton in the group stage of the competition.

Led by Mark Beard and Mikey Harris, Albion’s under-18s will again compete in the Premier League South, as they take on Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and eight other regionalised sides.

In the rebranded Women’s Super League, Hope Powell will guide the Seagulls as they compete in the top tier of female football for the very-first time.

Albion were granted a place in the FA WSL after applying for top-tier status last season, and Powell’s team will now go up against league winners Chelsea, who the Seagulls met in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup last season.

Fixtures for Albion’s under-23s, under-18s and women’s team will be released in due course.