Albion legend Glenn Murray has paid tribute to the club and fans after making a permanent move to Nottingham Forest at the start of the week.
He said, “When I think back to when I first signed for the club in League One, in 2008, I couldn't have dreamed of things going the way they have and the journey we were about to embark on.
“Promotion in 2011, coming back to the club in 2016, winning promotion to the Premier League, three seasons in the best league in the world and scoring more than 100 goals for the club. It's been amazing and I'm so grateful to the club and the fans for the last 13 years.
“I said when I signed the second time it was Brighton & Hove Albion, but the progress that had been made it felt like a very different club. To have played both at Withdean and the Amex is an absolute privilege. Both were very special times and I have some brilliant memories.
“I've still got some football left to play, and am really looking forward to getting back playing with Nottingham Forest, but Brighton and Hove is home now, and I hope that when my playing time ends, I can retain my connection with the club in some way.”
Murray's not planning on retiring just yet, but when the time comes that he does hang up his boots he wants to continue with media work that he has excelled at in recent years.
“I really enjoy the media side and have done a bit of commentary and punditry with the BBC, Sky and TalkSPORT. It was great to be at the Amex for the Spurs game for Five Live and co-commentating on such a brilliant performance from the boys.
“It's been coming, anyone could see that, and then to follow that with a historic win at Anfield was fantastic. I was so pleased for Graham and the players. It feels like everything just clicked in the past month, and the group are starting to get the rewards for their hard work.
“I watched the game against Liverpool as a fan, and while it was a little bit strange to have no affiliation to the club. I really enjoyed it, just as much as any other Albion fan.
“The club is in such good hands at every level. The squad is young, exciting and hungry for success and full of talent, with a real strength in depth, and is constantly improving. I just wish I was ten years younger!
“The club is really well run in every single area, with a clear vision from Tony, being put into place by Paul, Dan and Graham. Added to that the work being done by the academy and the future is really exciting for the club and I for one look forward to what the future holds, it certainly feels bright.
“Also I'm incredibly proud to have played a small part in the work the club does in the community. It was a pleasure to help set up the Albion as One fund, and it is fantastic to see it's still helping so many people with the donations of laptops recently in these times of need.
Murray, second in the club's all-time leading goalscorers list, say he is looking forward to saying a proper farewell to Albion fans at some point in the future.
“The work this club does off the pitch, on the community side, is relentless. It rightly gets some credit but the number of local people it helps really is phenomenal.
“The only down side at the moment is the fans aren't able to come and enjoy the matches. If I've got one regret it's that I couldn't say a proper thank you and goodbye to you all.
“Although thinking back to the send off Bruno got from our fans and how emotional it was for him, maybe that was a blessing. It was hard enough reading some of the lovely messages across social media this week.
“The fans have been amazing over both spells, and I hope I can come back and say thank you and goodbye properly, sometime soon, as things get back towards normal.
“I'd like to finish by saying thank you. Thank you to Tony, Paul, Dan, Graham and everyone at the football club, all the players I have played alongside, the staff, Dick Knight for paying what was a pretty big fee for the club back in 2008, each of the managers I've played under but most importantly the fans the heartbeat of the football club, it's been a pleasure and a privilege to play for Brighton & Hove Albion for so many years."