It isn’t often that you see Monaco and Gillingham in the same sentence – but out in Monte Carlo the Albion’s chief executive Paul Barber was in reflective mood after digesting seeing the club put in a Europa League section almost inevitably dubbed the ‘Group of Death’ with Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens.
Brighton’s story is by now pretty well known on British shores. Staying out of non-league only on goals scored in the 1996-97 season.
And that being immediately followed by the homelessness and two seasons in exile at Gillingham with crowds there dropping to as low as 1,025 before the start of the renaissance under Micky Adams.
The return to the city and the leafy Withdean athletics stadium, before owner Tony Bloom’s ‘if you build it, they will come’ vision for the American Express Community Stadium at Falmer.
Come they duly did, and fans have seen the club ascend to the Premier League, and will now under Roberto De Zerbi get to watch European football for the first time, with a home game against AEK being the baptism.
And out at the glitzy UEFA event last week there were plenty of representatives from some of the biggest and most famous clubs on the continent keen to make contact and compliment Brighton on their achievements – and get the low-down on a European debutant.
Barber said, “It is incredible to think that Brighton were 92nd in the Football League with just two games left of the season left in 1997 – and only just survived falling into non-league.
“And since 1997 we have risen 86 places in the league and put ourselves in a great position by finishing in the top six last season.
“European football was a pipe dream for fans back then. It was only about survival. Having somewhere to play football that wasn’t in Gillingham, and outside club’s home city, the place of its birth.
“So everything that has happened for 25 years and the last decade is testament to the hard work from a lot of people from different eras.
“You had Dick Knight and everything he did to save the club, and then into Tony Bloom’s era and the vision he had to make us a Premier League club – and the money to make that happen.
“There is a certain irony in there that fans used to have to make a 150-mile round trip to a home game in Kent – but may now be a lot happier about going to Athens to watch the team play 1,500 miles away!
“I’m sure they will make that trip and much prefer it to those days at Gillingham, because they would never have imagined this would be possible.
“And hopefully the three-game home package for these Europa League games is looking amazing after the draw. We sold 20,000 of those before the draw had been made. And that shows the incredible faith and commitment of the fans, who bought blind despite not knowing who or when we would be playing.
“There is definitely a broader awareness of Brighton and what we have done at European level and we seek to build the club’s profile with those who are not familiar with us.
“We produced a special business card with a QR code for this draw so the clubs we drew could immediately find out the history of the club, where we have come from and what we are about. That will help everyone from other clubs, their fans and their media to know a bit more about us. Yes, it is selling ourselves a bit and building a profile, but also to educate. Our stadium, hotels, where to eat and drink for the fans – Uefa appreciated it.
“We have a significant history, not at the very top level, but nonetheless one that really matters to the fans. People were coming up in Monaco and saying they watch a lot of our football in the last two years and love the way we play.
“One European club I spoke to today takes a feed of all our games, and their coaching staff sit down on Monday mornings and watch them from start to finish.”
Barber also looked back on his 12 years working at the club – and a special relationship with Bloom.
He added, “I have been working with Tony Bloom now for 12 years and we have a great partnership. I love the club and love where I live. With the help of a lot of people, I have overseen a lot of progress supporting Tony’s vision.
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
“Each year that has gone by we have done something a little bit different and pushed on a bit further.
“In my career I have been lucky enough to work with the national team, work with Tottenham, and work overseas in MLS.
“But this has been an incredible project which I have been able to see through over 11 to 12 years and you don’t often get to do that in this industry.
“The big clubs are already built. The smaller clubs have a lot of work to do, and it’s rare you get the chance to see the building work through.”