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Coaching Staff

Women's Coaching Staff

Date of Birth
08/12/1966
Signed
01/07/2017

Hope Powell

Hope Powell was appointed Albion’s women’s first-team manager in July 2017 and joined the club with a glittering football CV.

Powell rose to prominence as a coach in the late 1990s, when she was appointed the first ever full-time coach of the England Women’s team in 1998.

She then led the national team to qualification for the 2001 UEFA European Championship finals, and just missed out on leading the team to the semi-finals of the same competition four years later.

The talented coach briefly combined her role as national team coach by taking charge of the under-19s. She guided them to the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Championship in 2002 and 2003, and the quarter finals of the inaugural FIFA U19 Championship in 2002.

Her impressive achievements were recognised at Buckingham Palace when she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2002.

Powell led England to a World Cup quarter-final appearance in 2007 - where the team lost to USA - before taking the Lionesses all the way to the European Championship Final in 2009, where they were beaten by Germany.

More personal accolades came her way in 2010, as she was awarded a CBE to add to her OBE.

Another World Cup quarter-final appearance followed in 2011, and England’s progress on the international scene saw them rise to a highest-ever position of sixth in the FIFA rankings.

Powell took charge of Team GB at the London Olympics in 2012, and ensured England’s qualification for yet another major tournament, the European Championship in 2013.

After leaving her job in August of that year, Powell went on to work for the PFA as the organisation’s first female coach educator, to aid the development of future coaches.

The former England coach led Albion to a second-place finish in FA WSL 2 in her first season in charge, and led the club into the revamped FA Women’s Super League.

The Seagulls finished ninth in the FA Women’s Super League in 2018/19, recording victories over Yeovil Town, Liverpool, Birmingham City and West Ham United.

After the 2019/20 season was curtailed early due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Powell led her team to a record points tally and position in the WSL the following campaign, as they finished sixth with 27 points.

A standout moment from that season was the 2-1 win at Chelsea - the Blues' only defeat of the campaign as they won the league, as well as bringing an end to an incredible run of 33 matches unbeaten.

Amy Merricks

Assistant Manager

By Paul Hazlewood
Amy Merricks, Albion's assistant manager.

Amy Merricks joined Brighton & Hove Albion as the development squad head coach in July 2015 and in May 2016 she was promoted to the role of First Team Assistant Manager.

Prior to joining, Amy had spells at Gillingham Ladies FC and Millwall Lionesses. She joined as development squad head coach in July 2015, before taking on the role as assistant manager and working alongside interim first-manager, George Parris.

Merricks worked with Parris in the build-up to the successful 2016 Women's Premier League Championship Play-off Final victory over Sporting Club Albion, and the subsequent 2017 FA Women's Super League Spring Series.

Following the appointment of Hope Powell as manager in July 2017, Merricks continued as assistant manager and helped lead the club to an impressive second-place finish in the FA Women's Super League 2 in 2017/18.

Amy has continued to work alongside Powell, and helped guide the team in a ninth-place finish in the FAWSL in 2018/19 and their highest ever finish of sixth in 2020/21. 

Amy holds the prestigious UEFA A License qualification and passed the League Managers Association Diploma in Football Management with a distinction in November 2020.

Alex Penny

Goalkeeping Coach

By Paul Hazlewood
Alex Penny, Albion's goalkeeping coach.

Alex Penny joined Brighton & Hove Albion midway through the 2018/19 season as women’s and girls’ lead goalkeeping coach.

A former youth team goalkeeper at Arsenal, Penny’s coaching experience encompasses over 20 years and a wealth of experience across various clubs.

After starting his coaching career at Bristol City working in the Robins’ academy, Alex has gone on to coach at all levels of the game from youth to first team including at Birmingham City, Derby County, Cheltenham Town, Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Alex holds a UEFA A licence in both outfield and goalkeeping alongside the League Managers Association’s business management qualification.

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