MyAlbion Audio: Recent Episodes
Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Having recently celebrated 10 years as chief executive, Paul Barber reflects on a historic decade at Brighton & Hove Albion.
It’s not just on the pitch Albion have made an impressive start to the season, as records are tumbling for the club’s commercial, retail and catering teams. BBC Sussex's Johnny Cantor chats to Albion chief-executive & deputy chairman Paul Barber about the club's progress off the pitch.
Following the news that he is calling time on his playing career, Glenn Murray chats to Paul Camillin about his two spells with the club, the period at Crystal Palace in between, and his plans for the future.
Legendary Brighton & Hove Albion skipper Bruno reflects on his early career in Spain, he transition to English football, and his love affair with Albion supporters.
In 2013, Efrem Brynin's son James was killed in action while on tour in Afghanistan. This is the heart-wrenching story of a father's grief over the last seven years, which included an inquest into his son's death and a personal battle with cancer. Efrem also reveals how the family's connection with Brighton & Hove Albion has grown since James's death.
Brighton & Hove Albion women's team captain Dani Bowman discusses coming out, the importance of the Rainbow Laces campaign, the potential impact of childbirth for professional sportswomen, and looks back over her career in football.
Dan Burn has had quite a journey so far. In this podcast, the Brighton & Hove Albion defender discusses his time stocking shelves to make ends meet, how he started out in his football career at Blyth Spartans, scoring at Wembley, and eventually making his debut in the Premier League.
Famously signed from Bristol Rovers for £100,000, Bobby Zamora's goals helped catapult Brighton & Hove Albion to back-to-back promotions at the turn of the millennium. He went on to spend most of his career in the Premier League with Spurs, West Ham, Fulham and QPR, before returning to the Seagulls for his final season as a professional. Now a club ambassador, Bobby is widely regarded to be one of the best strikers ever to wear an Albion shirt.
Former Brighton & Hove Albion skipper Dean Hammond opens up about why he left the club under a cloud and why his return in 2012/13 meant so much, making tough family choices, and how he turned to alcohol after hanging up his boots.
Brighton & Hove Albion and Netherlands international defender Danique Kerkdijk looks ahead to Women's Football Weekend '20, reveals what it was like as a young girl playing football in Holland, and describes her experiences at the world cup.
Simon Rusk is the highly regarded under-23s coach at Brighton & Hove Albion. But the facilities at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre would have seemed a lifetime away to the young Simon Rusk trying to forge a playing career in the lower divisions of the Football League. In this podcast, Rusk discusses his constant battle with injury and the sacrifices he had to make as a young player, his route into coaching and the intricacies of his current role.
David Weir discusses his extraordinary journey from a college scholarship in the USA to being the oldest player to represent Scotland. In a career spanning two decades, Weir’s decisions saw him move to the other side of the Atlantic aged just 17, then create a new home on Merseyside during an eight-year spell at Everton, before a move to Rangers at the tender age of 36 provided him with a record-filled six years at Ibrox. After hanging up his boots Weir moved into management and coaching, where his experiences have fed into his current role at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Albion chief exec & deputy chairman Paul Barber is quizzed by fans during a live Q&A on Zoom, with topics including pay per view, ticket refunds and the controversial "big picture" proposals reported by the media.
The word ‘legend’ is often over-used within football, but when it comes to Martin Perry and the contribution he has made to Brighton & Hove Albion, one certainly wouldn’t be accused of hyperbole or exaggerating the truth.
Perry was instrumental in Albion’s protracted battle to gain planning permission for the £120 million American Express Community Stadium, and had overall responsibility its design and construction – likewise the state-of-the-art £32 million American Express Elite Football Performance Centre at Lancing, with both delivered on time and within budget.
While a lifelong fan, his personal journey with the club stretches some 24 years and began as a result of his work as special projects director for construction company Alfred McAlpine, where he helped deliver Huddersfield Town’s new stadium in the early Nineties.
Indeed, Martin was introduced to Dick Knight in 1996 by then-Hove Borough Council leader Ivor Caplin. He had been due to go sailing that Saturday morning but instead took a phone call that would open a new chapter on his life and help secure and shape the future of the football club.
Martin leaves the Albion with an unquestionable legacy and in recognition of his services, Martin is being made an Honorary Life Vice President and is continuing in his role as chair of the board of trustees of Albion in the Community.
In 1983 Brighton & Hove Albion faced Manchester United in the FA Cup final as overwhelming underdogs. But after a magnificent performance from Jimmy Melia's men the game went to extra time, and with moments remaining, striker Gordon Smith had the chance to put Albion's name on the cup. In this podcast, Smith discusses his memories of the day - the beige suits, the helicopter ride and of course, that famous late chance of glory.
With all football suspended owing to the coronavirus situation, MyAlbion TV host Richard Reynolds reads out fans' half-time announcements, just like at the Amex! If you know someone with a birthday or a special occasion coming up, simply tell us at production@bhafc.co.uk and make sure you include your name as well!
With all football suspended owing to the coronavirus situation, MyAlbion TV host Richard Reynolds reads out fans' half-time announcements, just like at the Amex! If you know someone with a birthday or a special occasion coming up, simply tell us at production@bhafc.co.uk and make sure you include your name as well!
After successful spells between the sticks with Brondby and Leeds United, Casper Ankergren signed for Brighton & Hove Albion on the eve of the 2010/11 campaign, and would become a pivotal part of the league title success.
In this podcast Casper discusses his early career in Denmark, the highs and lows of being a goalkeeper, and his transition into coaching.
Brighton & Hove Albion chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber joins Mark Chapman and guests to discuss the latest developments affecting the Premier League during the coronavirus pandemic.
With all football suspended owing to the coronavirus situation, MyAlbion TV host Richard Reynolds reads out fans' half-time announcements, just like at the Amex! If you know someone with a birthday or a special occasion coming up, simply tell us at production@bhafc.co.uk and make sure you include your name as well!
With all football suspended owing to the coronavirus situation, MyAlbion TV host Richard Reynolds reads out fans' half-time announcements, just like at the Amex! If you know someone with a birthday or a special occasion coming up, simply tell us at production@bhafc.co.uk and make sure you include your name as well!
With all football suspended owing to the coronavirus situation, MyAlbion TV host Richard Reynolds reads out fans' half-time announcements, just like at the Amex! If you know someone with a birthday or a special occasion coming up, simply tell us at production@bhafc.co.uk and make sure you include your name as well!
Adam Virgo lost his mother at an early age, and then just as his football career was taking off, he lost his father in tragic circumstances. Despite this, Virgo provided Albion fans with some of the most iconic moments during the Withdean era, before realising a childhood dream and signing for Celtic. In this episode, Virgo tells how he found solace in football to overcome his personal tragedy, reflects on that big-money move to Scotland, and shares his memories of that famous goal against Swindon.
With all football suspended owing to the coronavirus situation, MyAlbion TV host Richard Reynolds reads out fans' half-time announcements, just like at the Amex! If you know someone with a birthday or a special occasion coming up, simply tell us at production@bhafc.co.uk and make sure you include your name as well!
With all football suspended owing to the coronavirus situation, MyAlbion TV host Richard Reynolds reads out fans' half-time announcements, just like at the Amex! If you know someone with a birthday or a special occasion coming up, simply tell us at production@bhafc.co.uk and make sure you include your name as well!
With all football suspended owing to the coronavirus situation, MyAlbion TV host Richard Reynolds reads out fans' half-time announcements, just like at the Amex! If you know someone with a birthday or a special occasion coming up, simply tell us at production@bhafc.co.uk and make sure you include your name as well!
With all football suspended owing to the coronavirus situation, MyAlbion TV host Richard Reynolds reads out fans' half-time announcements, just like at the Amex! If you know someone with a birthday or a special occasion coming up, simply tell us at production@bhafc.co.uk and make sure you include your name.
Ben Roberts began his playing career with Middlesbrough, for whom he was on the losing side in two Wembley finals in 1997 - the League Cup replay and the FA Cup final. The latter, in particular, would prove difficult to take, as Ben conceded inside the first minute of the game.
Further Wembley heartache ensued in 1999 when he helped Millwall reach the final of the Football League Trophy, but again, Roberts was on the losing side.
His fortunes changed in 2004 when he was an integral part of the Albion team who gained promotion to the Championship. A club-record run of clean sheets propelled the team into the League One play-offs, and a penalty shoot-out save in the semi-final against Swindon helped book Albion's place at the Millennium Stadium. This time, in front of 30,000 ecstatic Albion fans, Ben celebrated victory in a showpiece final as Brighton overcame Bristol City.
But the persistent back problem that had hampered his entire career finally took its toll, and Roberts was forced to call time on his career at the age of 29.
After gaining a first-class honours degree at Roehampton University, Ben began his coaching career, and following spells with Yeovil and Charlton, he arrived at the Albion in 2015 to become a pivotal member of the club's backroom staff.
Paul Barber's career in professional football has spanned close to 25 years, during which time he has held senior positions at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, and The Football Association.
Since joining the Albion in 2012 he has overseen the club's rise to the Premier League, and in November 2018, Barber was appointed as the club's deputy chairman and also became the Premier League's representative to the Professional Game Board.
He was named Overall CEO of the Year for England and Scotland, as well as Championship CEO of the Year, at the Football Industry Awards 2013, and won the Sports Executive of the Year at the 2016 International Stadium Business Awards.
Andrew Crofts made 125 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion over two spells. His leadership as captain and committed performances in midfield won him a special place in the hearts of Albion fans, and he epitomised the term 'consummate professional.'
Although his second stint with the club was hampered by two serious knee injuries, his determination to return to fitness on both occasions was legendary.
In total, Crofts made 475 appearances for clubs including Norwich, Charlton and Gillingham, and after calling time on his playing career, he returned to the Albion in 2019 as under-23 player/coach.
For 32 years as a journalist at the Argus newspaper, Andy Naylor had a front row seat for one of the most momentous periods in the club's history.
He covered games at the Goldstone, Withdean and the Amex, broke countless transfer stories and reported on the team's rise from 92nd in the fourth division all the way to the Premier League - forging relationships and falling out with managers and players along the way!
Micky Adams became manager of Brighton & Hove Albion in 1999 and assembled the now-legendary squad that included the likes of Bobby Zamora and Danny Cullip.
With a fearsome style of leadership and unwavering passion for the club he steered Albion to the Division Three title in 2001, while the team achieved a second consecutive championship the next season despite his departure to Leicester City midway through the campaign.
In 2008 he returned to the club amid great expectation but couldn't recapture the success of his first spell, and left just nine months later with the team embroiled in a relegation battle.
Craig Mackail-Smith joined Brighton & Hove Albion in 2011 to spearhead the club's assault on the Championship in their first season at the Amex.
He became a key member of the team in the seasons that followed, but an Achilles tendon injury suffered in 2013 signalled the start of an arduous 13-month struggle to get back to fitness.
He eventually left the club at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, but is fondly remembered by Albion fans for his goals, his work-rate and THAT celebration.
Brighton & Hove Albion plucked Alex Revell from non-league Braintree in 2006, and the tireless striker led the line at Withdean for 18 months before a surprise move to Southend United in January 2008.
Although not prolific during his time with the Seagulls, Revell's unflinching work-rate made him extremely popular with team-mates and Albion fans alike.
He enjoyed notable success at Rotherham later in his career; his play-off final wonder-goal against Leyton Orient helping the Millers achieve promotion to the Championship.
In 2003, Jake Robinson became Brighton & Hove Albion's youngest-ever goalscorer at just 16 years of age.
Heralded as the club's next big thing, Robinson admits now how he struggled with the pressure and public profile he received.
He went on to make over 130 appearances for the Seagulls, scoring 14 times, but believes he never really achieved his full potential for the club.