The best Brighton photos from a history making 2022-23 season
Brighton & Hove Albion made history in the 2022-23 season by qualifying for European football for the first time ever – and here is their record-breaking year captured through the eyes of supporters with the best fan photos from the campaign.
Sixth place means the Seagulls will play Europa League in 2023-24; the likes of AC Milan and Ajax could be coming to the Amex. Albion fans meanwhile will spend Thursday nights sipping £1.50 beers in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Having finished 91st or 92 teams in the Football League pyramid 25 years ago whilst playing home games a 150-mile round trip away in Gillingham, it is the stuff of dreams.
It has not been an easy season, either. Graham Potter walking out nine days into September and taking his entire first team coaching staff with him to Chelsea threatened to derail the entire campaign, just when it looked like something special was starting.
But Potter slithering off to line his pockets at Stamford Bridge proved to be a blessing in disguise. In his place came Roberto De Zerbi, who has elevated Brighton to an new level entirely.
De Zerbi had to wait six October matches to secure his first win as Albion head boss. With beautiful irony, it came when Chelsea were hammered 4-1 at the Amex to inflict on Potter his first defeat in charge of the Blues.
From there, De Zerbi and the Seagulls never looked back. These 2022-23 photos take us through Brighton victories over Liverpool at the Amex and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Albion scored six times in a top flight game for the first time ever when hammering Wolves. Arsenal were beaten twice in North London; the first to end their hopes of winning the League Cup and the second to put a decisive nail in the coffin of their Premier League title dreams.
Manchester City were unable to defeat De Zerbi’s Seagulls at the Amex, three days after the incredible party which followed Brighton 3-1 Southampton and the confirmation of European football.
Not to mention Brighton’s memorable run to the FA Cup semi finals at Wembley. Eliminating Jurgen Klopp’s holders, overcoming potential banana skins at Middlesbrough and Stoke City and the incredible atmosphere when Grimsby Town came to Sussex.
It has simply been the greatest, most incredible campaign to follow the Albion. Thank you to everyone who has contributed their photos over the past nine months, either via email or Twitter.
See you all again in 2023-24… when your photos will come from far flung corners of Europe as well as Anfield, Old Trafford, the Etihad Stadium and, er, Kenilworth Road.
