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Brighton and Hove Albion can become pioneers in women\u2019s football now that the team has received the go-ahead for a purpose-built stadium, according to the councillor who helped approve the plans.<\/p>\n
The council for Brighton and Hove City gave the green light in October for the club to proceed with locating a site within the city for what is hoped will be an approximately 10,000-capacity ground for the Women\u2019s Super League side.<\/p>\n
Their proposed new ground will be the first of its kind in the UK to have been designed and built specifically for use by a women\u2019s team, with all 12 of the current WSL clubs playing in stadiums either previously or currently shared with men\u2019s sides. Currently the team plays home matches more than 30 miles away from the city at Crawley\u2019s Broadfield Stadium, where they recently lost to Arsenal.<\/p>\n
It is an arrangement that has suited the club since becoming founder members of the restructured WSL in 2018 but Labour councillor John Hewitt – who serves as lead councillor for leisure and sport and backed the proposal ahead of it being voted through – believes it is not sustainable if football in the city hopes to grow.<\/p>\n
Once a site is found and work on the new stadium can begin, Hewitt says the club can realistically think about becoming trendsetters in the women\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs good as (Crawley) are as hosts, the distance has an adverse effect,\u201d he told the PA news agency. \u201cPlus it doesn\u2019t seem like our home ground, because the seats are red and we\u2019re blue and white.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intention is to build around 10,000 capacity which is a realistic number. The team get around 3-4,000 at Crawley, but there is the capacity for the club to grow in the coming years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about the women\u2019s game achieving parity with the men\u2019s game. Women\u2019s football is growing. Brighton hosted three games at the Euros last year and there were good attendances. We know there\u2019s the scope for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt shows how far the club has come. They were made homeless in 1997, exiled in Gillingham for two years, the struggle to establish the Amex Stadium. This shows the best steps they\u2019re looking to make. On behalf of the city, it would be fantastic if we could be seen as pioneers for this. In years to come, this could be the norm.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the reasons for having a purpose-built stadium is different needs. For example, playing in a men\u2019s stadium, dressing rooms might only have two cubicles, whereas a purpose-built women\u2019s ground would have more.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, other cities and towns can follow suit in supporting their women\u2019s teams.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brighton are currently eighth in the WSL table having finished 11th and narrowly avoided relegation last season.<\/p>\n
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With the men\u2019s side having a enjoyed a highest-ever league finished last campaign and currently on the brink of progressing beyond the Europa League group stage on their debut European run, Hewitt believes the situation is ripe for the women\u2019s side to follow suit and play their part in reinforcing Brighton\u2019s reputation as a coming football force.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe intention is for the club to finance it, but the council will be a key stakeholder in that. We\u2019ve been invited to have our input, as in what would we like out of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s not just a stadium where there are 20 football matches a year played there, there could be educational facilities, community initiatives hosted there, schools using it for their cup finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be looking at how best we can use the facility for the resident in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n