Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.

Formation and early years (1901–1972)

Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. were founded in 1901 and 19 years later, in 1920, they were elected to the Football League's new Third Division – having previously been members of the Southern League. In the Southern League they won their only national honour to date, the FA Charity Shield, which at that time was contested by the champions of the Southern League, and the Football League, by defeating Football League champions Aston Villa in 1910. Following their switch to the regionalised Third Division South in 1921, they remained in this division until the 1957–1958 season, when they won the title, securing promotion to the Second Division at the same time as the regionalised North and South divisions merged into a national Third and Fourth Division for the 1958–1959 season. Albion retained their second tier status until relegation in 1962, suffering a successive relegation in 1963 and slipping into the Fourth Division for the first time. They won the Fourth Division title in 1964–1965 and remained in the Third Division until 1972 when as runners up they secured promotion back to the Second Division.

Mike Bamber years (1972–1987)

Mike Bamber was the chairman of Brighton from October 1972 until 1983. He famously brought Brian Clough to the club in 1973 and later appointed former England player Alan Mullery as manager. Brighton's life as a Football League club had brought little in the way of success and headlines until…

Source: League

Second Division / Championship (level 2) Runners-up: 1978–79, 2016–17 Third Division South / Second Division / League One (level 3) Winners: 1957–58, 2001–02, 2010–11 Fourth Division / Third Division (level 4) Winners: 1964–65, 2000–01 Southern League Winners: 1909–10 Cup

FA Cup Runners-up: 1982–83 FA Charity Shield Winners: 1910 Sussex Senior Challenge Cup Winners: 1942–43, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22 The Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup Winners: 1959–60, 1960–61.