Project Brighton: The Albion Women’s Show: A new season, a new hope

With the new season upon us, Latest TV are proud to present a new fixture in this year’s schedule: a show dedicated to the Ladies at Brighton and Hove Albion. Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, they had a glittering 2016 season which saw the Ladies win promotion to the FA Women’s Super League 2 and followed this by being awarded the FA Women’s Premier League Club of the Year Award at the FA Women’s Football Awards.

Heading into the new season, the Seagulls added even more experience to the side when first team manager Hope Powell arrived at the club with a CV to rival the Champions League elite. With vast experience on and off the pitch, including an impressive England goal scoring record of 35 goals in 66 caps, Powell rose to managerial prominence as she became the first ever full time coach of the England women’s team in 1998. She followed this by taking charge of Team GB at the London Olympics in 2012, ensuring England’s qualification into the European Championships the subsequent year. We are now fortunate she leads the flight of the Seagulls into what promises to be an exciting 2017 season for our Albion Women.

The first show dedicated to following a women’s football team through the season

While the FA are endeavouring to develop the women’s game, moving beyond merely a “female version” of a traditionally male dominated sport, the importance of developing opportunities for young female talent cannot be underestimated. The story of midfielder Kirsty Barton, who was forced to join her brother’s team when there was no female opportunity highlights just that.

The Albion Women’s show will be the first show dedicated to following a women’s football team through the season. Each week we will welcome a different member of the squad to your screens for an in-depth discussion of their journey into football and their aspirations for the future. We will be challenging the stereotypes currently associated with the game and doing all we can to encourage young girls to get into grassroots football. The show will also feature highlights of the games, analysis and discussion on the fixtures that lie ahead. We will also be featuring the exciting Players Challenge, proudly sponsored by Brighton and Hove Buses. With their generosity, we will be bringing you a competition throughout the season that will see a light hearted test of their talents as the ladies go head to head in a three point shootout.

Throughout the season, Albion will compete against the likes of Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Doncaster Rover Belles as they play a total of 18 games in the FA Women’s Super League 2, culminating in a match at home to Millwall Lionesses on Sunday 20th May. Their first home game however will be on 1st October at Culver Road as Durham make the long journey down the M1. There is no better way to spend a Sunday, so let’s get behind the Ladies and give them our full support.

The first Albion Women’s Show will be aired on Latest TV at 7pm on 5th October, giving you a two week heads up. Make sure you put this date in your diary to join us to be informed, entertained and get a feel good factor for your community and the Ladies that represent you in Brighton and Hove.

With your help we will put the Lady Seagulls firmly on the footballing map, encouraging more and more young ladies into this wonderful sport.
The Albion Women’s Show is not to be missed.

The Albion Women’s Show, Latest TV, Thursdays at 7pm from 5th October
Freeview Channel 7, Virgin Media 159, thelatest.co.uk