2019–20 Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. season

The 2019–20 Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. season was the club's 29th season in existence and their second in the FA Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid. Along with competing in the WSL, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Brighton & Hove Albion
2019–20 season
ChairmanTony Bloom
ManagerHope Powell
StadiumBroadfield Stadium, Crawley
WSL9th
FA CupQuarter-final
League CupQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Aileen Whelan (5)
All: Kayleigh Green, Ini Umotong
and Aileen Whelan (6)
Highest home attendance4,130
(vs. Birmingham City, 17 November)
Lowest home attendance510
(vs. Reading, 29 November)
Average home league attendance1,311

On 13 March 2020, in line with the FA's response to the coronavirus pandemic, it was announced the season was temporarily suspended until at least 3 April 2020.[1][2] After further postponements, the season was ultimately ended prematurely on 25 May 2020 with immediate effect.[3] Brighton sat in 9th at the time and retained their position on sporting merit after The FA Board's decision to award places on a points-per-game basis.[4][5]

Squad

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As of 23 January 2020.[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   ENG Megan Walsh
2 DF   ENG Beth Roe
3 DF   ENG Felicity Gibbons
4 MF   ENG Danielle Bowman (captain)
5 DF   ENG Fern Whelan
6 DF   NIR Laura Rafferty
7 FW   ENG Aileen Whelan
8 MF   ENG Kirsty Barton
9 FW   NGA Ini Umotong
10 MF   ENG Kate Natkiel
11 MF   SWE Amanda Nildén
12 DF   DEN Matilde Lundorf
14 DF   NED Danique Kerkdijk
15 FW   WAL Kayleigh Green
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 FW   ENG Ellie Brazil
17 MF   IRL Megan Connolly
18 MF   ENG Jodie Brett
19 MF   ENG Emily Simpkins
20 DF   ENG Victoria Williams
21 DF   ENG Maya Le Tissier
22 GK   ENG Laura Hartley
23 FW   IRL Rianna Jarrett
24 FW   NED Maxime Bennink (on loan from Reading)
25 GK   NOR Cecilie Fiskerstrand
26 MF   ENG Libby Bance
27 MF   FRA Léa Le Garrec
28 DF   ENG Ellie Hack

Management team

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Position Name
Manager Hope Powell
Assistant manager Amy Merricks
Goalkeeping coach Alex Penny
General Manager Kirsty Hulland
Strength & Conditioning Coach Ivo Nunez Miguel
Physiotherapist Lisa Walsh
Lead Analysis Edward Filmer
Club Doctor Dr. Timothy Buck
Kit Manager Maurice Bane

Pre-season

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21 July 2019 Friendly Brighton & Hove Albion 5–1 Crystal Palace Behind closed doors
Report Unnamed   59'
16 August 2019 Friendly Valencia   0–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Torrevieja, Spain
Report Umotong   52' Stadium: Estadio Municipal Vicente García

FA Women's Super League

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Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
16 3 4 9 11 30  −19 13 3 3 3 10 12  −2 0 1 6 1 18  −17

Last updated: 23 February 2020.
Source: FA WSL

Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
GroundAHAHAHAHAAHHAHHHAHAAHA
ResultDDLLLWLDLLWLLWDLCCCCCC
Position6899119991010999999
Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

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7 September 2019 1 Bristol City 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Bristol
15:00 Daniëls   40' Report Lundorf   86' Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 3,041
Referee: Abigail Bryne
15 September 2019 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 Chelsea Crawley
14:00
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 1,352
Referee: Lee Collins
29 September 2019 3 Arsenal 4–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Borehamwood
12:30
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 1,607
Referee: Elliot Swallow
13 October 2019 4 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–3 West Ham United Crawley
14:00
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 849
Referee: Lisa Benn
27 October 2019 5 Everton 2–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Southport
Report
Stadium: Haig Avenue
Attendance: 331
Referee: Jane Simms
17 November 2019 6 Brighton & Hove Albion 3–0 Birmingham City Falmer
14:00
Report Stadium: Amex Stadium
Attendance: 4,130
Referee: Helen Conley
24 November 2019 7 Manchester United 4–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Leigh
12:00
Report
Stadium: Leigh Sports Village
Attendance: 1,707
Referee: Steven Copeland
29 November 2019 8 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–2 Reading Crawley
19:45
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 510
Referee: Matthew Russell
8 December 2019 9 Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Canons Park
14:00
Report Stadium: The Hive Stadium
Attendance: 571
Referee: Emily Heaslip
15 December 2019 10 Manchester City 5–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Manchester
14:00
Report
Stadium: Academy Stadium
Attendance: 1,173
Referee: Lucy Oliver
5 January 2020 11 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0 Liverpool Crawley
14:00
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 947
Referee: Amy Fearn
12 January 2020 12 Brighton & Hove Albion 0–4 Arsenal Crawley
14:00 Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 1,312
Referee: Kirsty Dowle
19 January 2020 13 West Ham United 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Romford
15:00
Report
Stadium: Rush Green Stadium
Attendance: 1,799
Referee: Ryan Atkin
2 February 2020 14 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0 Everton Crawley
14:00
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 830
Referee: Abigail Byrne
9 February 2020 Birmingham City P–P Brighton & Hove Albion Solihull
14:00 Stadium: Damson Park
Note: All WSL games postponed due to adverse weather conditions[7]
12 February 2020 15 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 Manchester United Crawley
19:45
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 903
Referee: Savvas Yianni
23 February 2020 16 Brighton & Hove Albion 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur Crawley
14:00
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 964
Referee: Louise Saunders
22 March 2020 17 Reading Cancelled Brighton & Hove Albion High Wycombe
14:00 Stadium: Adams Park
Note: Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
29 March 2020 18 Brighton & Hove Albion Cancelled Bristol City Crawley
14:00 Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Note: Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
5 April 2020 19 Chelsea Cancelled Brighton & Hove Albion Kingston upon Thames
14:00 Stadium: Kingsmeadow
Note: Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
26 April 2020 20 Liverpool Cancelled Brighton & Hove Albion Birkenhead
12:00 Stadium: Prenton Park
Note: Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
16 May 2020 21 Brighton & Hove Albion Cancelled Manchester City Crawley
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Note: Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
22 Birmingham City Cancelled Brighton & Hove Albion Solihull
Stadium: Damson Park
Note: Rescheduled from 9 February 2020. Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG
7 Tottenham Hotspur 15 6 2 7 15 24 −9 20 1.33
8 West Ham United 14 5 1 8 19 34 −15 16 1.14
9 Brighton & Hove Albion 16 3 4 9 11 30 −19 13 0.81
10 Bristol City 14 2 3 9 9 38 −29 9 0.64
11 Birmingham City 13 2 1 10 5 23 −18 7 0.54
Source: FA WSL, BBC
Rules for classification: Initially: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored. After abandonment of season: 1) Points per game

Women's FA Cup

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As a member of the top two tiers, Brighton & Hove Albion entered the FA Cup in the fourth round, beating Championship teams Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in the fourth and fifth rounds respectively.[8] A quarter-final against fellow WSL opposition Birmingham City was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic before the season was ultimately curtailed. On 24 July 2020 it was announced the 2019–20 FA Cup would resume play during the 2020–21 season starting with the quarter-final ties rescheduled for the weekend of 26/27 September 2020.[9]

26 January 2020 Fourth round Aston Villa 2–3 Brighton & Hove Albion Boldmere
Report
Stadium: Trevor Brown Memorial Ground
25 February 2020 Fifth round Crystal Palace 0–3 Brighton & Hove Albion Bromley
19:30 Report
Stadium: Hayes Lane
15 March 2020 Quarter-final Brighton & Hove Albion P–P Birmingham City Crawley
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Note: Postponed due to coronavirus pandemic
27 September 2020 Quarter-final Brighton & Hove Albion 2–2
(2–4 p)
Birmingham City Crawley
14:00
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Rebecca Welch
Penalties
Note: Rescheduled from 15 March 2020

FA Women's League Cup

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Group stage

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22 September 2019 Group stage Charlton Athletic 0–3 Brighton & Hove Albion Bexley
14:00 Report
Stadium: The Oakwood
20 October 2019 Group stage Brighton & Hove Albion 1–2 Bristol City Crawley
14:00
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
3 November 2019 Group stage Brighton & Hove Albion 0–0
(4–2 p)
Arsenal Crawley
14:00
Report Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: 761
Referee: Paul Howard
Penalties
20 November 2019 Group stage London Bees 0–5 Brighton & Hove Albion Canons Park
19:45 Report
Stadium: The Hive Stadium
Attendance: 152
Referee: Stacey Pearson
11 December 2019 Group stage London City Lionesses 2–4 Brighton & Hove Albion Dartford
19:30
Report
Stadium: Princes Park
Attendance: 43
Referee: Abigail Byrne

Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ARS BHA BRI LON CHA LCL
1 Arsenal 5 4 0 1 0 25 0 +25 13 Advance to Knock-out stage 7–0 9–0 4–0
2 Brighton & Hove Albion 5 3 1 0 1 13 4 +9 11 0–0 1–2
3 Bristol City 5 3 0 1 1 11 11 0 10 3–0 1–1
4 London Bees 5 1 1 0 3 3 17 −14 5 0–5 0–0
5 Charlton Athletic 5 1 0 1 3 3 12 −9 4 0–3 2–5 1–0
6 London City Lionesses 5 0 1 0 4 3 14 −11 2 0–5 2–4 0–3
Source: playmakerstats.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

Knockout phase

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15 January 2020 Quarter-final Manchester United 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Leigh
19:30
Report
Stadium: Leigh Sports Village
Attendance: 642
Referee: Martin Woods

Squad statistics

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Appearances

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Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No. Pos Nat Player Total FA WSL FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   ENG Megan Walsh 16 0 15 0 1 0 0 0
2 DF   ENG Beth Roe 3 0 0 0 2 0 0+1 0
3 DF   ENG Felicity Gibbons 23 0 15 0 1+1 0 5+1 0
4 MF   ENG Danielle Bowman 21 1 16 0 1 1 2+2 0
5 DF   ENG Fern Whelan 4 0 3 0 0 0 1 0
6 DF   NIR Laura Rafferty 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 FW   ENG Aileen Whelan 23 6 16 5 3 1 4 0
8 MF   ENG Kirsty Barton 13 0 10 0 0 0 3 0
9 FW   NGA Ini Umotong 22 6 6+8 1 2 2 5+1 3
10 MF   ENG Kate Natkiel 15 1 4+3 0 2 0 5+1 1
11 MF   SWE Amanda Nildén 16 2 5+5 0 1 1 5 1
12 DF   DEN Matilde Lundorf 13 1 6+2 0 2 0 3 1
14 DF   NED Danique Kerkdijk 23 1 13+1 1 3 0 6 0
15 FW   WAL Kayleigh Green 23 6 14+2 2 0+3 0 2+2 4
16 FW   ENG Ellie Brazil 8 0 6 0 0 0 2 0
17 MF   IRL Megan Connolly 12 1 6+3 1 1+1 0 1 0
18 MF   ENG Jodie Brett 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 MF   ENG Emily Simpkins 19 2 8+2 0 3 0 5+1 2
20 DF   ENG Victoria Williams 16 1 11+1 0 1 0 2+1 1
21 DF   ENG Maya Le Tissier 19 0 7+5 0 3 0 4 0
22 GK   ENG Laura Hartley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW   IRL Rianna Jarrett 2 2 0 0 1+1 2 0 0
24 FW   NED Maxime Bennick 2 0 0 0 1+1 0 0 0
25 GK   NOR Cecilie Fiskerstrand 3 0 0 0 2 0 1 0
26 MF   ENG Libby Bance 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
27 MF   FRA Léa Le Garrec 18 1 14+1 1 0 0 2+1 0
28 DF   ENG Ellie Hack 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    ENG Faith Nokuthula 1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
Joined during 2020–21 season but competed in the postponed 2019–20 FA Cup:
9 FW   KOR Lee Geum-min 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
10 MF   NED Inessa Kaagman 1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
11 MF   FIN Nora Heroum 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
12 FW   IRL Denise O'Sullivan 1 1 0 0 0+1 1 0 0
13 DF   NZL Rebekah Stott 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Players away from the club on loan:
13 GK   ENG Sophie Harris 6 0 1 0 0 0 5 0

Goalscorers

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Rank No. Pos. Name FA WSL FA Cup League Cup Total
1 7 FW   Aileen Whelan 5 1 0 6
9 FW   Ini Umotong 1 2 3
15 FW   Kayleigh Green 2 0 4
4 11 MF   Amanda Nildén 0 1 1 2
19 MF   Emily Simpkins 0 0 2
23 FW   Rianna Jarrett 0 2 0
7 4 MF   Danielle Bowman 0 1 0 1
10 MF   Kate Natkiel 0 0 1
12 DF   Matilde Lundorf 0 0 1
12 FW   Denise O'Sullivan[a] 0 1 0
14 DF   Danique Kerkdijk 1 0 0
17 MF   Megan Connolly 1 0 0
20 DF   Victoria Williams 0 0 1
27 MF   Léa Le Garrec 1 0 0
Own goal 0 0 1 1
Total 11 8 14 33
  1. ^ Joined during 2020–21 season but scored in the postponed 2019–20 FA Cup

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date Position Nationality Name From Ref.
1 July 2019 DF   Danique Kerkdijk   Bristol City [10]
5 July 2019 DF   Matilde Lundorf   VSK Aarhus [11]
10 July 2019 GK   Megan Walsh   Yeovil Town [12]
8 August 2019 MF   Léa Le Garrec   En Avant de Guingamp [13]
3 January 2020 GK   Cecilie Fiskerstrand   LSK [14]
23 January 2020 FW   Rianna Jarrett   Wexford Youths [15]

Loans in

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Date Position Nationality Name From Until Ref.
23 January 2020 FW   Maxime Bennink   Reading End of season [16]

Transfers out

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Date Position Nationality Name To Ref.
14 May 2019 GK   Lucy Gillett   Crystal Palace [17]
14 May 2019 DF   Sophie Perry Retired [18][19]
3 July 2019 GK   Marie Hourihan   Braga [20]
5 July 2019 MF   Chloe Peplow   Tottenham Hotspur [21]

Loans out

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Date Position Nationality Name To Until Ref.
23 January 2020 GK   Sophie Harris   Lewes End of season [22]

References

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  1. ^ Association, The Football. "Decision made to postpone professional football until Friday 3 April at the earliest". www.thefa.com.
  2. ^ Flood, George (13 March 2020). "Women's Super League and Championship suspended due to coronavirus". Evening Standard.
  3. ^ "Statement: FA Barclays WSL and Women's Championship season ended". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
  4. ^ "Chelsea named Women's Super League champions, Liverpool relegated". BBC Sport. 5 June 2020.
  5. ^ Association, The Football. "Chelsea Women awarded Barclays FA WSL title and Aston Villa win Women's Championship". www.thefa.com.
  6. ^ "Brighton & Hove Albion - Women's Team". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Storm Ciara forces postponements". BBC.
  8. ^ Association, The Football. "Women's FA Cup dates". www.thefa.com.
  9. ^ "Women's FA Cup: Wembley final on 31 October as resumption gets go-ahead". BBC Sport. 24 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Dutch international defender Kerkdijk signs for Brighton". www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  11. ^ "ALBION SIGN DANISH DEFENDER". www.brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  12. ^ "ALBION SIGN NEW KEEPER". www.brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved 20 July 2019.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Albion sign France international". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
  14. ^ "Albion sign Norway international goalkeeper". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
  15. ^ "Albion sign international striker Jarrett". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
  16. ^ "Albion agree loan deal for Reading winger". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
  17. ^ "Lucy Gillett - Goalkeeper - Palace Women - Crystal Palace FC". www.cpfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2019.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "ALBION DUO TO LEAVE THE CLUB". www.brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  19. ^ Fennessy, Paul. "The Irish international who emigrated to Thailand". The42.
  20. ^ Frith, Wilf (4 July 2019). "Marie Hourihan moves to Portugal's SC Braga". She Kicks Women's Football Magazine. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Introducing our Tottenham Hotspur Women players". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  22. ^ "Rooks swoop for WSL keeper ahead of transfer deadline". www.lewesfc.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.