Just 14 years ago, The Seagulls were playing in an athletics stadium and languishing in the third tier of English football. Now, they are firmly established as a top-half Premier League club, a division they are competing in for the seventh straight season. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, this season, the South Coast outfit are competing in European competition for the first time in their history. They were drawn alongside former UEFA Champions League winners Ajax and Marseille in the Europa League and managed to finish above them to secure their spot in the last 16 of the tournament.
But which individuals in the city have brought sporting pride to Brighton?
Gary Moore
Moore’s training career is highlighted by victories at prestigious events such as the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot. The former of those gets underway in just a few days and the latest horse racing odds have made Moore’s Nassalam a 40/1 outsider for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He will have his work cut out if he is to beat the odds on favourite Galopin des Champs, but if his recent victory in the Welsh Grand National is anything to go by, he can’t be counted out.
Lewis Dunk
Lewis Dunk stands as a towering figure in the world of football, both literally and metaphorically. Born and raised in Brighton, the central defender’s journey from a young hopeful to the captain of his boyhood club is a testament to his skill, determination, and loyalty. As a central defender, His connection to the club runs deep, having joined its youth academy at the age of ten. Since making his first-team debut in 2010, he has become an integral part of the team, celebrated for his defensive prowess and ability to score crucial goals from set pieces.
Such has been his performances in recent campaigns, Dunk is expected to be selected as part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad competing at the UEFA European Championships in Germany this summer. While he isn’t expected to start ahead of John Stones and Harry Maguire, his leadership skills will be crucial to the Three Lions in training. And should one of the two starting centre-halves end up injured or suspended, Dunk could see himself thrust into the limelight on the grandest stage of them all.
Joe Marler
Lewis Dunk is famously Rugby Union player Joe Marler’s hero. The England international is a huge football supporter and is regularly seen on social media singing his captain’s name. But just like the Seagulls skipper, Marler’s journey from the streets of Brighton to the international stage is a story of resilience and hard work. Known for his role as a prop for Harlequins and the England national team, the 33-year-old has established himself as one of the premier forwards in the game.
His career has been marked by numerous accolades, including winning the Premiership with Harlequins and representing England in the Rugby World Cup, reaching the final back in 2019 and the semifinals in France last year.
