We have recently appointed four new members to the FAB

They are Andy Goodchild, Jo Davis, Gerry Brown and Charlie Benny.

Gerry Brown

I’ve been a lifelong Albion Supporter since the Goldstone days, and one of my earliest memories is sitting on a tin roof on top of a turnstile in April 1958, watching the Albion beat Watford 6-0 to gain promotion to the old 2nd Division.

I then embarked on a 35-year road trip to Canada but kept a close watch on the team and returned to the UK in 1998 to witness the Gillingham and Withdean years. I truly understand how far the club has come, the importance of continuing to build on that legacy, helping the club grow even more and ensuring that being an Albion fan is a unique and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

My day job involves helping companies deliver great customer (fan) experiences, working with organisations such as the Royal Albert Hall and the V&A, to help them create memorable visitor experiences which I know will really help me as a BHA FAB member.

It’s an exciting time to be an Albion fan and I recognise that the fan experience goes beyond attendance at the game. I look forward to speaking to fans, sharing their feedback, and working hard to ensure that we look at the complete fan journey to make that as frictionless and enjoyable as possible.

I live in Lindfield and volunteer as a radio presenter for Mid-Downs Radio at the Princess Royal Hospital, where I host Saturday Afternoon Live with Gerry Brown, and many of the listeners and my fellow presenters are also Albion fans.

I’ve been running slowly & socially for over 40 years, still like to work out regularly with Parkruns in Haywards Heath and Hove, and have completed 15 marathons, 20 triathlons including two Ironman competitions in Hawaii.

Charlie Benny

I’m Charlie, and an Albion fan since my parents brought me to Peterborough away, on the terrace in my baby seat at a few months old. I am so proud to have supported the club through far humbler times, and been part of the journey seeing the the Albion grow and mature in ways I never thought possible.

I work in sports communications, media, and PR, and have been lucky enough in my relatively short career to support major Olympic and Paralympic sports, the FA, UK Sport, leading sporting charities and others in communicating with the right audiences in the rights ways. I am delighted to be able to use that experience to advocate for the views of our brilliant fanbase, ensuring more transparency and collaboration with the club.

My club has given me the most incredible memories, and as we look forward to our first ever European campaign, the sky is the limit. It’s been an extended family for me my entire life – our Men’s and Women’s Teams, our academy, our disability teams and wider community outreach are all excelling, and I can’t wait to see what the next chapters hold. I’ll be there no matter what.

Jo Davis

Back in the early 70s, when I was 15, I joined a local women’s football team in Shoreham and some of the group often went to the Goldstone to watch the Albion. I first went along with them for an evening game, I can’t remember who it was against or what the score was, but I was hooked from then on in.

I’ve been a season ticket holder for more years than I can remember from the Goldstone to Gillingham to Withdean and then, finally, to the Amex.

After many years of playing in goal for Shoreham, I was honoured to join the Albion women’s team in the 90s. The highlight of which was playing at the Goldstone. I finished my career at Whitehawk both as a player and then as the Manager.

I’ve also served on many committees at both County and Regional level and hope to bring all me relevant experience to my role as the women’s representative on the Fan Advisory Board. Working together to help turn the Broadfield into a fortress for the Albion Women and improve the overall fan experience at Crawley.

Andy Goodchild

I have been a season ticket holder of the last 30+ years attending a majority of home and away matches. I have experienced the really dark times with the club so am now making the most of enjoying these great times. I travel to matches with Bluesaway (away) and Seagulls travel (home).

I am Sussex born and bred living in Lower Dicker. Two kids, Ollie 25 (who is also a big Albion fan living in Birmingham) and Alice 21 at Uni in Exeter. I recently retired at an early age from a career in Banking so looking forward to something Albion related to absorb my time.

I am a UEFA B qualified football coach and have managed a number of local County League teams in the area most recently Langney Wanderers and Hailsham Town. When I’m not watching the Albion I enjoy going to the gym, watching live music and chilling in the spa at East Sussex National.

They join the existing FAB members, elected in 2022 who are shown below

Nigel Summers

My father took me to the Goldstone for the first time in 1969. I became a season ticket holder in the 1970s, then at Withdean and since then at the Amex. I estimate to have held a season ticket for some 40 of the 53 years I have been a supporter.

I was closely involved with the movement to secure the future of the club in 1996/97, some of which is detailed in the book Build a Bonfire.

I have lost count of the number of games I have been to but have seen The Albion play at over 100 away grounds over the years.

I have been Chairman of the Brighton & Hove Albion Supporters Club since 2019, my 50th year following The Albion.

I got married and relocated from Hove to Lancing in 2020 and retired from full-time employment in Sales & Marketing in 2021.

I now work just on Tuesday’s in the Old Star pub in Shoreham and on matchdays at the Amex Stadium shop.

Gillian Martin

I have been supporting BHAFC for 30 years. My first away game was to Manchester United in the FA Cup in January 1993. I loved the excitement of all the coaches leaving the Goldstone Ground and travelling in convoy up to a “big” club. It’s fair to say that I’ve seen the highs and lows since then visiting over 70 away grounds up and down the country in a variety of leagues. It’s been an incredible journey!

I live in Cowfold, with my husband Bryan, and we’re members of the North-West Sussex Seagulls (NWSS). We are season ticket holders in the East Upper stand.

I am now semi-retired after a career in accountancy. I trained in Brighton with Grant Thornton during the 1980s. I still run my own consulting business but am enjoying doing all the things I didn’t have time for when I worked full time.

I am looking forward to being a member of the Fan Advisory Board. It’s a great opportunity to bring the fan’s perspective to the Club and to work together to continue this amazing journey.

Alison Brett

My name is Allison, I have enjoyed watching football all my life and became a fan of Brighton after meeting my husband Tim, a lifelong fan. He told me all about the history of the club and we were living in Kent when the new stadium was being built and when we decided to move back down to the south coast we went onto the season ticket waiting list.

In the meantime, we went to the games by buying tickets when we could. We have been in the East stand for three years and absolutely love it there. I would like to spend one season in the North stand but I am worried I would not be able to return to the current seats which are perfect and surrounded by fantastic fans and various friends too. We aim to travel to the match using a different combination of routes and transport options every time. Our favourite so far is bus and train there from Saltdean and walk back – this is especially good now that the new Falmer road track is open. For us it’s about the whole experience as well as the match itself.

Niraj Haria

I’m 52 years old from Kenya and have lived in Brighton since 1990. I studied electronics at the University of Brighton. I’ve been a season ticket holder for six years now, as has my son and daughter. The Albion have been fantastic to me before my disability and definitely after. They looked after me when I was in hospital for nine months. Their approach to fans is second to none. The stadium is so family-friendly and is so very accessible. I’m always singing its praises. I love the pies. The food and drink is reasonably priced and travel to and from the stadium is very easy and efficient.

1901 Club Representative

Clive Steed

I have followed BHAFC for many years since studying in Brighton in the early-1990s and moving back to Sussex in the early 2000s. I’m a pragmatic fan that is delighted to be in the Premier League and even more delighted at our continued performance at the highest level (both men’s & women’s teams). I feel proud to support the team, club and the place in the community that BHAFC hold.