Looking back on an exciting summer at BHAFC Foundation
2023 has been an action-packed year for the Foundation.
As September begins, the summer draws to a close, and we’re looking back on all of the things we’ve done during a busy summer holiday period.
The summer kicked off with the news that we changed our name, and are moving our HQ into the heart of Brighton. It’s an exciting time for the Foundation, and one which marks a new chapter in our history.
Brighton & Hove Albion Blind FC celebrated another highly successful summer this year. They were crowned champions of the National Blind Football League, and secured the league and cup double when they lifted the FA Disability Cup in June.
Summer is a time for football tournaments, and the youngsters we work with have had plenty of opportunities to get involved.
In July, we took players from our disability football programme up to Chelsea’s Cobham training ground, where they took part in a special Premier League disability football tournament. Naturally, they lifted the trophy at the end of the day.
Youngsters in our football talent pathway also had their chance to shine in a tournament – seven teams travelled to Norwich to represent the Albion at the Canary Cup in August.
It was an incredibly successful tournament for the Foundation, with our teams lifting four of the seven trophies on offer.
As usual, summer holidays are a very busy time for Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools.
We hold soccer schools all over East and West Sussex, and this summer we provided football sessions for thousands of kids all over the county.
Off the football pitch, we were proud to launch our new ‘Albion Memories’ programme in July. Albion Memories brings together Albion fans with mild to moderate dementia, bringing them to the Amex Stadium where they can reminisce and have a chat together.
In August, the annual memorial game remembering Matt Grimstone and Jacob Schilt took place once again.
The memorial match is always a great day and an important part of remembering two of our own, and this year it raised around £2k to support the Foundation.
We were also very proud to be a part of the official launch of the Premier League season in August. Each year the Premier League chooses one club to help them launch the new campaign, and the Albion were chosen to mark the start of the 2023/24 season.
As part of the event, players from our disability football programme were invited to the event in Lancing to play in a tournament, see the Premier League trophy, and meet some Albion stars.
Our partnership with Sussex Cricket Club is an important one – the city’s two biggest sports clubs working together to get people active.
Together, we held a joint family fun day in August with the Sussex Cricket Foundation. Hundreds of local families joined us in Hove for a day full of fun activities in the sunshine.
It was a fantastic summer full of amazing activities, and we’re glad that so many of you could join us for it.
Find out more about how you can get involved.
