Meet the new BHAFC Foundation ambassador squad
A host of current Brighton & Hove Albion stars, former players, and club icons have been unveiled as official community ambassadors for the 2024/25 season.
Georginio Rutter, Matt O’Riley, and Jack Hinshelwood have all been confirmed as ambassadors, while Joel Veltman enters his third year in the role.
New arrivals Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris, who have 144 England caps between them, have been named as ambassadors from the women’s first team. American forward Madison Haley joins them, and Vicky Losada and Pauline Bremer continue in the role for the second consecutive season.
The current Albion players will be joined by club legends Guy Butters, Inigo Calderon,and Bobby Zamora, as well as long-standing club supporter Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook).
The 13 community ambassadors will support the BHAFC Foundation throughout the 2024/25 football season, drumming up support for the charity and highlighting its community work across Sussex.
The team of ambassadors will represent the BHAFC Foundation, meet young people who benefit from the charity’s work, and help to share important messages.
Having represented the Foundation since the 2022/23 season, Joel Veltman is looking forward to another season as an ambassador.
“I’m really pleased that I can help the Foundation again this season,” Joel said, “I’ve met so many amazing young people in my time as an ambassador and I’m looking forward to meeting even more.
“I’ve seen first-hand the amazing community work the Foundation does, and I’m proud to support them.”
Norman Cook has been a strong supporter of the club for decades, and has also given up a lot of time to support the Foundation.
“I’ve met a lot of amazing people through the Foundation,” he said,
“It’s humbling and beautiful to see the Foundation’s work and to meet all the people involved.
“I’m delighted to officially be onboard as an ambassador now, and I look forward to seeing how I can support the charity even more in the future.”
Fran Kirby arrived at the club during the summer and has already met plenty of young Albion fans.
“Organisations like the BHAFC Foundation are so important,” she said, “We want to get young people playing football and inspire the next generation, and the Foundation does a great job at that.
“Hopefully as an ambassador I can meet as many young people as possible, and inspire even more girls to start playing football.”
CEO Matt Dorn is excited to have the team of ambassadors signed up.
“We’re really excited to have so many Albion players show their support for us this year,” he said.
“Having these huge stars from the Premier League and WSL will hugely help us to get our messages across and to reach even more people in our local community.
“It’s also a great boon to have former players in Inigo, Bobby, and Guy on board, and we’re so grateful to Norman Cook for continuing to show us so much support.
“I thank them all for taking on their roles as community ambassadors, and I look forward to seeing how they can help us this season.”
Supporters will be able to purchase these limited-edition sweatshirts after Christmas – pre-register your interest here to be the first to find out when they go on sale.