How Albion Women's FA Cup Run Will Inspire a Generation of Girls in Brighton
Brighton and Hove Albion Women reached the FA Cup final for the first time in the club's history on 31 May 2026, playing in front of 43,917 fans at Wembley Stadium. The council leader says the impact on girls across the city will last a generation
Brighton and Hove Albion Women made history on 31 May 2026 by reaching the Women's FA Cup final for the first time. They faced Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in front of 43,917 fans in the Adobe Women's FA Cup final, losing 4-0 to a Manchester City side who completed a historic domestic double having already won the Women's Super League. Thousands of Brighton supporters made the journey to north London to cheer them on in what is widely considered the showpiece event in the domestic women's football calendar.
The Seagulls, managed by Dario Vidosic, finished 7th in the Women's Super League this season with top scorer Kiko Seike netting 11 goals across all competitions. The run to Wembley was the defining moment of their season and the greatest achievement in the club's history.
Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, was among those in the crowd at Wembley. She has since put on record her admiration for the players and her conviction that, whatever the result, the FA Cup run will have a lasting impact on girls across the city.
"I want to put on record my thanks and admiration for everyone involved in Brighton and Hove Albion's women's team. Being at Wembley among thousands of Albion fans, celebrating the team's achievements and seeing the Albion's women's team competing on such a big stage was an amazing experience," she said.
"Whether at Wembley, or cheering them on while watching at home, I have absolutely no doubt seeing the Albion in the FA Cup final will have had a lasting impact on so many young girls."
Sport Lifts Her Higher
Councillor Sankey has been one of the driving forces behind the council's Sport Lifts Her Higher campaign, which aims to establish Brighton and Hove as the UK capital of female participation in sport. The campaign uses the success of elite female athletes and local clubs like Brighton and Hove Albion to inspire girls to get active and take up sport.
The evidence behind the campaign is clear. Research shows that girls across the UK miss out on physical activity equivalent to 52 football matches a year compared to boys. At the same time, more than half of girls say that watching professional athletes inspires them to play. The Women's FA Cup final, watched by tens of thousands and broadcast nationally, is exactly the kind of moment the campaign is built around.
"We know football is increasingly popular and that participation has rocketed locally since we hosted the Women's EUROS," Councillor Sankey said. "Seeing the Albion performing so well, not just during their cup run but throughout the season in the Women's Super League, sustains that momentum."
She added that someone in the stands at Wembley last weekend could well be the next generation of Brighton stars. "Someone in the stands last weekend will have been the next Maisie Symonds, the next Fran Kirby or the next Manuela Vanegas," she said. "The impact the current squad, and the fantastic commitment to women's sport being shown by the entire club, cannot be overestimated."
A historic run to Wembley
It was the first time Brighton and Hove Albion Women had reached the Women's FA Cup final. The run to Wembley included a dramatic semi-final victory over Liverpool, with Nadine Noordam scoring the decisive goal to send Brighton to Wembley. The run captured the attention of supporters across the city and brought national attention to a team that has been building steadily through the Women's Super League in recent seasons.
The FA Cup remains the most prestigious domestic cup competition in English football for both the men's and women's game. Reaching the final is a landmark achievement for the club. Playing in front of nearly 44,000 people at Wembley, with thousands of Brighton fans in the ground, is the kind of occasion that stays with the people who were there.
For the girls who watched from the stands, or from sofas across Brighton and Hove, the sight of their local club on the Wembley pitch represents something that statistics alone cannot capture. Role models matter. Seeing players who represent your city competing at the highest level of the game changes what feels possible.
Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation
Councillor Sankey was also full of praise for the Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation, the football club's official charity, which works across Sussex using football to transform lives.
The foundation works with dozens of local schools, runs free weekly girls-only Premier League Kicks football sessions across Brighton and Hove and regularly holds free taster sessions aimed at encouraging more girls to play football. In total, the charity delivered more than 70,000 hours of girls' football in just 12 months. The number of girls attending its disability football sessions has increased by 14%. More than 500 girls in Brighton and Hove now regularly attend foundation sessions.
"The work the foundation does is amazing and just illustrates how committed everyone at Brighton and Hove Albion is to helping everyone access and enjoy the widespread benefits of being active and playing sport," Councillor Sankey said.
"We're determined to realise the ambition of our Sport Lifts Her Higher campaign and firmly establish Brighton and Hove as the UK capital of women and girls in sport. The Albion may not have won the cup, but they should not underestimate the lasting impact their efforts will have on girls in Brighton and Hove."
Women's football in Brighton
Brighton and Hove has a growing reputation as one of the strongest cities in England for women's sport. The club hosted Women's EUROS matches in recent years, with the council pointing to a significant increase in local girls' football participation since that tournament. The Sport Lifts Her Higher campaign has brought together schools, clubs and community organisations to build on that momentum.
For parents or guardians looking to get girls involved in football in Brighton and Hove, the Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation runs free sessions across the city. Information is available through the official Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation website.
For more Brighton and Hove sport news, follow ImJustBrighton. For the latest on Brighton and Hove Albion men's team, read our coverage of their Conference League qualification.
This article is based on a Brighton and Hove City Council press release issued on 6 June 2026, sent directly to ImJustBrighton via Vuelio.
