Brighton bring in new set-piece coachpublished at 19:18 BST 5 August
19:18 BST 5 August
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Brighton have appointed Yannick Euvrard as set-piece coach in Fabian Hurzeler's backroom team.
The 39-year-old has spent the past two years at Anderlecht, working on set-plays as part of the Belgian side's data analysis and performance team.
Hurzeler has said he is "delighted" with the addition, with technical director David Weir adding: "
Hurzeler said "We are delighted to welcome Yannick as part of the coaching team, and he will work with the team on defensive and offensive set-pieces."
Technical director David Weir added, "Yannick has built up an excellent reputation in Belgium and we are pleased to bring in his expertise in an area that continues to be game-changing at our level."
Euvrard, a right-back in hisplaying days, started his coaching career with the Belgium national team and was part of their staff at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
🎧 Seagulls under the radarpublished at 17:58 BST 5 August
17:58 BST 5 August
A new episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast has dropped on BBC Sounds.
This week, Johnny Cantor and former Brighton player Warren Aspinall discuss what was learned from the 2-2 draw with Southampton 2-2 draw and the club's decision to spend time in Spain during pre-season rather than at a potentially more lucrative tournament.
'Something I will always treasure' - fan storiespublished at 15:58 BST 5 August
15:58 BST 5 August
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Brett: I first watched Brighton in the 1963-64 season, on the "chicken run", at the Goldstone Ground. My first professional game and my team forever.
What excites me is the maverick who gets you out of your seat and when possession-based football takes a rest for a split second and something magical happens.
The epitome of a maverick in Brighton colours is Julio Enciso and his goal of the season in 2022-23 against Man City was such a moment.
Another maverick from an entirely different era was Brian Bromley and the above letter from manager Pat Saward in 1972 is something I will always treasure.
Brighton Boy: Ever since I first laid eyes on Kaoru Mitoma swiftly weaving in and out of helpless defenders, I loved Brighton. My first live game was against Everton in 2022. We were fighting for Europe that season, but we lost by a harsh score - 5-1. Although I had witnessed a great loss, I came out of Amex Stadium with a new spark of love for the team. I'd been watching the Albion for a bit, but that moment was when I knew…..Albion was the team for me.
Giles: I have been supporting the Seagulls for 50 years. I used to hear the roar from the Goldstone from my dormitory window. Peter Ward was my first hero but there have been many more including Bobby Zamora and Kaoru Mitoma.
I love going to see them play with my two sons and want to hear one of my son Joe's songs played at the Amex. I think they have a great squad and without European distraction they could do well this season. A little more consistency and they could be top six and winners of a cup. Seagulls!
Football provides 'connections' in 'increasingly lonely' worldpublished at 11:49 BST 5 August
11:49 BST 5 August
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
'Why did you fall in love with your club?'
This week, we have asked hundreds of football fans across the world that very question and got hundreds of different answers.
Yes, the themes might be similar - born near a ground; family supported the team; watched a certain player - but the individual story will be unique to each supporter.
The relationship between a fan and their club should not be underestimated, with people ploughing uncountable amounts of money, time and emotional energy into their support for their team.
But what is that makes us love our clubs the way we do?
"A lot of it comes down to our identity," researcher and co-writer of the Routledge Handbook of Sport Fans and Fandom Danielle Sarver Coombs told BBC Sport.
"We become part of this group that means so much to us. It becomes a way to find a community that you're a part of and to find a group of people that, no matter where you are, you could find a pub with other fans of your team. You have that kinship.
"In a world that's increasingly quite lonely, this provides one of the ways that we can have connections so we can have the feeling that we're part of something bigger."
Connection and identity plays a big role in someone's love for their club - particularly when it is a family link.
Many fans talk of being born into who they support - that the connection is so strong there was no other team they could, or would, have chosen.
"The great thing with football is that there's such a strong heritage component to it," Sarver Coombs said. "Often, your grandfather, father, mother or whomever was a fan of the team, so it's part of your family's tradition.
"It's handed down from generation to generation."
The uniqueness of football fandom is something researchers are increasingly investigating.
An article, external published earlier this year in psychology journal Frontiers discusses how football fans often follow follow teams with 'significant attachment and commitment, sometimes to the bewilderment of those outside of the game'.
"With football clubs, you have decades of tradition that you can tap into and it's going to keep coming," Sarver Coombs added.
"Players come and go, managers come and go, shirts change, badges change, but the club itself - the heart and soul of it remains constant. You always have that piece that you're tied to, so the longevity of clubs is a really important part.
"But also, that constant in-person opportunity to be present in a community space really sets football apart from other passions that may be transient or do not have that constant engagement."
'They really believe in Hurzeler'published at 08:14 BST 5 August
08:14 BST 5 August
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On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discuss Brighton's footballing model.
The Seagulls have kept their friendlies low key this summer and The i Paper's Daniel Story thinks that was Fabian Hurzeler's idea.
Storey said: "I sat down [at Brighton] behind the scenes last season and you find yourself agreeing with them even if you go in with a cynical eye or looking for a weakness - you come out trusting in them."
'My dad took me to my first game in 1980 - a lifer ever since!' Fan storiespublished at 11:34 BST 4 August
11:34 BST 4 August
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Richard: My Dad took me to my first home game in April 1980 against Wolves. We won 3-0. A lifer ever since.
My best photo and moment comes from away at Hereford in the last game of the season 1997 with Dick Knight. Dick still remembers my Portslade Union Jack flag wrapped around him.
My funniest moment was running on the pitch for a pre-season friendly against Aldershot, I think in 1986. Eric Young signed my paper programme and let me take a shot at Perry Digweed. I sent it over the bar but I was the talk of all my mates for months after.
We know the relationship between a football fan and their club is a special one so, as we gear up for the new season, we asked you to share why you fell in love with Brighton and some of your favourite moments supporting them.
Alan: Started when I was seven at the old Goldstone Ground. My dad took me there. I remember players like Flash Gordon, Des Tennant, Glen Wilson, Jimmy Langley and Jimmy Leadbetter. I am now 86 and still support the club through thick and thin.
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Andy: It began when Kaoru Mitoma joined. My Japanese wife took an interest in BHA. I love football but had never followed a Premier League club. After our first visit to Amex Stadium (1-0 defeat by Fulham) my wife was hooked. Now she knows more about the team than me!
The best game we've seen was last season's 3-2 win over West Ham. A goal down with a few seconds to play and the Seagulls turned it around with a stunning winner from Carlos Baleba. Graham Potter beaten in a game he surely thought he'd won and the home fans players going berserk!
Image source, Getty Images
