Brighton United F.C. were an association football club based in Brighton, Sussex who were active for a few years at the end of the 19th century.
| Full name | Brighton United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | pre 1898 |
| Dissolved | 1900 |
| 1899–1900 | 16th, Southern Football League – Record expunged |
History
editThe club joined the Southern League in 1898. Their first match was at Southampton where they played the inaugural match at the hosts' new stadium, The Dell, on 3 September 1898. In their first match Brighton fielded a team including nine Scottish players, several of whom had played in the Football League, including the scorer of their consolation goal in a 4–1 defeat, Roddy McLeod.[1]
Former Football League or Scottish Football League players included:
- Jock Caldwell, full back formerly with Woolwich Arsenal
- Joe Clark, inside forward formerly with Dundee
- Patrick Farrell, centre half formerly with Woolwich Arsenal
- Billy Hendry, full back formerly with West Bromwich Albion, Stoke, Preston North End and Sheffield United
- William Longair, centre half formerly with Newton Heath, Sunderland and Burnley
- Willie McArthur, forward, formerly with Bolton Wanderers, Leicester Fosse and Dundee
- Francis McAvoy, wing half formerly with Woolwich Arsenal
- Roddy McLeod, forward, formerly with West Bromwich Albion and Leicester Fosse
Maurice Parry played for Brighton United in the 1899–1900 season, before having a long career with Liverpool and making 16 appearances for Wales.[2]
Brighton were moderately successful in their first season in the Southern League finishing in tenth place (out of 13), but they had over-reached themselves financially and were forced to release McLeod and several other players before the end of the season.[3] They started the 1899–1900 season but resigned in March 1900 with four games left to play, with their record then being expunged.
References
edit- ^ David Bull & Bob Brunskell (2000). Match of the Millennium. Hagiology Publishing. pp. 20–21. ISBN 0-9534474-1-3.
- ^ Davies, Gareth; Garland, Ian (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. Bridge Books. p. 160. ISBN 1-872424-11-2.
- ^ Gary Chalk & Duncan Holley (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. p. 249. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.