Margaret Sanderson was appointed by Brighton & Hove Albion FC as a volunteer to run the newly-formed Junior Seagulls supporters club as part of Steve Ford’s Seagulls in the Community initiative in the mid-1980s. She organised coach trips to Albion away matches, with the assistance of Paul Kerr, for members and their parents; she also organised five-a-side sessions in the disused St Agnes church near the Goldstone and friendly football matches against local teams.

Most of those playing were under 10, although there were more senior teams entered into the annual National Football Supporters Association’s five-a-side tournament. Margaret, with her warm friendly smile, was popular with children and parents alike; she chose mascots for home and away matches, and often arranged matches against the Albion’s opposition home and away.

By the late 1980s, it was difficult to arrange local friendly matches because players had got to the age when they could play in leagues. Despite her reservations in potentially losing the ‘friendly’ element of matches, she and the boys’ parents agreed to enter a team in the league and in 1989 she formed Junior Seagulls FC, with Dave Welsh as secretary, Mick Wright as Chairman and herself as President, a position from which she resigned in 1995 on her retirement. Margaret’s philosophy of sportsmanship and football for all abilities is one that we have always looked to support.

Dave Welsh had a career in education and was a distinguished Sussex amateur footballer. On retirement he was involved with the administration of the Sussex County Football Association. His experience, skills and personality were great attributes for his job as secretary of our new club.

Dave’s son Andrew was an exceptional player and was in the first Seagulls team in 1989/90 at under 11. Dave managed this team through to under 16 and then handed over the role of secretary to Steven Buss in 1995. Dave was a keen Albion supporter and was also involved in Lawn Bowls administration at both Preston and Hurstpierpoint clubs. Dave sadly passed away in August 2021.

Paul Kerr was involved with the Albion’s Junior Seagulls Supporters’ Club from its inception, helping Margaret with the away coaches. His sons, Murray and Tristan, were members and played friendly football.

When approached to pick up the football club’s secretary role from Stephen Buss in 1999 he was a bit unsure, but proved a reliable and organised addition to the management team over many years, despite his children no longer playing. Paul won a Sussex Sport in the Community Award for his work with the club. Paul was heavily involved in our original submission to become the first Charter Standard Club in the County and took over as Chairman in 2010 for a short period before retiring in 2011.

Mick Wright, with a background in administration, took on the Club Chairman role. Having been involved with the friendly teams since 1987, he then took on the management of the under 10 team, which played friendly matches, in 1989.

This team included his eldest son Stewart. After this team reached the age of 16, Mick took over another team, which he also took through to under 16, whilst continuing the Chairman and Treasurer roles. He instigated the club’s application to become a Charter Standard Club in 2002 and won their County and SE England Regional awards for administration in 2004, with the club winning both the County and Regional FA Community Awards in 2014. He oversaw many changes to the club’s administration in 25 years, including use of the internet, its website, CRB checks, club handbooks, codes of conduct, safeguarding and Charter Standard.

Mick retired from the Chair in 2010 and became Life President, whilst Paul Kerr took over as Chairman and Brian Hicks took over as club treasurer.