Brighton United F.C.

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.

The 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. [cite book | author=David Bull & Bob Brunskell | title=Match of the Millennium| publisher=Hagiology | year=2000| pages=pp. 20-21|id=ISBN 0-9534474-1-3]

Former Football League or Scottish Football League players included:
*John Caldwell, full back formerly with Woolwich Arsenal
*Joseph 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

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. [cite book | author=Gary Chalk & Duncan Holley | title=Saints - A complete record| publisher= Breedon Books| year=1987|pages=p.249| id=ISBN 0-907969-22-4] They started the 1899–00 season but resigned with eight games left to play, with their record then being expunged.

References

External links

* [http://www.fchd.info/BRIGHTOU.HTM Details on Football Club History Database]
* [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/DSavenell.htm Article about William Avenell - founder]