# 2021–22 Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. season

The 2021–22 Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. season was the club's 31st season in existence and their fourth in the FA Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid. Along with competing in the WSL, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

## Summary

Brighton only played two pre-season matches where they came away without a win after a 6–1 away loss at Everton, but a respectable 1–1 draw against Manchester United being played in Loughborough.
The Seagulls opening match of the 2021–22 season was played at Falmer Stadium where they came out on top winning 2–0 over West Ham with a penalty from Inessa Kaagman and Lee Geum-min adding the second, pouncing on The Hammers poor defence, in front of a crowd of 2,264. A week later, Brighton thrashed Birmingham City in a 5–0 away victory to take them top of the WSL table after the second round of matches. Brighton's first loss of the season came in their third match in a 1–0 home loss to Aston Villa on 26 September. The Seagulls ended Tottenham Hotspur's 100% winning start of the season on 10 October, after winning 2–1 at home with goals from Lee Geum-min and Victoria Williams to take Brighton up to fifth.
On 31 October, Brighton were beaten 3–0 away at Arsenal in the semi-final of the 2020–21 FA Cup, which was delayed from the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Seagulls returned to Falmer Stadium on 14 November, where Maisie Symonds scored a 90+3rd-minute winner, the only goal of the game in the 1–0 win over Leicester City, their third league victory on the bounce.
Brighton were knocked out of the League Cup in the group stage after losing 3–0 away at West Ham on 15 December. Their fixture against Arsenal four days later was postponed due to growing fears of Covid–19 cases.
After not playing since 12 December, the Seagulls were thrashed via Manchester City's second half blitz in the 6–0 home thumping loss on 9 January 2022. After four consecutive defeats, Brighton were able to keep a clean sheet and take a point in the 0–0 home draw against defending league champions Chelsea on 23 January, but still go five games without a goal. Four days later The Seagulls finally scored their first goal since 14 November, with Emma Koivisto scoring the opener away at Arsenal, however they went on to lose 2–1.
Three days later, Brighton were knocked out by Reading in the FA Cup fourth round in the thrilling 3–2 home loss where Emma Koivisto scored her second goal in as many games. Brighton won their first match since 14 November, to end a nine match winless run in all competitions, by beating Reading 4–1 at home on 13 February, with Kayleigh Green netting a hat-trick and Koivisto netting her fourth of the season.

## Squad

    As of 13 February 2022
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | IRL | Megan Walsh |
| 2 | DF | FIN | Emma Koivisto |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Felicity Gibbons |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Danielle Bowman (captain) |
| 5 | DF | NED | Danique Kerkdijk |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Maya Le Tissier |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Aileen Whelan |
| 8 | MF | IRL | Megan Connolly |
| 9 | FW | KOR | Lee Geum-min |
| 10 | MF | NED | Inessa Kaagman |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Libby Bance |
| 15 | FW | WAL | Kayleigh Green |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 16 | FW | ENG | Ellie Brazil |
| 17 | DF | SWE | Emma Kullberg (on loan from BK Häcken) |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Danielle Carter |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Emily Simpkins |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Victoria Williams |
| 21 | MF | SWE | Julia Zigiotti Olme (on loan from BK Häcken) |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Maisie Symonds |
| 25 | GK | ENG | Francis Angel |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Faith Nokuthula |
| 34 | DF | BEL | Léa Cordier |
| 40 | GK | ENG | Katie Startup |

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| WSL | 5 September 2022 | 8 May 2022 | Matchday 1 | 7th | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 24 | 38 | −14 | 036.36 |
| FA Cup | 30 January 2022 | 30 January 2022 | Fourth Round | Fourth round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 000.00 |
| League Cup | 13 October 2021 | 15 December 2021 | Group stage | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 033.33 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 26 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 27 | 45 | −18 | 034.62 |
Last updated: complete Source: Competitions

### FA Women's Super League
#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 8 May 2022. Source: FA WSL

#### Results by matchday

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H |
| Result | W | W | L | L | W | W | W | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | W | W | L | W | L | L | L | D |
| Position | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 23 | +1 | 32 |
| 6 | West Ham United | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 33 | −10 | 27 |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 24 | 38 | −14 | 26 |
| 8 | Reading | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 40 | −19 | 25 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 40 | −27 | 21 |

### Women's FA Cup

As a member of the first tier, Brighton will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper.

### FA Women's League Cup
#### Group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | WPEN | LPEN | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | West Ham United | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 9 | Advances to knock-out stage |
| 2 | London City Lionesses | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking |
| 3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Birmingham City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 1 | |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Ref. |
| 15 July 2021 | FW | | Danielle Carter | Reading | |
| 13 August 2021 | FW | | Lee Geum-min | Manchester City | |

### Loans in

| Date | Position | Name | From | Until |
| 26 July 2021 | FW | Rinsola Babajide | Liverpool | 8 January 2022 |
| 2 September 2021 | GK | Fran Stenson | Arsenal | 7 November 2021 |
| 1 January 2022 | DF | Emma Kullberg | BK Häcken | End of 2022–23 season |
| 1 January 2022 | MF | Julia Zigiotti Olme | BK Häcken | End of 2022–23 season |

### Transfers out

| Date | Position | Name | To |
| 20 May 2021 | MF | Kirsty Barton | Crystal Palace |
| 20 May 2021 | MF | Jodie Brett | Retired |
| 20 May 2021 | GK | Cecilie Fiskerstrand | LSK Kvinner |
| 20 May 2021 | FW | Rianna Jarrett | London City Lionesses |
| 20 May 2021 | MF | Nora Heroum | Lazio |
| 20 May 2021 | MF | Hollie Olding | Charlton Athletic |
| 20 May 2021 | DF | Laura Rafferty | Southampton |
| 20 May 2021 | DF | Bethan Roe | Charlton Athletic |
| 20 May 2021 | DF | Rebekah Stott | Melbourne City |
| 10 June 2021 | DF | Ellie Hack | Lewes |
| 13 February 2022 | MF | Juliet Adebowale | Watford |

### Loans out

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Until | Ref. |
| 19 August 2021 | GK | | Katie Startup | Liverpool | 5 December 2021 | |
| 27 January 2022 | MF | | Katie Robinson | Charlton Athletic | End of season | |

## Squad statistics
### Appearances

    As of 8 May 2022
Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | FA WSL | FA WSL | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | IRL | Megan Walsh | 24 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | GK | ENG | Francis Angel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 40 | GK | ENG | Katie Startup | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | FIN | Emma Koivisto | 26 | 4 | 21+1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Felicity Gibbons | 18 | 0 | 10+5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Danielle Bowman | 4 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | NED | Danique Kerkdijk | 21 | 0 | 17+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Maya Le Tissier | 25 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | SWE | Emma Kullberg | 14 | 0 | 11+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Victoria Williams | 24 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 34 | DF | BEL | Léa Cordier | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 8 | MF | IRL | Megan Connolly | 24 | 1 | 16+4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | NED | Inessa Kaagman | 22 | 4 | 17+3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Libby Bance | 7 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Emily Simpkins | 14 | 0 | 6+6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | SWE | Julia Zigiotti Olme | 12 | 2 | 6+5 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Maisie Symonds | 20 | 1 | 1+15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 7 | FW | ENG | Aileen Whelan | 26 | 4 | 18+4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | KOR | Lee Geum-min | 19 | 2 | 13+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | WAL | Kayleigh Green | 20 | 4 | 9+9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | ENG | Ellie Brazil | 22 | 0 | 12+7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Danielle Carter | 21 | 2 | 17+4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Faith Nokuthula | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players away from the club on loan: ||||||||||||
| 22 | MF | ENG | Katie Robinson | 9 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for the club but left during the season: ||||||||||||
| 11 | FW | ENG | Rinsola Babajide | 4 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Note
* Katie Robinson joined Women's Championship side Charlton Athletic on 27 January 2022 on loan until the end of the season.
* Rinsola Babajide's loan spell expired during the season.