The remarkable rise of FA Cup semifinalists Brighton

BRIGHTON, England — An hour or so after the open training session has finished, with the rain pouring and seagulls swirling around the blue and white seats, a few of the Brighton & Hove Albion players are still signing autographs. There are a couple of hundred fans left from the 4,000 or so who have flocked to the AMEX Stadium — Brighton's home ground — to watch their team practice. It's the Easter break and the lower tier of the west stand is packed with families of all ages.

These are common sights and sounds for a Premier League club with European aims. But for Brighton it's still a little unusual, especially for those who remember when the club was homeless and close to non-league obscurity 26 years ago.

World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister sits out the session but starts signing autographs 30 minutes before training finishes. «The session today will be about possession,» says the stadium announcer. Manager Roberto De Zerbi stands like a coiled spring, itching to get involved, passing on small observations here and there as the players play 11 vs. 9. The fans cheer every pass; Mac Allister occasionally looks over from the sidelines as he signs jersey after jersey.

«I feel the appreciation of the people,» Mac Allister later tells ESPN. «Representing Brighton at the World Cup and being a champion representing this club meant a lot because of what the club means to me.»

Brighton were only promoted to the top flight in 2017, but as part of their plan of year-on-year steady progression, their story is all down to the plan formulated back in 2009 when Tony Bloom succeeded Dick Knight as the club's owner. With De Zerbi at the helm, the seventh-placed side in the Premier League are preparing to take the next step into