Supporting Stateside: How US Brighton fans are enjoying the Premier League via Stateside Seagulls.

This summer’s transfer window treated us to some unexpected transfer stories. One transfer that came as a shock to everyone was Lionel Messi’s transfer to MLS (Major League Soccer) club Inter Miami. 

The transfer was completed in mid-July 2023, and it ended Messi’s two-year spell at French giants PSG in which he scored 32 goals in 75 appearances. 

Inter Miami itself is owned by David Beckham, who himself turned some heads back in 2007 when he joined LA Galaxy. He was fan favourite during his time in California, even being the reason that an exhibition match got cancelled in 2008, due to him not being guaranteed to play.  

Since the Premier League became available in the states via ESPN and other sports channels, many American fan clubs have been made, supporting certain English sides they would have been unaware of in the past. One of these supporters' clubs is Stateside Seagulls, who support Brighton and Hove Albion. Speaking to Stateside Seagulls Chair Paul Dorsey, he said, “I have always been a fan of the underdog. I am a baseball fan; I am a fan of the Baltimore Orioles whose kind of an underdog team and so I wanted to follow that trajectory with my soccer fandom.” 

Stateside Seagull's Chair Paul Dorsey. Image Courtesy of: Paul Dorsey

Additionally, Stateside Seagulls fan Sonia Membreno had a similar reason of supporting Brighton. She said, “I’m primarily a baseball fan, so my team has always been an underdog and I kind of thought Brighton were a little bit similar to my baseball team.” 

Image courtesy of: Sonia Membreno

Although the USA have not currently had any American players playing for Brighton, that has not deterred the fans from looking elsewhere. Paul Dorsey said, “Hopefully Brighton eventually get a US player but that will not change my fandom of Brighton and once a US player leaves, I‘m not going to follow that player, I’ll follow Brighton.” 

Something that fans also get criticised for is their lack of enthusiasm. To this, Dorsey said, “they kind of watch the games, they do not care, there is no atmosphere. That could not be further from the truth.” 

Dorsey created Stateside Seagulls in 2016 to connect with other Brighton fans in the US, and the website has seen an increase ever since Brighton were promoted a year later in 2017, in addition to their rise and eventual qualification for the Europa league earlier this year. Already this season they have faced Dutch giants Ajax at home and at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, they stunned most football fans by recording a 2-0 win in both games. Although Ajax are currently enduring an unexpectedly rough season currently, these two games showed how much Brighton have grown in stature and popularity. 

The Premier League Summer Series took place during the pre-season period of this year, in which 6 clubs played each other in a round-robin league format, and the winner will receive the summer series trophy. Chelsea came out victorious after 2 wins and a draw against Newcastle. Brighton ended in fourth place, however their 4-3 loss to Chelsea was a spectacle to watch, and they can say they made a good account of themselves in their win against Brentford. 

With the recent influx in American players in the Premier League, and English clubs playing their pre-season in America, there is a good relationship between England and the USA in a footballing sense. With the popularity of the MLS coverage, especially on Sky Sports, and US coverage of the Premier League, it will be interesting to see how the two countries will collaborate in the future.