THE GROUND
American Express Community Stadium
Village Way
Brighton
BN1 9BL
Brighton and Hove Albion moved in to their new stadium in Falmer, known as the Amex, in the summer of 2011.
It is the first time they have had a permanent home since they left The Goldstone Ground in 1997.
After ground-sharing with Gillingham and then using The Withdean Stadium, an athletics venue, for more than a decade, the stadium represented a pivotal moment in Brighton’s history.
The stadium was expanded just a year after opening and now has a capacity of 30,750.
Visiting supporters are usually given the South Stand and an allocation of 2,575 seats.
THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
It is approximately 75 miles from Griffin Park to the American Express Community Stadium by road.
Supporters who travel from the London will use the M23 and then the A23 to the outskirts of Brighton.
Drivers should then use the A27 which runs past the stadium.
There are car parks nearby and also park and ride facilities – full details are in the Brighton travel plan here.
The nearest station is Falmer, which is next to the stadium.
Falmer is served by Southern trains and is on the Brighton to Eastbourne line.
Those travelling by train from London should use Southern services from London Victoria or First Capital Connect services, which call at London Bridge, Blackfriars and London St Pancras among others, and then change at Brighton.
There is a reduction in train ticket costs, or free travel from some areas and all details are in the Brighton travel plan.
The Supporters’ Association will be running coaches to every game this season – details of times and prices will be announced in due course.
THE FIXTURES
Brentford will play Brighton and Hove Albion at Griffin Park on Saturday September 13
The Bees then make their first ever visit to the Amex on Saturday January 17, the first scheduled away game of 2015.
THE RECENT HISTORY
Brighton and Hove Albion have been in the Championship Play-Offs for the past two seasons and are a club on the rise.
The Seagulls have come a long way from the late 1990s when they finished next to bottom of the Football League in consecutive years, 1997 and 1998.
They only avoided relegation in 1998 with a win on the final day of the season but have been improving since, helped by a move back in to the area, firstly, and then to a new stadium.
They spent three years out of four in the second tier in the early part of the last decade and then won promotion again, as League One champions, in 2011.
After a tenth place finish in 2011/12, The Seagulls – under Uruguayan Gus Poyet – pushed for promotion to the Premier League in 2012/13, finishing fourth in the table and losing to Crystal Palace in the Play-Off Semi-Final.
Poyet left in the summer of 2013 and Óscar García came in.
After a slow start in 2013/14, Brighton grew in to the campaign and finished strongly.
They were unbeaten in their last eight games and climbed to sixth in the table.
But once again they were beaten in the Play-Offs, this time by Derby County, and García departed.
The Seagulls will be expected to challenge for promotion again this season.
THE MANAGER
Sami Hyypiä was appointed as Brighton boss earlier this month, signing a three-year contract.
The former Finland international had been sacked by Bayer 04 Leverkusen in April after just under two years in charge.
Hyypiä is probably best known for his time at Liverpool; he spent ten years at Anfield and won the UEFA Champions League, two FA Cups and two League Cups, among other medals.
The defender, who played 105 games for Finland, ended his career at Leverkusen and then moved in to coaching both with the German club and his national team.
He took over as caretaker manager with Leverkusen in early 2012 and then got the job full time, leading them in to the Champions League.
He was sacked with Leverkusen looking likely to miss out on Champions League football for the 2014/15 season.
THE TOP SCORER
José Leonardo Ulloa scored 16 goals in all competitions for Brighton last season, his first full campaign with The Seagulls.
The 27-year-old Argentinian joined Brighton from UD Almeria, where he had spent three years, in January 2013.
He started well at Brighton, scoring on his debut and hitting ten in total in his first half year on the south coast.
Ulloa scored 14 in 33 Championship appearances in 2013/14, 16 in 38 games in all competitions.
THE KEY MEN
There has been a change of manager at Brighton, and the squad looks set to be different for 2014/15 as well.
Six players were released earlier this summer, most notably goalkeeper Tomasz Kuzczak, who played 41 Championship games in the season just finished.
Second choice goalkeeper Peter Brezovan has also been released along with midfield player Andrea Orlandi and forwards David Rodriguez and Will Hoskins, who were not involved much in the past campaign.
Midfield player David Lopez, who played 34 Championship games, has also been released.
Player of the Season Matt Upson, who played 43 Championship matches, turned down a new contract and will be leaving.
Loan players Keith Andrews, who played 32 league games, Stephen Ward, who made 44 Championship appearances, and Jesse Lingard, who scored three goals in 15 league games, are among the loan players returning to their clubs.
Goalkeeper Casper Ankergren, defender Bruno Salter, who played 33 Championship fixtures, and Iñigo Calderon were also offered new contracts.
They have added midfield player Nzuzi Toko, from Swiss side Grasshoppers and he will join a few key figures from 2013/14.
Defender Gordon Greer played 40 Championship games in 2013/14, and his back four colleague Rohan Ince was involved in 28 league fixtures.
Kazenga LuaLua was involved in 32 games while fellow attacker Will Buckley made 30 Championship appearances.
The Seagulls will look to add more goals as, apart from Ulloa, midfield player Andrew Crofts, with five league goals, was their top scorer.
THE FIRST MEETING
October 10 1903, Southern League Division One – Brentford 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Brentford line-up: Frail; Watson, Davidson; Caie, Parsonage, Jay; Atherton, Leigh, Bell, Buchanan, Swarbrick
Brentford goal scorer: Leigh
Centre forward Tommy Leigh scored the only goal as Brentford picked up a home win in their last season at the York Road ground.
THE LAST MEETING
March 8 2011, npower League One – Brentford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 1
Brentford line-up: Lee; Neilson, Legge, Osborne, Woodman; Byrne (sub Grabban), Reed (sub Weston), Diagouraga, Saunders; McDonald (sub Simpson), Alexander
Subs (not used): Moore, Balkestein, O’Connor, Bean
A Karleigh Osborne own goal condemned Brentford to defeat against league leaders Brighton and Hove Albion.
THE MEMORABLE DAY
April 26 1933, Football League Division Three (Southern Section) – Brentford 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 1
Brentford line-up: Baker; Hodge, Adamson; Watson, Bain, Burns; Hopkins, Scott, Holliday, Muttitt, Crompton
Brentford goal scorers: Muttitt, Holiday
Goals from Ernie Muttitt and Jack Holiday, his 38th of the season, gave Brentford the points to clinch promotion to the second tier for the first time ever.
THE ODDS
Sky Bet is offering 14/1 on Bolton Wanderers winning The Championship next season.
Those who back The Seagulls can get ¼ of the odds if they finish in the top three.
Every bet you make with Sky Bet benefits Brentford FC – click here to see the Championship market.