Alan Mullery
A distinguished international who say playing service with Fulham, Spurs and then Fulham again between 1959 and 1976. In July 1976 he took over from Peter Taylor and built on the successful foundations of Clough and Taylor to take Brighton into the First Division for the first time.

Eric Steele
Goalkeeper. Born Newcastle. Age 25. Started his career with Newcastle United, but made no first team appearances before moving to Peterborough. He established himself in the first team, making 124 League appearances for the Posh before transferring to the Albion in February 1977.

Graham Moseley
Goalkeeper. Born Stretford. Age 25. Experienced keeper who has been on the books at Bristol Rovers and Derby as well as loan spells with Aston Villa and Walsall. Signed for the Albion for £20,000 in November 1977. Competing with Eric Steele for the number one shirt this season.

Chris Cattlin
Defender. Born Milnrow. Age 28. Started his professional career with Huddersfield, where he made 61 League appearances before moving to Coventry for the then record for a full-back, where he made 217 League appearances and won Under-23 honours. Joined Brighton in May 1976.

Andy Rollings
Defender. Born North Weston. Age 24. A centre-half who first came to prominence in the Norwich City youth scheme, and signed for Brighton in April 1974 after only four appearances for the Canaries. A regular first team player, he has now chalked up over 150 League appearances with Albion.

Mark Lawrenson
Defender. Born Preston. Age 23. Started his career with Preston N.E., where he made 73 appearances before signing for Brighton during his summer holiday in Spain in June 1977. It was Albion’s record fee paid at the time. Has won full international honours with Eire.

Steve Foster
Defender. Born Portsmouth. Age 20. Central-back signed from Portsmouth in June for £130,000. Played for Hampshire Schools and Southampton as a schoolboy. Went on to make 109 appearances for Portsmouth, several as a striker. Was chosen last season for the England Under-21s against Holland but the game was postponed.

Peter Suddaby
Defender. Born Stockport. Age 31. Tough-tackling and assured central defender who turned professional at the age of 22, notching up 332 League appearances for Blackpool as well as an Anglo-Italian Cup winner’s medal. A surprise free transfer to the Albion in 1979 to bolster the defence.

Gary Williams
Defender. Born Liverpool. Age 25. Another defender who began his League career with Preston during the 1971-72 season. He was voted Preston’s “Player of the Year” by the fans in 1976. Has now made nearly 200 League appearances, and was ever-present in the Brighton promotion side of 1978-79.

Gary Stevens
Defender. Born Ipswich. Age 17. Was on the books of Ipswich Town as a schoolboy. Joined the Albion as an apprentice in August 1978, and became a full professional at the Goldstone Ground. Hugely impressive performances in the Tennant Celedonian pre-season tournament in Glasgow in August 1979. Has recently been training with the England Youth squad.

John Gregory
Defender. Born Scunthorpe. Age 25. Started his career with Northampton Town, making his debut against Gillingham in January 1973. He moved to Villa during the summer of 1977, and missed only three League games during 1978-79 before transferring to Brighton in the 1979 close season.

Brian Horton
Midfield. Born Hednesford. Age 26. Made over 200 League appearances for Port Vale, although previously an untried apprentice with Walsall. Also had a spell with non-League Hednesford Town. Should pass the 150 mark for League appearances with Brighton during 1979-80. Brian is Albion’s skipper.

Paul Clark
Midfield. Born South Benfleet. Age 20. Started his League career with Southend United, where he clocked up 33 League appearances before signing for Brighton in November 1977. Had previously represented England at schoolboy and youth level. A regular first-teamer.

Neil McNab
Midfield. Born Greenock. An influential midfielder at his best picking out openings for the attack. Was reckoned to among Scotland’s brightest prospects when starting his career at Morton at the age of 15, before joining Spurs a year later. A former Schools and Youth international, he won Under-23 honours while at White Hart Lane. After 63 League appearances, he cost Bolton £250,000 in October 1978 before moving to Brighton in a £230,000 deal.

Giles Stille
Midfield. Born London. Age 16. Voted ‘Player of the Season’ in 1977-78 while with Kingstonian in the Isthmian League. Joined the Seagulls on a part-time basis in March 1979 so as to continue his studies in Social History at London University’s Westfield College. Will be hoping for a first team debut for Brighton in the coming months.

Glen Geard
Midfield. Born Malta. Age 19. After playing for Brighton and Sussex Boys, Glen broke into the Lewes first team in the Athenian League at the age of 16. He arrived at the Goldstone as an apprentice in October 1976 before turning professional in February 1978. Hoping for a chance of getting his Albion debut this season.

Peter O’Sullivan
Midfield. Born Colwyn Bay. Age 31. Started his career on the books at Old Trafford but failed to make the first team there and transferred to Brighton in April 1970. Since then he has clocked up over 400 first team appearances for the Seagulls, and won full international honours as well as Under-23 caps.

Malcolm Poskett
Forward. Born Middlesbrough. Age 24. Started his career with Middlesbrough, but could not establish a regular first team place and was spotted by Brighton during a spell at Hartlepool. He signed for Alan Mullery in January 1978, and made his debut against Hull City in the following month.

Gerry Ryan
Forward. Born Dublin. Age 21. Came to prominence with Bohemians, and was snapped up by Derby County. Signed for Brighton in September 1978 and ws immediately installed as the regular number seven in the first team. Is a Republic of Ireland international.

Peter Sayer
Forward. Born Cardiff. Age 25. Signed on for Cardiff City straight from school, and during his time there he represented Wales at schools, youth, Under-21, and full level. Was transferred to Brighton for £100,000 in February 1978. Made his Albion debut against Sunderland the same month.

Peter Ward
Forward. Born Derby. Age 21. A gifted forward who may yet get his England chance, Peter started out with Burton Albion, but signed for Brighton in May 1975. Scored in his debut against Hereford in March the following year, and has since won England Under-21 honours.

Teddy Maybank
Forward. Born london. Age 29. Was signed on by Chelsea after being spotted playing for South London Boys. Played first team football with Chelsea and Fulham before moving to Brighton in November 1977. Is now the regular in the number nine shirt, and relishing First Division football again.

Ray Clarke
Forward. Born Hackney, London. Age 27. Experienced striker who had previously spent his career playing for Tottenham, Swindon, Mansfield and Sparta Rotterdam before a highly successful season at Ajax where he scored 38 goals last season. Following a brief spell at Bruges, Ray transferred to the Seagulls in 1979 in a £175,000 deal.

Martin Chivers
Forward. Born Southampton. Age 34. Former Spurs and England striker who was capped 24 times by England in a distinguished career. Moved from Tottenham to Servette before returning to England and joining Norwich City. Following Teddy Maybank’s suspension, was signed for the Albion for a bargain £15,000 in March 1979 to help the Seagulls’ promotion push.