Mike Bailey
A former England international who featured as a player with Charlton and Wolves before becoming player-manager at Hereford. Also enjoyed a spell as player-coach with Minnesota Kicks in the N.A.S.L. before joining Charlton as manager in 1980. After one season, taking Charlton back to Division Two, he filled the gap left by Alan Mullery at the Goldstone Ground.

Graham Moseley
Goalkeeper. Born Stretford. Age 27. Started his career with Blackburn Rovers. Moved to Derby County before his transfer to Brighton for £20,000 in November 1977. Having seen off competition for the number one shirt from Eric Steele, is now vying for the goalkeeper spot with Perry Digweed. Considered leaving after being dropped last season, he hopes for changing fortunes with the arrival of Mike Bailey.

Perry Digweed
Goalkeeper. Born London. Age 20. Started his career with Fulham, making his League debut against Bolton in January 1977 while still an apprentice. He was unable to really establish himself in the first team at Craven Cottage and so jumped at the chance of First Division football when he moved to Brighton in January 1981. Played 15 out of the last 16 League matches of 1980-81 and is sure to feature prominently again this season.

Gary Stevens
Defender. Born Ipswich. Age 19. Started his career with Ipswich Town, but transferred to Brighton in September 1979 and made his League debut against his old club in the same month. Usually plays on the left side of the defence, and has notched up 60 League appearances for the Seagulls by the end of the 1980-81 season. Will be a regular choice again this term.

Don Shanks
Defender. Born London. Age 28. Started his career with Luton Town, where he made his League debut against Preston North End in August 1971. Made 90 League appearances for Luton before transferring to Queen’s Park Rangers in November 1974. A right-sided defender who can also operate in midfield, he played 180 League games for Rangers before transferring to Brighton in August 1981.

Sammy Nelson
Defender. Born Belfast. Age 31. Vastly experienced left-back who made 255 Division One appearances for Arsenal. Played in three appearances in the FA Cup Final and one in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final. After losing his place to Kenny Sansom, he was signed for the Seagulls by Mike Bailey for £30,000 in 1981. A regular for Northern Ireland, he hopes to compete in the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain.

Steve Foster
Defender. Born Portsmouth. Age 22. Did not miss a single League game during 1980-81, and has proved great value for the £150,000 Brighton paid Portsmouth for him in June 1979. Steve has now played in all four divisions of the Football League, and has one England Under-21 cap to his credit, which he won against East Germany in 1980. A central defender who will assume even more importance now that Mark Lawrenson has left.

Steve Gatting
Defender. Born Middlesex. Age 20. Joined Arsenal straight from school and signed professional forms in February 1977, making his league debut against Southampton in October 1978. Played in 58 League games for the Gunners, mainly in midfield, before Mike Bailey signed him for Brighton for £200,000 in September 1981. He is brother of Mike Gatting, the England cricketer.

Gary Williams
Defender. Born Liverpool. Age 27. Started his career with Preston North End, making his League debut in 1971, and he moved to Brighton six years later, marking his Albion debut in October 1977. Missed part of last season due to injury, but came back towards the end to reclaim his usual number 3 shirt and can be expected to be a regular first team choice during 1981-82.

Neil McNab
Midfield. Born Greenock. Age 25. A former Scottish Under-21 international who started his career with Morton, but came to prominence in the Football League with Tottenham. He subsequently moved to Bolton, from where Brighton acquired his services for the fee of £220,000 in February 1980. Has a career total of over 150 games in England and Scotland, and will be a regular choice during 1981-82.

Jimmy Case
Midfield. Born Liverpool. Age 26. Signed professional forms for his first club, Liverpool, in May 1973 and made his League debut against Q.P.R. in April 1975. Originally a forward, with an exceptionally powerful shot, he now operates almost exclusively in midfield. Joined Brighton for a fee of £400,000 in August 1981, at about the same time that Mark Lawrenson was making the journey in the opposite direction.

Giles Stille
Midfield. Born London. Age 18. Made his League debut for Brighton as a substitute against Manchester City in December 1979, but it was not not until the latter weeks of the 1980-81 season that he started to establish himself in the Brighton first team on a regular basis. A promising young attacking midfielder who scored three goals in 10 League games last season.

Tony Grealish
Midfield. Born Paddington. Age 25. Started his career with Orient, where he made nearly 200 first team appearances before moving to Luton Town. Was a first team regular at Kenilworth Road, and the same can be expected at the Goldstone Ground for this experienced Republic of Ireland international midfielder. Joined Albion in the summer of 1981 at about the same time that former club skipper Brian Horton was on his way to Luton.

Mickey Thomas
Midfield. Born Mochdre. Age 27. A former Welsh Under-23 player who began his career with Wrexham, where he made 230 League appearances before transferring to Manchester United for £300,000 in November 1978. Moved to Brighton for £350,000 in 1981 after a short spell at Everton. Plays on the left-side of midfield, but can also operate as a winger. A regular in the Welsh international squad.

Michael Robinson
Forward. Born Leicester. Age 22. Made his League debut for Preston against Swindon in September 1977, and hit the headlines when Malcolm Allison paid out £756,000 to take him to Maine Road in July 1979. A year later he moved to Brighton for £400,000, and played in every League match during his first year with Albion, finishing as top club scorer with 19 League goals. A very popular player with the fans.

Andy Ritchie
Forward. Born Manchester. Age 26. Turned professional with Manchester United, making his League debut against Everton in December 1977, replacing the injured Stuart Pearson. Was unable to hold down a regular first team place at Old Trafford, and was moved to Albion in October 1980. By the end of the season he had notched up 26 League appearances and five goals, plus one in the F.A. Cup against his old club.

Gordon Smith
Forward. Born Kilwinning. Age 25. A former Scottish Under-21 player who started his career with Kilmarnock, but came to prominence with Rangers, where he won Scottish Premier Division honours and two Scottish Cup winner’s medals before moving to Brighton for their record fee at the time of £350,000 in the summer of 1980. He made 38 League appearances and scored 10 goals in his first season in the Football League.

Gerry Ryan
Forward. Born Dublin. Age 23. Republic of Ireland international who originally played for the Dublin club Bohemians before signing for Derby for £50,000. Moved to Brighton a year later for £80,000 in October 1978 and featured prominently as Brighton reached Division One. Versatile attacking player who was unable to command a regular first team place last season.

Michael Ring
Forward. Born Brighton. Age 20. Youngster who started out with Brighton Boys before he was recommended to Brighton by former goalkeeper Peter Grummitt. Joined the Albion as an apprentice before turning professional in 1978. Michael is seeking to make his League debut this season.