I travelled after work for about 40 minutes tonight to attend a match at Hill Park Stadium, the proud home of Saltdean United F.C. (affectionately known as the Tigers). Tonight’s game was an FA Women’s National League cup group stage fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion U21 Women’s team.

Hill Park stadium offers a quintessential, community-driven non-league football experience. Tucked away at the northern edge of Saltdean on the fringe of the South Downs National Park, the ground boasts what many consider some of the most spectacular, rolling countryside backdrops in English football. The modernised layout features a state-of-the-art 3G artificial pitch passed to FIFA standards, giving the field a pristine look that stands out against the natural, rural landscape.

Once inside the turnstiles, the atmosphere is warm, family-friendly, and distinctively local. Spectators can grab a hot bite from the popular groundside food hut or head into the smartly upgraded clubhouse, complete with sweet chestnut exterior cladding designed to blend seamlessly with the environment. For the best views of the action, fans gather in the custom-built 209-seat covered West Bank stand or socialise on the clubhouse’s elevated spectator balcony, which overlooks the pitch. Hill Park seamlessly bridges the charm of grassroots football with highly impressive, modern facilities.

Saltdean United Women FC have enjoyed a historic start to their 2026-27 campaign, navigating their first-ever season in the FA Women’s National League Division One South East following a monumental tier-5 promotion. Led by Manager Katie McIntyre alongside co-manager Amy Green and newly appointed head coach Kayleigh Barton, the Tigers have adapted commendably to the rigors of tier-4 football. Through their opening stretch, the team has successfully secured a steady mid-table position with a balanced record of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses from 5 league outings, proving they belong at the higher level while making full use of their brand-new, state-of-the-art facilities at Hill Park Stadium.

The squad’s competitive edge has been strongly anchored by their attacking output, having netting seven goals across their opening five fixtures. Prominent team leaders like captain Georgia Bridges, who enters the season fresh off a remarkable 26-goal haul last term, continue to dictate the team’s forward momentum alongside dangerous attacking options like Danni Lane and Caitlin Sullivan. A standout moment of their early campaign came on October 11, 2026, when Saltdean turned heads with a commanding 4-1 victory over Cambridge United Women at Hill Park, demonstrating exactly the kind of offensive potential McIntyre’s side possesses as they look to firmly cement their position in the national league structure.

The Brighton & Hove Albion U21 Women’s FC team entered the 2026-27 season transitioning under a revamped developmental structure overseen by interim girls’ academy manager Mikey Harris, following the departure of former head coach Sinead Hogan-Belcher. The young Seagulls have experienced a competitive and challenging start to their campaign, notably testing their depth in regional cup fixtures and development leagues. A definitive early-season highlight came in a hard-fought 4-1 match against Lewes alongside their preparations for the FA Women’s National League Cup.

As the academy works hand-in-hand with the senior team’s pathway, the squad has relied on a mix of rising talent and fringe first-team academy stars to drive their offense. While senior figures like Kiko Seike and Olivia Garcia have carried the goalscoring mantle for the first team, the U21s have found their rhythm through emerging youth prospects progressing through the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation pipeline. With Harris focusing on integrating these gifted academy players into the high-intensity philosophy of the club, the young Seagulls are continuing to adjust as they look to build a consistent winning run through the winter months.

The first half saw heavy Brighton & Hove Albion pressure but with a resolute Saltdean United defence, there were few chances. The Tigers looked very sharp on the counter attack but despite both sides having at least one good chance, at the break the score remained goalless.

In the second half I was joined in the stand by a group of friends, one of whom chatted to me and despite my initial ignorance, turned out to be Ben from the band Royal Blood, who actively support Saltdean United. Ben was there supporting a family member who played for Saltdean United, and was really passionate about his football and came across as a genuine and knowledgeable guy. My wife who drums and DJ’s has been a fan of Royal Blood for years, so was sad to have missed out on meeting one of her musical heroes.

The second half saw Saltdean United absorbing heavy Brighton pressure. As the sides tired it was Brighton who looked fitter and more likely to score.

However Saltdean United found enough energy to block out the threat of the Seagulls attacks and at fulltime came away with a credible draw. Both teams had left everything on the pitch tonight and entertained the crowd, despite the score staying at 0-0. A big crowd came to Hill Park Stadium tonight and saw a women’s team that is clearly going from strength to strength playing a youthful and talented Brighton side.