When Fran Kirby signed for Albion, many assumed her days of competing in domestic cup finals at Wembley were behind her.
The England legend admits that she herself wasn't entirely sure she would ever be back under the famous arch. On Sunday she will be.
"I always hoped that I would have an opportunity to play at Wembley again,” she said, ahead of the Adobe FA Cup final against Manchester City.
“Of course, every footballer wants to play in an FA Cup final. When you've grown up in this country, and you know how prestigious the trophy is to win you hope that maybe one day you'd get there."
Despite her decorated past with Chelsea, Kirby insists that lifting the trophy with Albion would be a unique achievement.
"Every trophy is important to me, regardless of anything," she added. "It's never any more special, but of course being in the first team to be able to do it with Brighton would be incredible. I just love winning trophies regardless of where it is, who I'm playing for."
Dario Vidosic, staff and players continue to work on fitness and tactics ahead of Sunday's Adobe Women's FA Cup Final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. Club photographer Paul Hazlewood was at the complex to capture some images from the session on Thursday morning.
Yet, Kirby’s focus remains selflessly on her teammates, many of whom are preparing for the biggest match of their lives. "I never thought that I would be able to have a chance to play at Wembley again," she confessed. "But I'm really excited for it, and I'm really happy for the girls who maybe haven't experienced it because it's such an amazing day. I’m happier for them probably than I am for myself!"
Albion took all three points against WSL champions Manchester City with a 3-2 win last month. While that victory serves as a potent reminder of what Dario Vidosic’s squad is capable of, Kirby is quick to ground expectations and highlight the reality of a cup final.
“It's a completely one-off game. It's just whoever turns up on the day. We know we beat Manchester City, but we also know what a quality side they are. They've been the best team in England this year and deservedly won the league. So, I don't think we can take much from that game, apart from obviously the confidence that we can do it."
Despite the soaring temperatures and the increased media spotlight this week, the squad has remained remarkably composed. "We've prepared normally, like it's a normal WSL game, and I think that's been really important," said Fran.
But for Albion, Sunday isn't just about a trophy; it's a statement of intent for the club's long-term ambitions with the announcement last month that the club will build Europe’s first purpose-built women’s stadium at the Amex by 2030.
"I feel there's a sense of, we're not finished yet," Kirby added. "We still want to keep pushing and to keep building what we're doing. We're not just happy now that we've gotten to an FA Cup final. Of course, we're happy, but we want to get in that top four in the WSL."
As the squad’s most experienced player Kirby has taken it upon herself to prepare the younger players - admitting with a smile that she has "probably just been nagging them more than they've been coming to ask me about it." Her core advice is about managing emotions in an environment where you "don't really know what you're walking into until you walk into it."
Her final message to her Albion teammates will be simple.
"Don't leave this pitch regretting anything. Just leave it all out there. Whatever you can do, whatever you can't do, just leave it all out there. Give your absolute best, and don't leave the pitch regretting that you didn't push that little bit harder."