Wednesday15March2017:forimmediaterelease

BrightonandHoveAlbionManagerChrisHughtonnamedas

officialstarterforBrightonMarathon2017ChrisHughtonwillbesendingover12,000runnersontheirwayasheofficiallystartsthe2017BrightonMarathononApril9th.Chris,theformerIrelandinternationalwhohassuccessfullymanagedBrightonandHoveAlbionthroughoneofitsmostexcitingrunsinrecentyears,isdelightedtohavebeenaskedtostarttherace:"It’sahugehonourformetobetheRaceStarterfortheBrightonMarathonin2017andit’satestamenttowhattheteamhavedonethisseason.Thesupportthatwe’vehadthroughsomedifficultperiodsthislastyearshowshowmuchtheteammeantotheareaandit’sgreattobeabletodothisintheirname.”

AformerTottenhamHotspurandWestHamplayer,HughtonbecamemanagerofBrighton&HoveAlbionmidwaythroughthe2014-15Championshipseason,

securingtheclub'ssafetywithinthedivision.Inthefollowing2015-16season,HughtonguidedBrightontoanimpressivethird-placedfinish,narrowlymissingoutonpromotiontothePremierLeague.Overthelasteightmonths,hehasonceagaintakentheclubtoanimpressiveandintensetitleraceclimax. TomNaylor,BrightonMarathonEventDirectorsaid:“ChrishasbecomeoneofthebestknownManagersinfootball,notleastbecauseofhisfantasticworkwithBrightonandHoveAlbioninthelastfewyears.WelookforwardtosharingthesportsspotlightwithChrisonApril9thandtoonceagainshowingthatBrightonplayshosttosomeofthebestsportingeventsinthecountry.”Ends.Editor’snotesTheBrightonMarathonWeekendcomprisesTheCancerResearchUKKids&TeensMiniMileRacesonSaturday8thApril,theBM10kandtheBrightonMarathononSunday9thAprilandtheEventVillageonthe7th,8thand9thAprilonMadeiraDrive.Photos:Thephotousedhereisavailableinhighresfrompress@brightonmarathon.co.uk,captionasfollows:Pic1:ChrisHughton,ManagerofBrightonandHoveAlbion(photo:PaulHazlewood)ForfurtherinformationonTheBrightonMarathonWeekend:DeniseTylerTel:01273201260press@brightonmarathon.co.ukForfurtherinformationortospeaktoChrisHughton:PaulCamillin,Head of Media & Communications, BHAFC Tel:Paul.Camillin@bhafc.co.uk