Albion chief executive Paul Barber believes today’s England game is another boost to the club’s reputation.

He revealed the Seagulls are up against stiff competition when it comes to staging high-profile matches.

Tickets were still selling briskly for the international friendly with New Zealand so a bumper crowd is expected for the Lionesses’ final match before the Women’s World Cup which starts on Friday.

Barber said: “It’s great for the club, great for the city and great for the women’s game.

“I also think it is great for the country to see that investment in high quality stadiums is being rewarded by the Football Association with games of this nature.

“Having the national team at your stadium is an honour. We certainly see it as that.

“For Phil Neville to bring his women’s team here just ahead of a World Cup is really special.

“We are really excited and it’s going to be a big crowd well in excess of 20,000."

Asked if it is a battle to get such games as today’s, Barber said: “Yes, it’s competitive and that is healthy.

“We all set out to want to be the best we can be at staging games.

“Last year we had the Premier League award for the best experience for the second year running.

“We’ve only been in the Premier League for two seasons so for us all those things add to our reputation in football, which is why we do get chosen for some of these games.

“But we’re very aware that other clubs want these prestigious games as well so it is competitive.”

Albion will hope to turn a profit but Barber insists that is not the main aim.

He added: “The FA want to make sure it is commercially viable for us so they work with us to make sure the costs are covered.

“We then get an opportunity to make some money from the game itself but for us that is not the most important thing.

“The most important thing is building the reputation of the club.

“And, in this case, playing our part in helping build the women’s game and hopefully giving everyone a great day out as well.”

Barber stressed it is not just the Amex that adds to the attraction of a trip to the south coast for national sides.

He added: “Phil says the training ground is amazing.

“We’re lucky that the investment by the chairman in the facilities has given us not just the opportunity to play games at the Amex but also to host the team here so they can get the best possible preparation for the game.

“When we talked ten years ago about putting our infrastructure in place as being the foundation for being a successful Premier League club, people can now see why that was so important. It has paid dividends for us.”