HORSHAM FOOTBALL CLUB
01403 262084
info@supafitcarpets.co.uk
www.supafitcarpets.co.uk
Mon - Fri: 9:00 - 17:30 Sat 9:00 - 16:00 (Closed Bank Holidays)
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HISTORY
Although there was some earlier football activity under the Horsham name, the club we know today was founded in 1881. Having played initially at both Horsham Park and Springfield Meadow, the club made Queen Street its permanent home in 1904. In the early years the club lined up in the West Sussex Senior League and then the Sussex County League. The 1930s was a golden era for the club and the County League was won six times during the decade, Horsham regularly scoring over one hundred goals a season.
In 1947/48 the club reached the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time, taking a first minute lead against Notts County before losing 9-1 against a team captained by the famous England player Tommy Lawton. In this post-war period Horsham joined the Metropolitan & District League, which included the ’A’ sides of top Football League clubs, the reserve sides of ‘professional’ nonleague clubs and a few amateur teams. In 1957 they joined the Corinthian League and this heralded a period of steady progress. In 1961/62, third place was achieved, but following a mass
exodus of players, Horsham were forced to rebuild with a young, local team that would peak at fourth place in 1964/65. However, they become the first Horsham side ever to be relegated the following season. The team was rebuilt once more and this reaped dividends in 1966/67 when the club once again reached the First Round of the FA Cup, with the visit of Swindon Town drawing a record 7,134 crowd to Queen Street.
Horsham became members of the Isthmian League when that competition expanded to two divisions in 1973/74, finishing eighth in its first season and rounding the season off in style by winning the Sussex Senior Cup. Now under the guidance of Tony ElkinsGreen, 1976/77 saw the Hornets finish in a best ever sixth place but financial problems threatened the club’s very survival and only the dedicated work of chairman Frank King saw the club saved from bankruptcy and dissolution although it couldn’t prevent a young amateur team from finishing bottom of Division One in 1979/80 and the club was relegated to the new Division Two.
Mark Dunk was appointed as manager in 1994. He led his side to the Division Three championship in 1995/96, narrowly missing out on a second successive promotion before departing in 1997. Three years of lower mid-table obscurity followed before former Crawley Town boss John Maggs took over as manager in January 2000, taking a struggling side out of the relegation zone to Division Two runners-up in three seasons and a promotion play-off final appearance in 2004/05. Promotion to the Premier Division was achieved the following season with another runners-up finish and the club went
HISTORY
on to establish itself as a consistent performer, even challenging for a place in Conference South in 2007/8 before ending up eleventh. The Hornets made history in 2007/08 by reaching the Second Round of the FA Cup and taking eventual League One champions Swansea City to a replay, with both matches shown live on Sky TV.
Having sold their ground for redevelopment at the end of the season, Horsham began a period of eleven years without a permanent home, groundsharing with Worthing, Horsham YMCA and Lancing. During their quest to secure
a new ground in the town fortunes on the pitch waned and the club found themselves relegated to the County League in 2015. The club’s misery was compounded when an application to build a new home on the outskirts of the town was unanimously rejected by Horsham District Council. However, this heralded the appointment of Dom di Paola as manager, who helped The Hornets to bounce back at the first time of asking. During that 2015/16 campaign, the club recorded a club record ninetyseven points whilst conceding the fewest goals in their history (twenty-two). Over the next couple of seasons Horsham
The Hornets made history in 2007/08 by reaching the Second Round of the FA Cup and taking eventual League One champions Swansea City to a replay, with both matches shown live on Sky TV.
consolidated back at Isthmian League level. At this time planning permission for a new ground at Hop Oast was agreed and the club could start to look to the future with optimism again. In 2018-19 Horsham finished as runners-up to Cray Wanderers. With automatic promotion the right of only the champions, Horsham faced a play-off semi-final clash with Haywards Heath Town –the only side to have recorded a league double over them during the campaign – and duly won 3-0 to set up a home final with Ashford United. After a tense tie, played in front of over eight hundred spectators, Horsham won through 2-1 after extra-time to return to the Premier Division after an absence of seven years.
A return to the Isthmian Premier League coincided with the opening of the fabulous new Camping World Community Stadium and during that first season The Hornets challenged at the top of the table and were still in and around the play-off places as the season was curtailed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. During the first half of the 2021-22 season the FA Cup First Round was reached for just the fourth time in the club’s history, with memorable wins over National League sides Eastbourne Borough and Woking along the way, before exiting with defeat at Football League club Carlisle United.
The 2022/23 season saw a record high finish for a completed league season of seventh. And The Hornets were the best supported team in the Isthmian Premier Division, with an average of 920 spectators at each match.
A return to the Isthmian Premier League coincided with the opening of the fabulous new Camping World Community Stadium
VENUE & HIRE OPPORTUNITIES
The state-of-the-art facilities at the Camping World Community Stadium are available for hire. Whilst we prioritise our first team and youth football activities, there are plenty of opportunities for the community to make use of our superb resources.
To make an enquiry please e-mail admin@horshamfc.co.uk or contact the clubhouse on 01403 458854.
Our clubhouse has the following facilities:
• Space for up to 200 people, depending on format
• Complimentary parking
• Fully-serviced bar
• Catering facilities or, for larger events, space for outside caterers
• Free Wi-Fi
• Large screen TVs
Parties & Occasions
Do you need a venue for your party or special occasion? Lots of people have hired our fabulous clubhouse for theirs!
So, whether it be a wedding reception, birthday party, Christening or other celebration in your life, let us help to create the perfect event for you.
Business Hire
From small business meetings, in our upstairs meeting rooms, to larger functions, like corporate events or exhibitions, in our main clubhouse bar area, we’ve got you covered.
We also offer a range of catering options to suit your requirements from sandwiches to a buffet to a cooked lunch. Get in touch with us to discuss your needs. Pitch Hire
We have two superb, all-weather, pitches available for hire. Whether you are looking for a regular base for your matches or training, or want to organise a tournament (we can even split our main pitch into four), we may have the solution for you. We have Saturday availability on the main pitch when the First Team is not at playing at home so, if you have a postponement or backlog of fixtures, do get in touch to see how we could support you.
(Our event) went really well, and we were delighted with the venue and the service you provided. Thank you so much to you all for really looking after us. We had so many positive comments, and the venue was very popular. The factor that struck me was that you all seemed very pleased to have us there, which is not as common as you might think!!
John Wright, organiser of the Horsham Business Show.
CLUB SHOP
The Horsham FC Club Shop has a wide range of different merchandise to buy for yourself or to gift to loved ones. From the popular replica shirts, through to the warm hoodies for winter, we have something (even socks!) for everyone.
Replica Home Shirt - £42
Replica Away Shirt - £42
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COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP
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With our brand-new, state-of-the-art facilities, the First Team in their highest ever league representation and our best attendances for many years, there’s never been a better time to partner with The Hornets!
We can offer local businesses and individuals an exciting package of sponsorship and advertising opportunities that will enable the local
community to become part of the town’s footballing future.
We have very active Social Media channels, with around 4,100 Facebook fans and over 12,500 Twitter followers.
Our YouTube match highlights regularly receive more than 1,000 views per match.
those local relationships which support both parties, the town and beyond!
If you are interested in understand any of the opportunities please reach out to Sam on the commercial team at commercial@horshamfc.co.uk.
Here at Horsham FC we are all about the partnerships and are keen to build
COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP
The experience of those visiting our facilities is always top of the agenda, in 2023 we completed our attest ground improvement, by quadrupling the amount of covered standing available. This has provided great opportunities for brand presence with views from all around the ground. We still have one stand available to sponsor, reach out to commercial@horshamfc.co.uk if you are interested.
WOMENS
Horsham Football Club is delighted to officially announce that, from the 2023/24 season, we will have a Women’s team playing in the Sussex County Women & Girls Football League.
female footballers aged 16 years and upwards with the chance to train, develop and play at our fantastic stadium.
The opportunity to have a women’s team comes through the merger of Denne Park Ladies with Horsham Football Club, with the new team being named Horsham FC Women.
Following the success of England’s Lionesses in the Euros, and with the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, this is a great opportunity for Horsham FC to help grow and develop the women’s game in the local area and present
The team will be managed by Stephen McGrane, who has been involved in women’s football for the past nine years and gained previous experience at Crawley Town, Horley Town, Roffey and Denne Park, where he was manager last season. Stephen has a UEFA C qualification and will bring a great work ethic and down-to-earth approach as he looks forward to the new challenge with Horsham FC Women.
He will be assisted by Karen Bridgewater, who has spent the last two decades
helping advance women’s grassroots football through her spells at Haywards Heath, Cowfold and Steyning where, for the last three years, she has worked as the club Co-Ordinator helping grow the women’s and girl’s section. Karen also holds a UEFA C coaching qualification and worked alongside Stephen in a dual role with Denne Park last season.
“The addition of a woman’s community football team to the HFC family is a hugely important part of our future as we serve the town and the local community” said Hornets Chairman Kevin Borrett. “We are not short of ambition and welcome others to join and support us in what will be a successful part of the club in the future”.
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Non-league football clubs rely heavily on volunteers to keep things running smoothly and Horsham FC is no different. A far cry from full-time professional teams in the big-money leagues, it’s our network of helpers, both on match days and in the background organising things that help us to achieve everything that we do.
You will have seen many of them on your visits to the ground; helping you park your car, directing you to the turnstiles, taking your gate money, selling you programmes and club merchandise, staffing the tea bars, and keeping everyone safe during the game.
There are many others behind the scenes who you may not notice, but who nevertheless play their part in matchdays. They may be providing refreshments for officials and visitors in the Boardroom, acting as the matchday announcer, editing the matchday programme, selling sponsorship deals, ensuring our website is up to date or managing the club’s involvement in community initiatives.
Many of them are club committee members, but other fans have come to help out, all purely for their love of the club.
VOLUNTEERS
Chris Holmes, one of our matchday volunteers, added: “I’m a firm believer that when you have an interest in something, something that you’d always want to be there to be enjoyed, it is important to do what you can to help ensure that happens and influence it in some way.
known to almost everyone who attends games at the Hop Oast is Roger Charman.
“When the club moved into our new stadium I felt the time was right to get more involved and to do what I can in my own sweet way!”
One of our longest standing committee members and volunteers, and someone
“I was first involved with HFC when my sons, Paul and Gary, (and Howard Frogley’s son Martin) played for Horsham Sparrows, which was associated with the club. They then played for HFC reserves and I sometimes ran the line.
“The HFC Chairman asked me to join the committee, and Howard and I started running the bar at Queen Street.
“After the old ground was sold, I put on my steward’s jacket to help out, and that is what I do today; greeting fans and sorting the parking. The matchday volunteers are a great team, and I really enjoy it”.
Our Wednesday Group, led by longstanding and well-known HFC fan Pete Tanner, have undertaken numerous activities since we moved into The Camping World Community Stadium, in order to keep the ground spick and span and also to improve our facilities.
One major development they have completed is the construction of a pedestrian footbridge over the stream in the access lane to the ground. By completing this task with volunteer (but very skilled) labour, the Wednesday Group saved the club money and created a new feature which helps to keep supporters safe as they arrive and leave the ground.
Pete said: “It all started because Wednesday was the only day that Crawley weren’t training, so Terry Dickinson and Pete Little could get in to work on the pitch, and I could turn power off without disrupting anyone.
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GETTING TO KNOW OUR VOLUNTEERS
CHRIS HOLMES, HFC SUPPORTER LIAISON
This season we will be putting some of our fabulous volunteers into the spotlight to find out a litte more about them and the important role they play behind the scenes at Horsham Football Club. We tasked Darryl Jacobs with asking the probing questions and kick-off this feature today with our popular, effervescent, and well-known ‘man in a fluorescent jacket’ Chris Holmes, about his
Chris, when did your connection with Horsham
I‘ve been a fan since attended my first match, back in November 2005. Taking advantage of the Kids Go Free initiative, I took my Roffey Robins team along to Queen Street for the game against Banstead Athletic where a brace from Gary Charman saw us win 2-0. The quality of the football that day had me and my boys hooked and was lucky enough to have found my home-town team ahead of the Club’s greatest ever run in the FA Cup, and I attended every tie along the way to those two memorable
So you were a fan before you became a
Yes, it was fan first. By the time we were nearing the end of our nomadic existence at Lancing, I had begun to understand how important the volunteers were to the working of the Club, and on many a Friday Night bike ride, was approached by Borrett Senior and Borrett Junior to get myself more involved. The opening of the new ground at Hop Oast, with even more volunteers needed, seemed like the appropriate time to put my hand in the ring.
Did you create the ‘meet & greet’ role yourself? Haha! No, it certainly wasn’t my idea. I was quite happy to get involved in any way that was needed, although I had indicated a preference to be involved inside the stadium as opposed to outside. At the time, Sean Bravery was the Chairman of the Management Committee, and he was in charge of recruiting and motivating the volunteers, and it was his idea, which just went along with. Back then of course, everyone was new to the ground and needed help in finding their way not only to the bar, but to every other amenity in the Stadium. Without any real indication as to what to do, I just went about it in my own inimitable
Do you enjoy the role?
absolutely love it. Those that know me will know that one of my favourite things is meeting people and chatting to them about things that am interested in. As such, the Meet & Greet role suits me down to the ground and I can only apologise to those people who I have pressed into a conversation that may have been slightly against their will!
Over time, the true need for a Meeter and Greeter has diminished, obviously without disappearing completely as the fanbase has grown rapidly, and the need for other volunteering roles has increased so I have morphed more into a regular Steward. Hence why you will have seen me regularly at the bottom of the lane, chatting to supporters as they arrive while at the same time ensuring no-one thinks its a good idea to park their car in the lane. Nowadays, working around my work and cycling commitments, I also like to join in with orange shirted Wednesday morning volunteer sessions at the ground, litter picking, stand moving, gardening, dug-out repositioning and other general maintenance.
During the pandemic, you were having to perform Covid temperature checks on spectators before entering the ground. Was anyone ever denied admission as a result of having a high temperature?
Those were not great times, having to impose on people’s personal space to get close enough to ensure that they were within prescribed limits. The League supplied the Club with thermometers and, let’s just say, they weren’t the best. Accordingly, the high temperatures that we did detect were generally caused by a malfunction of the thermometer and when re-tested, either with the same or a different thermometer, the individual temperature had miraculously reduced. Whilst it was quite entertaining seeing people with beads of sweat dripping from their forehead from walking up the hill having a quiet panic that they were about to fail the test, I think everyone took personal responsibility for ensuring that they were not contaminated with the virus prior to coming to matches.
You pride yourself on having that personal touch. How many supporters do you think you know by name?
Haha, that is difficult to say. As you know, I took it on myself to try to learn the first names of all the Season Ticket Holders, something felt was the least the Club
could do, i.e. get to know the people who are prepared to stump up their cash in the interests of the Football Club. Obviously, as time has gone on, have additionally tried to learn the names of other regular supporters as have recognised their continuing presence at games. If you’re going to push me, I’d say it’s somewhere around 250, maybe more, so not too bad.
You’re also on the Management Committee. What’s your role in that?
Yes, finally committed to joining the Committee in May 2021, fundamentally hoping to provide a link between the Club and its supporters, hence the title Supporter Liaison Officer. I really want fans to seek me out and speak to me about all things Horsham FC - ideas for improvements, new Club Shop items, social events, clubhouse entertainment, supporters’ matches etchence why you’ll often see me walking round the ground with a clipboard under my arm. can then provide that link to the Committee and see what we can do to generate any changes.
So where are we likely to find you at the ground this season?
Another question that makes me smile. It’s not really where am going to position myself but more where I am needed, and is another reason why we’re always in need of additional volunteers. I would always choose to be close to the entrance to the ground (searching out season ticket cards of those STHs I’m not on first name terms with) or inside the ground itself. My appearances at the bottom of the lane are usually imposed on me, and am happy to do it, but always feel that can perform my role much better by being closer to the ground. Watch out for me around the ground and please do come up and chat. You never know, might actually remember your name next time I see you.
GETTING TO KNOW OUR VOLUNTEERS
HOWARD FROGLEY- SO MUCH MORE THAN OUR ‘TURNSTILE MAN’
Howard Frogley is one of the most recognisable faces at Horsham Football Club. He is the friendly, cheerful, chap who is there to let you through the turnstiles at all our home matches (provided you’ve paid, of course!). There in all weathers, rarely missing a game, he has been doing the job for over fifteen years now, still thoroughly enjoying it and hoping to carry on for a good while yet.
As we continue to pay tribute to our loyal band of volunteers, Darryl Jacobs spoke to Howard about his sixty years as a loyal supporter and volunteer with the Hornets.
DJ: Howard, when did you first start following the Hornets?
HF: would say around 1963 or ’64. I went with my dad as a boy to the old Queen Street ground. soon became a regular and went to all the home games. was instantly hooked.
DJ: What was the first volunteering role you took on at the club?
HF: My first job, unpaid in those days, was running the Queen Street bar with my good mate Roger Charman, when Maureen Smith was the club chairperson. It became quite a full on job as not only were we behind the bar on matchdays, but also when there were functions in the clubhouse; parties, wedding receptions and other social events. It was good fun and you got to know a lot of people. did that for at least ten years, I would say.
DJ: How and when did you land the position of turnstile operator?
HF: I took over from Andy Meadus when he stepped down after we left Queen Street in 2008. I was asked if wanted to do the job when we re-located to Worthing, so said yes. So that was my first season, after which continued for another seven seasons while we were at the YM ground, two more at Lancing, and now this is my fifth season here at the Camping World Community Stadium.
DJ: What sort of crowds were we getting before we moved in to the CWCS?
HF: Well over the years was involved at Queen Street, would say we averaged around 400 but our last season there, in 2007/8, was better. We had the large away support that AFC Wimbledon brought to us and our
home crowds were buoyed after our exciting cup run and the famous Swansea game, so we probably averaged around 500* that season. That went down by half when we moved to Worthing and then when we returned to Horsham and groundshared with YM it stayed around the 250 average. When we went to Lancing it dropped a bit more, probably to around 200/220 on average. *2007/8 average was 690 Ed
DJ: Have you been surprised by the increased attendances since we’ve moved to the CWCS, and how have you coped with the extra numbers?
HF: Yes have. didn’t think we would see attendances rise so quickly. We got around 600 on average in our first season back and it’s grown continually since, with over 900 last season. In the old days didn’t need any help really, just somebody to assist if there was a surge of late arrivals just before kick-off. Nowadays there’s usually two of us on all the time and we have the ability to increase that two three or four this season if necessary.
DJ: Season ticket sales have also impressively topped the 200 mark this season. How does that compare against past seasons?
HF: think before we moved to the CWCS we would have sold less than fifty. I think it just shows how much the Horsham public enjoy the facilities here and the football that Dom has got the team playing. And of course they’re worth getting as they can save you 20% over the course of the season.
DJ: What time do you open up the turnstiles on a matchday?
HF: We usually at 12.45pm on a Saturday as we do get some supporters that like to get in early for a pint and to watch the live televised football in the clubhouse. For a midweek match we open up at 6.15pm
DJ: Nowadays supporters can buy season tickets, pre-purchase match tickets on-line, or pay on the day using either cash or card. Does this make reconciliation more difficult for you?
DJ: Ah yes, I was going to ask you about that. You give out different coloured tickets for regular and concession admission but don’t use the turnstile counter clicker. So how do you go about producing an attendance figure?
HF: We don’t use the clicker because our officials, and supporters sometimes, go backwards and forwards through the turnstiles so it would be inaccurate. So what we do is add together the number of season tickets sold, tickets pre-purchased, cash and card payments taken on the day, and that figure should agree with the value of the entrance tickets that we have given out as spectators pass through the turnstiles. The attendance figure we arrive at is actually tickets sold rather than ‘bums on seats’ because a small number of fans that have prepurchased tickets may not actually turn up on the day.
DJ: Thank you for the chat, Howard, and for all you do for Horsham Football Club.
If you read this article and fancy volunteering yourself please don’t be shy, come forward as we would love to hear from you. All you have to do is go to the VOLUNTEERING section on the website to apply or, if you prefer, speak to any of the club officials today
HF: No, not really. Before we got the card machines, it only took about twenty minutes for two of us to count it all up as we had a good routine. It still takes us about the same time to cash up as most fans pay online or by card so we get a reading from the machine, which is easy. What we take in cash is added on, so the total should more or less agree with the value of the numbered tickets we have issued to supporters as they pass through the turnstiles.
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GETTING TO KNOW OUR VOLUNTEERS
For today’s programme, our ‘Behind the Scenes’ reporter Darryl Jacobs talks to long-serving Club stalwart JOHN LINES about his time with Horsham Football Club and the varied roles he has undertaken over the years. Nowadays, John prefers to concentrate on his voluntary position as Club Photographer and turns out in all weathers for almost all our home games and most of our away matches as well, to produce a wonderful gallery of action photos. These are uploaded to our club website and are a terrific accompaniment to the match report and video highlights. His pictures are also regularly used in the club programme and are often published in other publications, including the West Sussex County Times.
DJ: John, how long have you supported the Hornets?
JL: I became a supporter almost by accident. I moved to Horsham from South West London in 1996 and I continued to play for my London-based team for a few years until I reluctantly realised my legs were moving much slower than my brain, so I gave up Saturday football although continuing to play Sunday morning Vets football until I was 61.
Not having my Saturday afternoon football fix led me to look for something else to do. I had always been a keen amateur photographer and after seeing a poster for a Horsham match, took my camera along to Queen Street for the first time on the 19th November 2005. That is a date many of the Lardies will remember as being the return of Gazza from his spell at Walton & Hersham. had no idea who this long-haired winger was but it was clear he was a fans’ favourite, and topped his return off with two trademark headers in the 2-0 win over Banstead Athletic. was hugely impressed by the quality of play and instantly knew had found the answer to leaving behind dull Saturday afternoons. Over the course of the next few matches struck up a friendship with Mark Wells and he used some of my pictures on the old Hornets Review website. That was it, was hooked.
DJ: Can you tell us what voluntary roles you have carried out at the club since then?
JL: I was asked to become a Director at the time the Royal and Sun Alliance announced plans to sell The Holbrook Club. My business background had been in property
Sales and Management and I felt might be able to help with the proposed acquisition. Soon after, took over from Jeff Barrett as Club Secretary for a few years (with a great deal of help from Annie). When Kevin Borrett came on Board as Chairman, became his Vice Chair and CEO.
DJ: You played a prominent role in overseeing the design and building of the new stadium. The club had to have dogged determination to overcome the difficulties in gaining planning permission so was there ever a time when you thought it was never going to happen?
JL: No. never for a moment accepted the negative view we would fail to get a new home for the Club. Yes, there were many substantial obstacles placed in our way and it took a lot of creative thinking and hard work by the Board and our Professional Advisors to achieve the result we needed. Once Planning Consent was granted it was a real pleasure to be involved with the design and construction.
DJ: Your real passion is, of course, photography. Is there an area in which you particularly specialise?
JL: I have had a love of photography from when was given my first Camera at the age of twelve. I enjoy shooting a wide range of subjects but since sport is my passion, and football in particular, guess that comes top of my list.
DJ: I’m certain there are some budding photographers out there wondering what camera you use and what features enable you use to achieve the terrific detail and clarity in your shots?
JL: I use Canon equipment and my main camera is an EOS 1D X Mk2. I prefer to use a 100–400 f5.6 zoom lens when shooting in daylight. For evening matches use a 300mm f2.8 prime lens which allows me to shoot with a fast shutter speed, even under floodlights. Both these lenses are technically brilliant and produce crisp, sharp images.
DJ: How do you decide which positions to take up pitchside?
DJ: You are subjected to all the extremes of weather that the British autumn and winter months can throw at you. How do you cope with that?
JL: Well its common sense really. You have to dress appropriately; shorts and light clothing in the warmer weather, wrap up in the cold weather, and waterproof gear for the rain. I have a little low down chair which keeps me off the ground but in a comfortable position to shoot my photos. You need both hands to use a camera so you can’t use an umbrella, although I’ve asked my wife to stand over me with one but so far had no joy with that idea!
Most quality camera bodies are weather resistant so you can keep working in a light drizzle or a short passing shower but are not completely waterproof so they cannot be allowed to get soaking wet. So it may be necessary, on rare occasions, to leap over the barrier to seek out a bit of protection in the covered standing area behind the goals. I always have a cloth handy in case I need to wipe the lens to keep it dry and clean.
DJ: In my own role as a match reporter, I closely watch the action but also form an opinion of the overall flow of the game; which team is on top, who is having more of the ball etc. What goes through your mind when watching the action through a camera lens?
JL: Good question. I think it is mainly anticipating when interesting action is about to take place and focusing on the subject. But, generally, it is about timing and instinct.
DJ: You must have taken many thousands of photos over the years. Do you have a favourite that you would be proud to display on your office wall at home?
JL: There is one image that I am particularly proud of and that is of Lee Farrell celebrating his second goal at Swansea in the FA Cup. It’s not just about the picture, it encapsulates the magnificent achievement of a great cup run that will live with us forever. The picture is on the clubhouse wall by the doors behind the goal.
JL: Everyone loves a goalscorer, so I tend to locate myself at the end we are attacking. I usually sit along the line to one side of the goal. That way I get a head on view of the play, I’m close to the action, and don’t get bothered by players warming up or linesmen running in front of me.
YOUTH TEAMS
Horsham Football Club has a strong and growing youth set-up, fielding teams from U12s through to U18s.
Our youngsters are coached by our team of qualified officials, all of whom hold coaching badges from level one upwards. Overseeing everything is former Crawley Town manager Craig Brewster, who made 700 professional appearances for the likes of Dundee United and Dunfermline Athletic.
The club delivers high standards of coaching, administration and child
protection at all times within the youth system/ Horsham FC is also an associate member of the FA and holds FA Charter status We have a Safeguarding Officer who, along with all managers and coaches at all age groups, is DBS checked. Each squad includes at least one holder of a minimum Level One certificate in Emergency Aid and Safeguarding.
Our youth teams have seen great success in recent competitions. The U13s were the regional winners of the ESF summer festival which earned
them a place in the national finals held at St George’s Park. Despite starting the tournament with a defeat in their first group game against Hashtag United,the team won each of their remaining games, via a penalty shootout in the semi-final to set up a final against Hashtag United again, this time running out 3-0 winners to become champions of the U13s 2023 ESF regional tournament.
Continued on page 41
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YOUTH TEAMS
Elsewhere Andy Du Vergier’s talented U12s, who had a phenomenal season in the Mid-Sussex Youth League Division One, finishing joint champions with Hollingbury Hawks in a huge division of fourteen teams, after a thrilling end to the season. Du Vergier’s squad also reached the semi-final of the Sussex County FA cup in a season where Andy was assisted by first team coach Sam Jones.
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Success was also on the table for our U18s Mid Sussex side, the squad, made up predominantly of U16 players, maintained an unbeaten home record throughout the season and beat every team in the division at least once (teams play each other three times in a division of seven). Unfortunately pipped right at the end of the season the team were left receiving their credible Mid-Sussex Youth League Division One runners-up medals.
Enquiries for Horsham Youth should be directed to Shaun Scott at hfcdevsecretary@gmail.com
Success was also on the table for our U18s Mid Sussex side, the squad, made up predominantly of U16 players, maintained an unbeaten home record throughout the season
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HOW TO FIND US
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Arriving by car
Parking in the Stadium Car Park will be limited on matchdays to Players, Match Officials, Home and Visiting Club Officials and Invited Guests. There are a small number of reserved spaces for drivers displaying Blue Parking Badges which are subject to availability and must be booked through the Club office in advance.
Looking for a designer who can bring your vision to life?
Look no further! RS Architectural Designs is here to provide you with the best architectural designs services you can find.
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On matchdays all supporters arriving by car will be directed to the Hop Oast Park & Ride, which is located opposite the access lane to the Stadium. The Post Code is RH13 0AR. It is five minutes’ walk to the Stadium and qualified marshals will be on hand to assist you across the main road. When big attendances are expected, information will be published on additional parking arrangements nearby with a free shuttle service to the Stadium.
Arriving by bus
Metrobus run up to four services an hour on Route 98 to the Stadium from Roffey, Southwater and Horsham Railway and Bus Stations, with more extensive hourly services on Route 23 from Crawley and Worthing. Travel time from Horsham Bus Station is five minutes, currently costing £2* each-way. Subject to demand, the Stadium will be served by double-decker vehicles on matchdays.
Those travelling by bus should ask the driver for “Golf Club for Horsham FC.”
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Horsham Football Club, The Camping World Community Stadium, Worthing Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0AX
Telephone: 01403 458854
Office Email: admin@horshamfc.co.uk
Office opening hours:
Monday to Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm
Club Officials:
Chairman – Kevin Borrett
Finance Director – Sean Bravery
Commercial Director – Sam Borrett
Operations Director – Paul Osborn
Directors – Jeff Barrett, Michael Cloake
Trustees – Don Burstow, Clive Edwards, John Newell, Peter Tanner
Club Committee
Annie Raby, Mark Wells, Jeanie
Charman, Roger Charman, Joe Clarke, Howard Frogley, Mark Barrett (ViceChairman), Jack Everley, Shaun Scott, Ian Burlinson (Chairman), Matt Jones, Ian Dunscombe, Jonathan Kenworthy, Will Ranner, Pete Little, Chris Homes, Roz Bivand
Club honours:
West Sussex Senior League
1899-1900, 1900-01, 1925-26
Sussex County League
1931-32, 1932-33, 1934-35, 1935-36, 1936-37, 1937-38, 1946-47
Metropolitan League 1951-52
Athenian League Division Two 1969-70
Athenian League Division One 1972-73
Isthmian League Division Three 1995-96
Isthmian League South-East Play-Off winners 2018-19
Southern Combination Football League Premier Division 2015-16
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Sussex Senior Cup
1933-34, 1938-39, 1949-50, 1953-54, 1971-72, 1973-74, 1975-76
FA Cup First Round Proper
1947-48, 1966-67, 2021-22
FA Cup Second Round Proper 2007-08
Record attendance (Queen Street) 7,134
v Swindon Town FA Cup 1st round 26th
November 1966;
(CWCS) 1,927 v Woking FA Cup 4th
Qualifying Round 16th October 2021
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