Horsham F.C.

Horsham

Full name

Horsham Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Hornets

Founded

1871

Ground

Gorings Mead, Horsham (Groundshare with Horsham Y.M.C.A.)

Capacity

1,500

Chairman

Kevin Borrett

Manager

Dominic di Paola

League

Isthmian League Division One South

2015–16

Southern Combination Football League Premier Division, 1st (promoted)

Home colours

Away colours

Horsham Football Club are a non-League football club based in Horsham, West Sussex, England, currently playing in Division One South of the Isthmian League.

History

The first Horsham Football Club was founded in 1871, though its existence largely depended upon enough players being available to form a side. In 1881 the club was firmly re-established, playing its first game against Dorking, and, in September 1882, helped found the Sussex County Football Association, with club official A. R. Bostock becoming one of three original Vice Presidents. Horsham became founder members of the West Sussex Football League in 1896.^[1] They went on to win the West Sussex League championship in 1899-00, 1900–01 and 1901–02, and claiming the Royal Irish Rifles Cup in 1900 by defeating the champions of the East Sussex Senior League, Hastings. After having played at both Hurst Park and Springfield Park, the club secured Queen Street as its permanent home in 1904, but some lean form over the ensuing years saw Horsham overlooked when the Sussex County League was created in 1920. The club eventually became members of that competition after winning the West Sussex Senior League for the fourth time in 1925–26.

This was a golden age for the club and the County League was won in 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938, with the team regularly scoring over one hundred goals a season. The Sussex RUR Cup was taken in 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938, and the Sussex Senior Cup in 1934 and 1939. After the break brought on by hostilities, Horsham won the first post-war title in 1947, the RUR Cup in 1946, 1949 and 1951, and the Sussex Senior Cup in 1950.

In 1947–48 Horsham reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time, taking a first-minute lead against Tommy Lawton's Notts County, before losing 9–1. For many years Horsham had been looking to test themselves at a higher level but had seen their annual applications to join the Athenian League come to nothing. In 1951 the club changed tack and successfully applied to become members of the Metropolitan League where they were champions at the first attempt. In 1957, however, after finishing bottom of the table, they stepped down to the Corinthian League. In 1963 this league was disbanded, and Horsham were finally able to join the Athenian League.

In 1966 they reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup for a second time after defeating Hastings United 2–1 in the 4th Qualifying Round. Horsham played Swindon Town in front of a crowd of 7,134 at Queen Street. Although they lost 0–3, the day was a 'red letter day' for the club. A special temporary stand was erected at the Queen St end of the ground for the match.^[2]

In 1973, Horsham joined the Isthmian League when it expanded to two divisions. They enjoyed little success during the 1980s and early 1990s, finishing bottom of the entire league in 1993–94, but began to turn their fortunes around with a Division Three championship win in 1995–96. In 2001–02 they finished second in Division Two and were promoted to Division One South and in 2005–06 a second-place finish in that division, finishing 2nd behind champions Ramsgate on goal difference, saw them promoted to the Premier Division for the first time. That same season, Horsham reached the final of the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time since 1979, but were beaten by Lewes 3–1 after extra-time.

Their first ever season in the Premier Division, in 2006–07, saw the Hornets finish in eighth and a promotion challenge in 2007–08 again fell away to see the club end up eleventh. However, the team beat Maidenhead United 4–1 to reach the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time where two matches were played against eventual League One champions, Swansea City.

Having sold their ground for redevelopment at the end of the season, Horsham played at Worthing during 2008–09 and reached the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup where they took Conference side Stevenage Borough to a replay before ending an injury-ravaged year in thirteenth place. Season 2009–10 found the club back in Horsham, having entered into a groundshare agreement with their old neighbours Horsham YMCA as their quest for a new ground continued. Financial cutbacks at the end of the 2010–11 campaign, during which they finished only 6 points clear of possible relegation back to Division One, saw Horsham part company with long serving manager John Maggs after 11 years in charge. Former Faversham Town manager, Justin Luchford, was appointed as his replacement in June 2011 but left the role in late October 2011 and was replaced by assistant, Hugo Langton. A lack of improvement in results, during which the club failed to win any of their 19 league games, saw Langton replaced by former Worthing boss Simon Colbran in March 2012 but he was unable to prevent the side from returning to Division One South. A season of stability followed, with the Hornets ending the campaign in ﬁfteenth and claiming the Brighton Charity Cup for a second successive season^[3] but Colbran resigned his post in November 2013 with the club in 18th position. His departure led to the popular appointment of Horsham born Gary Charman, some fifteen years after making the first of more than 550 appearances for his hometown club. Charman steered the club to 16th place but a poor run of results the following season led to him being replaced by two more former players, Anthony Storey and Cliff Cant, in January 2015. Despite some impressive initial results, the pair were unable to save the club from relegation so former East Preston manager Dominic di Paola was appointed towards the end of the campaign with a view to rebuilding a side capable of competing in the Sussex County League for the first time since 1951.

A season long battle with Eastbourne Town followed, with Horsham taking the title by 11 points to secure a record-equaling 8th County League title, thus securing an immediate return to the Isthmian League for season 2016-17. During the 2015-16 campaign, the club recorded a club record 97 points whilst conceding the fewest goals in their history (22).

2007–08 FA Cup run

Horsham's FA Cup run started with a 7–1 defeat of Arundel in the 1st qualifying round and in the 2nd they came from 2–0 down to beat Bury Town 3–2. After a goalless draw at Kingsmeadow Horsham then saw off AFC Wimbledon 5–4 on penalties in a 3rd qualifying round replay before booking their place in the First Round Proper for only the third time in their history with a 3–2 win at Chippenham Town. Horsham drew Maidenhead United of the Conference South at home and, in front of a crowd of 3,379, Horsham won 4–1 with goals from Nigel Brake, Lee Carney (2) and Lee Farrell, with Brake's long-range goal nominated in Match of the Day's goal of the month competition. Horsham then drew Swansea City in the 2nd Round, holding the then League One leaders to a 1–1 draw at Queen Street on 30 November 2007 when an 85th-minute penalty from Lewis Taylor cancelled out Guillem Bauzà's 41st-minute opener.^[4] Their replay at Swansea was played on 10 December 2007, the first ever FA Cup tie to be held at the Liberty Stadium, and a shock result was on the cards when Lee Farrell scored twice to put Horsham 2–1 ahead but Swansea recovered to win the tie 6–2. Both matches against Swansea were shown live on Sky Sports, the first time in the club's history that a match had been televised live.^[5]

Ground

Horsham play their home games at Goring's Mead, Brighton Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5BP.

The club sold their ground at Queen Street, which had been their home since 1904, to property developers, and moved out in 2008.^[6] A two season groundshare with Worthing, was terminated after one season and the club is currently sharing with Horsham YMCA at Gorings Mead. The club hoped to return to Horsham and build a new ground in Holbrook, North Horsham, but despite the club having bought the site, planning permission was refused at a council meeting held on 1 July 2008.^[7] The club withdrew their appeal against the decision on 15 April 2009, and turned their focus instead to building a new ground at the "Hop Oast" area to the south of Horsham.^[8] The area is expected to be reclassified from a strategic gap between the town of Horsham and the village of Southwater to a 'strategic recreational area', which would make planning permission for the ground more likely.^[9]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.		Position	Player
		GK	Anthony Ender
		GK	James Shaw
		GK	Josh Pelling
		DF	Alex Duncan
		DF	Ashley Jones
		DF	Bradley Lewis
		DF	Charlie Farmer
		DF	Dan Sackman
		DF	Mark Knee
		DF	Matt Whitehead
		DF	Tom Atkinson
		MF	Adam Hunt
		MF	Darren Boswell
		MF	George Branford

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Lee Carney
		MF	Lewis Hyde
		MF	Luis Felipe Lire de Andrade
		MF	Scott Harris
		MF	Scott Kirkwood
		FW	George Cousins
		FW	Jake Chadwick
		FW	Liam MacDevitt
		FW	Ollie Gill
		FW	Terry Dodd
		FW	Tom Lawley
		FW	Tony Nwachukwu

Honours

League and Cup honours

West Sussex Senior League
- Winners (4): 1899–00, 1900–01, 1901–02, 1925–26
Sussex County League
- Winners (7): 1931–32, 1932–3, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1946–47
Southern Combination Football League
- Winners (1): 2015-16 (Premier Division)
Metropolitan League
- Winners (1): 1951–52
Athenian League
- Winners (2): 1972–73 (Division One) 1969–70 (Division Two)
Isthmian League
- Winners (1): 1995–96 (Division Three) 2005–06 (Division One runners-up)
Sussex Senior Cup
- Winners (7): 1933–34, 1938–39, 1949–50, 1953–54, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76
- Runners-up (8): 1947–48, 1954–55, 1960–61, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1978–79, 2005–06
Sussex Floodlight Cup
- Winners (2): 1977–78, 2001–02
The Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup^[10]
- Winners (13): 1899–00, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1933–34 (shared with Worthing), 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38 (shared with Southwick), 1945–46, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1956–57
- Runners Up (3): 1900–01, 1901–02, 1947–48
Brighton Charity Cup
- Winners (6): 1967–68, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13

Club records

Best league performance: 8th in Isthmian League Premier Division, 2006–07
Best FA Cup performance: 2nd round proper, 2007–08
Best FA Trophy performance: 2nd round, 2002–03
Best FA Vase performance: 4th round, 1986–87
Record attendance: 7,134 v Swindon Town 26 November 1966^[11]
Record transfer fee received: £10,000 from Tonbridge Angels for Carl Rook (December 2008)
Record transfer fee paid: £2,500 to Lewes for Lee Farrell (July 2007)

References

↑ "Shoreham F.C. – Early football in Shoreham and the 'Glory Years". Shoreham History Portal. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
↑ Horsham .v. Swindon Town Souvenir Programme 1 shilling 26th November 1966
↑ 2nd Yellow
↑ Match details
↑ BBC
↑ "Welcome to Hornets Review – Horsham Football Club". Hornetsreview.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
↑ West Sussex County Times
↑ Hornets Review
↑ West Sussex County Times
↑ "R.U.R. Cup Final Results – Sussex County Football Association". Sussexcountyleague.com. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
↑ "Welcome to Hornets Review – Horsham Football Club". Hornetsreview.co.uk. 1966-11-26. Retrieved 2013-05-10.

External links

Official Site
Hidden Horsham – with pictures of the day Swansea played Horsham
Horsham at the Football Club History Database

Isthmian League

Premier Division	AFC Sudbury Billericay Town Bognor Regis Town Burgess Hill Town Canvey Island Dulwich Hamlet Enfield Town Folkestone Invicta Grays Athletic Harlow Town Harrow Borough Havant & Waterlooville Hendon Kingstonian Leatherhead Leiston Lowestoft Town Merstham Metropolitan Police Needham Market Staines Town Tonbridge Angels Wingate & Finchley Worthing

Division One North	AFC Hornchurch Aveley Bowers & Pitsea Brentwood Town Brightlingsea Regent Bury Town Cheshunt Dereham Town Great Wakering Rovers Haringey Borough Heybridge Swifts Maldon & Tiptree Norwich United Phoenix Sports Romford Soham Town Rangers Thamesmead Town Thurrock Tilbury VCD Athletic Waltham Abbey Ware Witham Town Wroxham

Division One South	Carshalton Athletic Chatham Town Chipstead Corinthian-Casuals Cray Wanderers Dorking Wanderers East Grinstead Town Faversham Town Godalming Town Greenwich Borough Guernsey Hastings United Herne Bay Horsham Hythe Town Lewes Molesey Ramsgate Sittingbourne South Park Three Bridges Tooting & Mitcham United Walton Casuals Whyteleafe

Seasons	1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1919 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

Coordinates: 51°03′27.60″N 0°19′26.08″W / 51.0576667°N 0.3239111°W / 51.0576667; -0.3239111

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