Horsham

Horsham FC is a non-league side from the West Sussex market town of the same name in the that was formed in 1871. They became founder members of the West Sussex League in 1893, moving into their Queen Street home in 1904, before joining the Sussex County League in for the 1926-27.

After finishing as runners-up on a couple of occasions, ‘The Hornets’ went on to dominate the competition for several years before the second world war; as they won the title in 1931-32, 1932-33, 1934-35, 1935-36, 1936-37 and 1937-38.

A seventh Sussex League title followed in 1946-47 before the club progressed to the Metropolitan & District League; becoming champions in their debut season of 1951-52 before moving to the Corinthian League in time for the 1957-58.

That competition was disbanded in the summer of 1963; which saw Horsham join an extended Division One of the Athenian League. The team was relegated to Division Two in 1965-66 before regaining their place in 1969-70.

After winning the Athenian League title in 1972-73 the Hornets joined Division Two of the Isthmian League; which was renamed Division One in 1977-78. Horsham were relegated from that level in 1979-80.

The Main Stand at Queen Street

The Isthmian League was re-organised for the 1991-92 season; with Horsham being placed in Division Three; winning the championship in 1995-96, followed by a runners-up season in Division Two in 2001-02.

A further league restructuring led to the club being positioned in Division One South for the 2002-03 campaign; finishing as runners-up in 2005-06 to win promotion to the Premier Division under manager John Maggs.

The covered terrace at Queen Street

Horsham went on a fine FA Cup run in 2007-08 as they reached the first round proper for the first time; seeing off higher graded clubs AFC Wimbledon and Chippenham Town along the way before defeating Maidenhead United at Queen Street.

This set up a round two home tie with Swansea City, which ended in a 1-1 draw before Horsham went down 6-2 at the Liberty Stadium. Both games were selected for live coverage by Sky TV, with deaf striker Lee Farrell starring throughout.

However, despite the relative success, it turned into a sad season as it was the last that football was played at Queen Street. The club sold the venue and bought some land at Holbrook in the north of the town to construct a new ground.

A groundshare was arranged with Worthing, but the club was set back when Horsham District Council rejected planning permission for the new home. The club moved into Horsham YMCA’s Goring Mead ground for the 2009-10 season.

Maggs left the Hornets after eleven years at the helm in May 2011 as the club announced that they would not be offering wages for the following season to players or management in a cost cutting move.

Justin Luchford took over as manager. Lasting just a few months before being replaced by Hugo Langton. Inevitably the move stabilised the finances, but also lead to relegation as the side finished rock bottom and were relegated with Simon Colbran ending the season in charge of the team.

Meanwhile, the club put plans forward to develop a ground to the south of the town at Hop Oast, as they struggled as support dropped significantly as the club continued to search for a suitable site for a new home ground.

In November 2013 long serving player Gary Chapman was appointed as manager to replace Colbran, before the club submitted planning permission for the Hop Oast development. Further former players, Anthony Storey and Cliff Cant took over team affairs in January 2015.

However, the pair couldn’t save Horsham from relegation to the Southern Combination League. Dominic di Paola was appointed as manager from East Preston as the Hornets won the league title at the first time of asking in 2015-16 to return to the Isthmian League.

In March 2017 the club received the news it prayed for when they were given the green light to develop the Hop Oast site and sell some of the Holbrook site to raise cash after the plans had been scaled down after an earlier rejection.

The club signed a two year deal to share the ground of the Sussex FA at Culver Road, Lancing commencing in the 2017-18 season after their arrangement with YMCA ran out. Meanwhile, di Paola’s side consolidated their league status.

In the 2018-19 season Horsham finished in the play-off positions; defeating Haywards Heath Town and then Ashford United to win promotion back to the Premier Division in time for their homecoming.

Horsham FC will play in the Isthmian League Premier Division in the 2019-20 season.

My visits

Horsham 1 Maidstone United 2 (Saturday 22nd December 2007) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 490)

Horsham was my final final port of call after visiting a few nearby grounds in the morning so that I could see a game in the last season at Queen Street. The matches against Swansea City having invigorated my interest.

I had a couple of pints in the pub over the road from the lane down to the ground, The Queen's Head after a walk around the lovely town centre, before giving some trade to the clubhouse under the Main Stand.

The bar was a throwback to how I think clubhouses should be. It was cosy and had character and was probably around since the stand had been opened in 1928. There were plenty of Maidstone fans inside as well as their directors. 

The board members present seemed very reluctant to give firm answers to fans asking about 'The Stones. chances of moving back to their home town. I believe it was chairman Paul Bowden-Smith who was most evasive when I was trying to be friendly.

Queen Street was a lovely football venue in general. I'm not sure how they managed to cope with the earlier visit of Swansea City, with Sky TV and segregation being needed to be catered for. The main Stand had a raised seating deck with all the facilities underneath. 

The teams emerged from separate tunnels at either end of it. There was a few rows of open terracing either side of it. The Queen Street End was just flat standing but the far side had a lovely old cover offering good shelter for quite a number of fans. 

The other end backed onto to Gorings Mead, home of Horsham YMCA. It once had a cover over the few rows of set back terracing, but only the supports remained.

Both sides were in mid-table going into the game, with the hosts having lost their three previous matches. On a drizzly and cool afternoon Mo Takalobighashi nearly latched onto a loose back pass before keeper Paul Seuke ran out to clear.

The same forward forced Seuke into a decent low save shortly after. The Hornets got a foothold in the game with a Lewis Taylor corner causing confusion in the Maidstone box as Kevin Hemsley’s header was deflected round the post by a defender.

Jacob Mingle crossed for Taylor with Simon Austin being inches away from turning in his delivery. Mingle then saw a tremendous volley shave the top of the crossbar as Horsham continued to press.

Stones keeper Steve Northwood saved from Mingle before Nigel Brake fired over. Ray Freeman responded for the visitors, but his shot lacked venom. Tom Graves fired just wide for Horsham before Takalobighashi had an overhead kick attempt for Maidstone.

I retired to the bar at half time with the scoreline blank. It would be Horsham who broke the deadlock shortly after the restart. A passing interchange saw Brake lay the ball to Mingle who scored with a fine curling effort.

A young Chris Smalling did well to cut out a dangerous Lee Farrell cross as the Hornets pressed for a second goal. Passes involved Lee Carney and Taylor whose shot went wide when in on goal

A minute later Maidstone equalised when Alex Tiesse had a low shot parried by Seuke into the path of Takalobighashi who scored from a couple of yards out. Tiesse nearly gave the visitors the lead shortly after when manoeuvring room for a shot that was saved by Seuke.

The game had been a good entertaining encounter. Maidstone had quite a good support which made for a decent atmosphere. I left the game late on with the scores at 1-1 to ensure I got a fast train back to London and missed the visitors winning goal as Takalobighashi added his second.

I walked away reflecting on what a shame it was for fans of the Hornets to lose their traditional home. Sadly, I knew that Horsham wouldn't be the last to become homeless or end up in a soulless out of town venue because of poor management or devious business.

Horsham 4 Merstham 0 (Saturday 19^th October 2019) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 602)

I’d wangled the day off work after working my midweek rest day and fancied venturing somewhere new for the day. Hendon were away to Truro, but unfortunately the coach departed on the Friday when I was still busy.

Steve Barnes agreed that Horsham looked a good bet, so we met to take the train from West Hampstead after enjoying England’s hammering of Australia in the Rugby World Cup. The fare cost me less than £14 with my Network Railcard; which I thought was good value.

We arrived on a most pleasant afternoon at 1pm and went looking for libation. Steve’s expertise and fine research led us to the modern Piries Bar, the fine Anchor Tap and then the traditional Malt Shovel; all serving fine ales.

The fifteen minute 98 bus ride took us from across the road directly to the lane leading to The Camping World Community Stadium where admission was £11 and the programme a further couple of quid. We even had to queue for a short time at the turnstiles.

The venue and town had taken me back to several visits to smaller town German venues, with efficient public transport from a pretty town centre took fans to an edge of town venue with plentiful parking and good facilities.

The small stadium had an impressive clubhouse behind the entrance end goal, with a raised standing patio and small cover. Down one side was two small covers; one containing seating, the other terrace. A similar cover stood behind the far goal.

A fine main seated stand was to the right. There was plenty of room for further development should the requirements arise. We were both impressed with the whole set up. The wooden perimeter fence set it off nicely, retaining a country feel.

Outside the main ground was a caged artificial surface and beyond a golf course and driving range. The only slight complaint could have been the possible provision of another toilet at the far end of the ground and another catering point; even if just for hot drinks.

The Hornets came into the game in the play-off positions, with the visitors towards the bottom third. The opening period didn’t see many clear cut chances, before the hosts took the lead on twenty four minutes when Charlie Harris smashed the ball home from a narrow angle despite the best efforts of the Moatsiders keeper Matte Pierson.

Ellis Brown responded for Merstham with a powerful run, but his shot was too weak to trouble goalie George Bentley. Horsham doubled their lead just past the half hour mark with a fine move before Harvey Sparks squared for Rob O’Toole to tap home.

It was all the home side up to the break with Charlie Harris hitting the side netting and then finding the gloves of Pierson. It was 2-0 as the sides headed to the changing rooms and I joined a slow queue for a cheeseburger and tea.

Pierson pulled off a tremendous save when Joe Shelley was denied from close range after another dangerous corner. Zack Newton contrived to miss an absolute sitter from an O’Toole centre.

The game was more or less decided on fifty five minutes. Hornets defender Dylan Merchant brought down Brown to concede a penalty. The fouled striker got up to fire his penalty onto the top of the crossbar and over.

Brown tried to make up for his miss with another powerful run before crossing low to the far post, where an unmarked Brendan Ocran put his effort wide with the goal gaping. The two easy chances could have changed the game, but it wasn’t to be.

Horsham took full advantage as a Newton pass was put into the path of Chris Smith, who held off Merstham’s Liam Smith to score past Pierson, before the stopper made another good save to deny Harris.

The score was completed when Lea Dawson scored with a good shot from outside the area. 4-0 was perhaps a little harsh on Merstham, but that’s the penalty of missing easy chances. The locals were certainly not complaining.

We hung around to enjoy a pint of Dark Star American Pale Ale; before taking the bus from the park and ride across Worthing Road, having been directed by helpful stewards. They’d certainly got things right around the football club.

We took the service to the Bus Station, from where Steve directed us to King’s Arms, next to where the old King & Barnes Brewery once stood. It was probably the pub of the day with good beer and lots of old fashioned features.

There was still time for halves in Ye Olde Stout House and The Black Jug before the train home; both in good form in nice establishments. Horsham had been a winner with us, with its smart design and friendly folk.