Sunday, 17 January 2010

Horsham YMCA




Horsham YMCA FC are a non league football club who were formed in 1898. They come from the town in West Sussex of the same name, thirty one miles south west of London.












"The YM" played local league football before joining the Sussex County League in 1959. They plugged away for many seasons before lifting the title in 2005. Unfortunately promotion was denied as their home since 1929, Goring's Mead didn't meet the grading requirements.

Good news was not far away though as YM won the title again the following season with the ground being passed by FA inspectors so that the club could move into the Isthmian League. Relegation soon followed but the team fought back to regain their place the following season.















YM managed to reach the FA Vase Fourth Round in 1999-00. From 2009 Goring's Mead was shared by Horsham FC.

YM were relegated from the Isthmian League at the end of the 2010-11 season.

The club will compete in the Sussex County League Division One for the 2014-15 season.



My visit


Saturday 22nd December 2007 

I arrived at lunchtime in the very pleasant market town of Horsham. I was going to watch the match between Horsham and Maidstone United that afternoon after I had a wander around the town centre and called in on Goring's Mead for a photocall.

I walked past the lane leading down to Horsham FC and turned right off Brighton Road, down to the dead end at the bottom of Goring's Mead. The gates were locked, but the fence was easy to see through. Straddling the half way line on the far side was the raised Victor Gladwish Stand complete with blue seats. The changing rooms and clubhouse were also alongside. The near touchline had a basic cover for standing spectators. The Queen Street home of their neighbouring club were behind the fence on this side. The rest of the ground consisted of open flat grass and pathways.

It seemed a basic, but quaint venue.












Since my visit

A small covered terrace and seated stand have been added along the near side to allow Horsham FC to use the ground in the Isthmian Premier League.






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