Horsham F.C.
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| Full name | Horsham Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Hornets | ||
| Founded | 1871 | ||
| Ground | Gorings Mead, Horsham (Capacity: 1,500) |
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| Chairman | Kevin Borrett | ||
| Manager | Hugo Langton | ||
| League | Isthmian League Premier Division | ||
| 2010–11 | Isthmian League Premier Division, 17th | ||
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Horsham F.C. are a non-League football club based in Horsham, West Sussex, England, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division.[1]
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[edit] 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, winning the 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.
Then in 1973, they joined the Isthmian League when it expanded to two divisions, and remain in this league to this day. 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 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. However, Luchford left the role in late October 2011 and was replaced by assistant Hugo Langton[2].
[edit] 2007 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 then beat Bury Town 3-2. Horsham beat AFC Wimbledon 5-4 on penalties in a 3rd qualifying round replay before they beat Chippenham Town away 3-2 to secure their place in the First round proper for only the third time in their history. Horsham drew Maidenhead United of the Conference South at home. In front of a record 3,379 Horsham won 4-1 with goals from Nigel Brake, Lee Carney (2) and Lee Farrell. Horsham then drew Swansea City in the 2nd Round. Nigel Brake's long-range goal was nominated in Match of the Day's goal of the month competition.
On 30 November 2007, Horsham held the then League One leaders Swansea City to a home 1-1 draw. An 85th-minute penalty from Lewis Taylor cancelled out Guillem Bauzà's 41st-minute goal.[3] Their replay at Swansea was played on 10 December 2007. Lee Farrell scored twice to put Horsham 2-1 ahead but they eventually lost 6-2. Both matches against Swansea were shown live on Sky Sports, the first time in the club's history that a match was televised live.[4]
[edit] Ground
The club have recently sold their ground at Queen Street, which had been their home since 1904, to property developers. 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.[5] 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.[6] 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',[7] which would make planning permission for the ground more likely.
[edit] Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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[edit] Notable former players
- Gary Charman
- Darren Freeman
- Jamie Ndah
- Mick Browning
- Jamie Taylor
- Russell Gunn
- Jean-Michel Sigere
[edit] Club records
- Best league performance: 8th in Isthmian Premier League, 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
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- Hidden Horsham - with pictures of the day Swansea played Horsham
- Horsham at the Football Club History Database
