The 2006/7 season will be looked back upon with immense pride for the coaches and management of Horsham Youth Football. Entering teams at three age groups, into four different divisions, the Club was able to celebrate no less than three championship titles, a third place, three cup finals and, perhaps most notably of all, the appearance of several members of the under 18 squad in John Maggs' first team.

The Youth programme is recognised as an essential part of the fabric of Horsham Football Club and, as the proud recipients of the Charter Standard Club award,  we are able to offer parents the assurance that the Club adheres to the best practice guide that sets standards of coaching, administration and child protection, with the aim of improving the playing experience for everyone concerned.

We are keen to build on last season's successes and will be fielding sides at four different age groups for the 2007/8 season; under 12s, under 14s, under 16s and under 18s. If you are interested in playing for the Club, please contact Annie Raby on 01403 732706

HORSHAM YOUTH FOOTBALL NEWS

George Magnus scored from the penalty spot as the Under 18s earned an excellent point from a 1-1 draw at 3rd placed Croydon Athletic tonight in the Ryman Youth League.

Horsham's under 12s conspired to throw away a seemingly unassailable lead twice inside 3 days at the weekend. Sunday saw the junior Hornets take on Sompting Youth and stormed in to a 3-0 lead before half-time. Zak Comber netted his 34th and 35th goals of the season while Stanley Rice scored for the 5th successive game only for Horsham to fall away badly after the break, conceding 3 goals themselves to take just a point from a 3-3 draw. Two days later, the youngsters hosted 4th placed Rustington Otters, this time establishing a 2 goal cushion by the interval thanks to Comber again. Although the lead flattered the home side, Rice made it 3-0 in the second half before Rustington hit back to make it 3-3. Horsham's supporters will be hoping their side don't make it an unwelcome hat-trick in Sunday's Challenge Cup final.

Tony Nwachukwu hit a hat-trick as the Under 18s overwhelmed neighbours Horsham YMCA with a stunning 7-0 victory at the Atspeed Stadium last night. Michael Dale gave the Hornets the perfect start after just 5 minutes and, when George Magnus made it 2-0 just 5 minutes later, it looked like a case of damage limitation for the Ryman Youth League's basement side. Nwachukwu grabbed the first of his treble 6 mins from the break, adding 2 more in the second half with Pat Surlis and Matt Whiteford chipping in with a goal apiece to record the Hornets' biggest win of the season.

The Under 14s face Lindfield Juniors this Sunday with dreams of Cup glory on their minds. Matt Bulley's side has a 100% record in all competitions this season and could clinch the first of a fabulous treble when they take on the Haywards Heath based side at East Grinstead F.C (ko 1030am). Lindfield defeated last year's U13s winners, Adur Athletic, in the semi-final and it promises to be an entertaining final with Lindfield currently 2nd in the Premier Mid Sussex Youth & Minor Football League with just one defeat from their 11 league games to date and averaging almost 8 goals per game. The Hornets began their cup campaign with a walkover against Maidenbower Colts before going on to score 32 goals in their remaining 5 ties, including an amazing 16-0 win against ASC Strikers. Anyone wishing to go along and support the lads can find directions to the ground here

The Under 12s travelled to Chichester this evening and returned with a 1-0 win that moved them up to 8th place in the Arun & Chichester League table. The in-form Stanley Rice scored the only goal of the game in the second half, his 8th in 4 games, after a closely fought first half had ended goalless. Chichester were strong opponents and Horsham were indebted to goalkeeper Lewis Blaney for pulling off some fine saves to ensure that they went home with won the points.

Wednesday night's Ryman Youth League match at Tonbridge Angels has been postponed. The U18s' next match sees them take on neighbours Horsham YMCA on Thursday evening. Kick off at the Atspeed Stadium is 7.4554pm, admission is £2 adults and £ 1 concessions.

Horsham's under 14s continue to head the Arun & Chichester League after a resounding 6-0 win against visiting Felpham on Easter Sunday. Matt Bulley's side require just 7 more points from 4 games to secure the league title after goals from Dan Petchey, Josh Clack (2), George Hall, Louis Masih and Marcus Collier kept up their 100% record. Full report...

Stanley Rice hit four goals as Horsham's under 12s stunned league leaders Lancing Rangers with an 8-2 thrashing. The win was even more remarkable as the young Hornets were playing their 2nd game in 24 hours, having taken on Worthing United on Saturday. Lancing had recorded a 4-0 success against Horsham back in February but memories of that game were quickly erased as the Hornets raced in to an early 2-0 lead thanks to Rice and Zak Comber. Goalkeeper Lewis Blaney pulled off a great save to keep out a Lancing penalty but the leaders managed to half the deficit only for Comber to restore the 2 goal lead before the interval. Lancing threatened a fightback when they made it 3-2 early in the 2nd half but an own goal, 3 more from Rice, and a first ever goal for Horsham by Ben Meadows, gave Horsham their biggest league win of the season. Saturday's match at Worthing was a different story where several good saves from Blaney couldn't prevent a 6-2 defeat. Rice scored both of Horsham's goals.

Tonight's U18s' Ryman Youth League fixture at Worthing has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch

The U18s' Ryman Youth League fixture at Worthing has been put back 24 hours and will now take place at Woodside Road on Friday 14th March, kick-off 7.30pm.

Tonight's Ryman Youth League game against Burgess Hill Town has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch

It was a winning weekend for the club's youth sides who each returned fine performances with the U12s taking pride of place by reaching the Challenge Cup final. Stanley Rice opened the scoring inside the first minute of their semi-final tie with Regis 2000 'B' and Tom Barnes added a second to set up a cup final showdown with Sompting & Thistle Youth next month. Josh Clack and Dan Petchey scored for the 3rd match running as the U14s warmed up for next week's Challenge Cup semi-final against Rustington Otters with a 2-0 success against Felpham Colts (click HERE for report) while the U16s moved in to 3rd place in the Arun & Chichester League table with a 3-1 defeat of Chichester City United.

The Under 18s bounced back from Monday night's defeat against Carshalton to claim an excellent win at 6th placed Tooting & Mitcham United tonight. Pat Surlis and Tony Nwachukwu scored the goals that move the Hornets up a place to 11th in the Ryman Youth League table. Full report...

Horsham Under 18s hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon were dashed when fellow strugglers Carshalton Athletic secured a 2-0 victory at Queen Street this evening. The defeat leaves the Hornets in 12th place, just one above basement side Horsham YMCA. Full report...

George Hole had a mixed afternoon for the Under 12s when he was taken to hospital with chest pains after collapsing during the young Hornets' match against Regis 2000 'B'. The youngster had earlier celebrated giving his side the lead in a topsy-turvy in which Zak Comber's brace had given Horsham a 2-0 lead only for the Arun & Chichester League strugglers to fight back and level the scores in the second half. George's collapse forced the referee into blowing for full time a few minutes early but we are delighted to say that George was released from Chichester hospital later that afternoon. Elsewhere, a hat-trick from Patrick O'Sullivan put the Under 16s on their way to an excellent 5-1 win against previously unbeaten Bognor Regis Town Colts Youth to maintain their own 100% league record. Full report...

The Under 14s made it 10 out of 10 in the league as they hammered rivals Fishersgate Flyers 5-0 to go 7 points clear at the top of the Arun & Chichester League. The hosts were only able to field 10 players and Horsham took full advantage with Dan Petchey's overhead kick giving Horsham the early lead. Josh Clack grabbed the first of his treble on the stroke of half-time before completing his second hat-trick of the season in the second half. David O'Callaghan completed the scoring with a late goal. Full report...

Horsham claimed local bragging rights thanks to a 2-1 win against neighbours Horsham YMCA on Thursday night. A defensive mistake gifted YM an early lead but the Hornets hit back to equalise through Pat Surlis before Ben Bissett, a local lad on work experience from Gillingham, bagged the winner in front of an excellent crowd of 132. The win sees Ivan Raby's team climb a place to 11th in the Ryman Youth League.

The Under 18s still have 18 games to play before the end of the season. The lads have struggled to find some consistency this season through frequent postponements due to weather and having played over 32 lads in the squad so far so let's hope the lads have a good run in to the end of season. Most weeks they will be playing twice a week. When at Queen Street please come & support £2.00 adult £1.00.

The Under 16s have also seen their campaign hit by the weather & have only played 7 league games so far and will also be playing catch up. They have reached the final of the Challenge Cup and are still in the with a good chance of winning the league.

Bad weather has meant that the Under 14s have only played under half of their league fixtures but are still unbeaten and, like their older counterparts, have booked themselves a cup final date next month and have also reached the semi-final of the Challenge Cup.

The Under 12s have played some great football in their first season and have reached the semi-finals of both the County Cup and Challenge Cup and will be up the top end of the table at the end of the season.

Brighton Charity Cup
Four U18 squad members were called up to play for the 1st team fixture against Southwick last Wednesday. Tom May and George Magnus played centre back while Pat Surlis and Matt Whiteford played on the wings. All the lads played well under the watchful eye of John Maggs, 1st team Manager.

Sussex Reps
Alexander Green and Adam Hutchings from our U16s have been involved in the last two Sussex Reps games. Well done to them both.

Last game at Queen Street April 19th 2008
All youth players will be invited to join in the celebrations and be involved in the history books and your managers will be talking to you nearer the time. All the lads will come into the ground for free but parents will have to pay normal admission prices for this game.

Howie Sport Relief Mile
Club mascot Howie the Hornet will be running in the Sport Relief Mile for Charity and we ask that you all please go and support him or, if there is anyone who wants to run the Mile let me know. Howie will be running in Horsham Park 16th March 2008 11.30 am. If you would like to pledge some money please visit the home page of this website.

Parents and Supporters
Thank you all for your efforts so far this season. I know we still have plenty of games to get played so if you can help your age group with lifts, or maybe washing a kit now & then, it all helps. Thank you to ALL the supporters who come through the gates on a midweek fixture for the U18s in the Ryman Youth League. We really value your support. We have the best attendances in the League long may that continue.
                                                                                                                     Annie Raby, Youth Secretary

Ali Green bagged a hat-trick as the Under 16s secured an excellent 5-2 win at Regis 2000 to book a Challenge Cup Final date with Bognor Regis Town Youth. Full report....

A fine goal from Dan Petchey gave Horsham the perfect start in their County Cup semi-final against Eastbourne Borough today. Substitute Josh Clack added a second only for Eastbourne to reduce the arrears before the break but George Hall completed the scoring for Matt Bulley's side who now look forward to a cup final date with Lindfield Juniors on Sunday 30th March. Full report...

There will be no County Cup Final for Horsham's Under 12s after they were knocked out of the semi-final by Hastings Town Minors at the Holbrook this afternoon. After a goalless first half it was the visitors who broke the deadlock and then converted a debatable penalty that left the young Hornets with a mountain to climb. Hastings added a  third goal to kill off the game and Horsham's cup final dreams.

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2006/7 season review

2006/7 RECORDS