Our scheduled trip to Ashford Town (Mx) next Tuesday has been postponed due to the Tangerines' involvement in the Middlesex Senior Cup. This is the second time that this fixture has had to be rescheduled, the first due to our own cup exploits, and news of the rearranged date will be displayed on this website as soon as it is known. To fill the gap in our already overburdened fixture calendar, Billericay Town have agreed to bring forward the date of our planned visit in March to replace the trip to Ashford so this match will now kick-off at the New Lodge on Tuesday 5th February at 7.45pm. All of our remaining fixtures can be seen here

Chamal Fenelon's second goal in as many games rescued a point for Horsham from an ill-tempered affair that saw both sides reduced to 10 men. The Hornets lost Nigel Brake and Lee Carney to injury inside the opening 18 minutes and they laboured against Ramsgate's direct style. The first half was almost devoid of any goalmouth action with the closest to a goal coming from Tom Graves' misdirected backpass that beat Paul Seuke in goal before drifting past the post. Rams' skipper Dean Hill was dismissed on the half-time whistle for an off the ball incident involving Lee Farrell but the visitors were given the boost of a penalty, just 3 minutes after the break, and Lee Minshull converted from the spot. Substitute Matt Geard, booked for an earlier altercation with the fiery Damien Abel, evened up the player count with a second yellow after 54 minutes but, 5 minutes later, a neat turn and shot from Fenelon levelled the scores and the game became more open. But, despite creating a number of decent chances, the home side couldn't find another goal and former Hornet Steffan Ball could have won the game for the visitors but flashed a volley over the top in injury time. Full report and goals...

The Ryman League reports that East Thurrock United have been fined and deducted a point after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player, Michael Hart, during December's home match with Harrow Borough. The Club reported the misdemeanour to the League immediately after the 0-0 draw and were subsequently charged with a breach of League Rules.

Horsham moved to within two points of the play-off places with a convincing victory against 6th placed AFC Hornchurch this afternoon. Architect in the Urchins' downfall was Chamal Fenelon who gave supporters an indication of his talent by creating the opening goal, a rare headed effort by Lewis Taylor after 3 minutes, and adding the crucial 3rd fifteen minutes from time after the visitors had threatened to force a draw. Dean Green's far post header halved the deficit on the stroke of half time, after Lee Farrell's first league goal since August looked to have set up a comfortable win for the Hornets, but the Essex side were unable to find another breakthrough and Fenelon's late strike secured a deserved win for John Maggs' side in front of their highest league crowd of the season. Click here for full report and goals

Horsham's postponed Ryman League Premier Division fixture with Staines Town will now take place at Wheatsheaf Park on Tuesday, 18th March (ko 7.45pm) 

Paul Booth's 28th goal of the season settled this Sussex Senior Cup quarter-final tie in Lewes' favour after Horsham had matched their higher ranked opponents for much of the game. The visitors, defending a 13 match unbeaten run against  the Hornets, took the lead on 29 minutes when a misplaced pass from Stuart Myall was laid off to Dale Binns to easily shrug off Kevin Hemsley's challenge and knock the ball past Paul Seuke but John Maggs' side fought back and deserved their 69th minute equaliser from Jacob Mingle who converted Simon Austin's flick. Booth immediately entered the fray as a substitute for recent Horsham loanee, Jean-Michel Sigere, and within 5 minutes he bagged the winner, sweeping home a knock down from Gary Holloway. Lewes survived an almighty scare when Lee Farrell's header was cleared off the line in the final seconds but it is the Blue Square Conference South side who go on to join Eastbourne Borough  and Crawley Town in the semi-finals. Brighton & Hove Albion face Three Bridges in the outstanding quarter-final tie next Wednesday. Full report and goals...

The players and officials were given a civic reception by Horsham District Council on Thursday night in honour of this season's history-making FA Cup run. The Hornets had never previously been beyond the 1st round proper of the World famous competition and exceeded expectations by reaching the 2nd round where they took League One leaders Swansea City to a replay before bowing out on a memorable night in South-West Wales. A global audience of several million saw John Maggs' side put in an impressive display in both matches and Chairman of Horsham District Council, Cllr Roger Paterson, was full of praise for the club whose efforts had been good for the town, he said. In response, Hornets' Chairman Frank King said that Horsham Football Club are an important part of the town and the community and that he was justifiably proud of the club's magnificent achievements. "When John Maggs took over as manager, he said that Horsham is a sleeping giant," King recalled. "Well now he has awoken the giant." King admitted his sadness that the club were forced to move from Queen Street at the end of the season, admitting that the ground's Victorian style was no longer able to support a successful football club, and called upon the support of HDC in their planning application for the Holbrook site.

Ian Payne's recent return to action brought to an end 14 months of frustration as he battled to overcome the shocking injury he suffered at Boreham Wood in the early part of last season. The former Crawley Town defender broke his leg in four places, leaving him in plaster for three months, and forcing him out of Horsham's excellent debut season in the Ryman Premier Division. During this frustrating period of rehabilitation, Payney was able to use the time to establish a growing business venture with his brother, specialising in tickets and hospitality for sporting events overseas. Proudly claiming to be able to provide tickets for any event, Premier Sports Travel can also put together travel and accommodation packages alongside the tickets through the ATOL bonded travel agency owned by Ian's brother. Although the new company specialises in overseas sporting events, they can also arrange ticket and hospitality events in the UK as well as weekend theatre breaks and concerts. Football, cricket, boxing, Formula 1, rugby, horse racing and golf are all catered for and full details can be found via their website at www.premiersportstravel.co.uk.
Some of the trips on offer include:
• Barcelona and Real Madrid matches including travel and accommodation from £235pp
• Various Ryder Cup Golf 2008 packages (see www.rcg2008.premiersportstravel.co.uk )
• Formula 1 Grand Prix for next season at all venues
• RBS Six Nations Rugby for next year

Today's Ryman League Premier Division meeting between Staines and Horsham has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. An early morning inspection of the Wheatsheaf Park playing surface declared it unfit for play to leave the Hornets frustrated once again following Tuesday's similar outcome at Harlow. Horsham will be hoping for better luck when they face Lewes in the Sussex Senior Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night.

John Maggs has turned to a familiar face as he looks to fill the void left by Jean-Michel Sigere's return to Lewes by taking Chamal Fenelon on loan until the end of the season. The big striker has seen first team opportunities limited after leaving Horsham for FA cup heroes Havant & Waterlooville and is looking forward to joining up again with his former team-mates this weekend. Fenelon missed the opening months of the season through a lengthy suspension and made just 4 starts before his move to the Hawks. Maggs has made no secret of his desire to play with a big man up front and Fenelon's arrival will give further opportunity for the manager to continue his search for a permanent replacement for Carl Rook. The former Pease Pottage Village man will finalise his switch on Saturday morning and will be eligible for the trip to Staines Town.

Lee Carney and Jacob Mingle have committed themselves to the club until May 2009 after signing extended contracts this week. Carney put pen to paper during Saturday's win against East Thurrock, a match he was forced to miss through suspension, while Mingle added his signature at an impromptu training session on Tuesday evening following the postponement of the Ryman League fixture at Harlow Town. John Maggs hopes to have agreed terms with at least one more player by the weekend as he continues to plan for the 2008/9 season.

Havant & Waterlooville earned themselves a dream trip to Liverpool after knocking out Swansea City in a pulsating FA Cup 3rd round replay tonight. A packed Westleigh Park was stunned as the Blue Square South side roared in to a three goal lead inside 37 minutes but the League One leaders, who had ended Horsham's historic FA Cup run in the previous round, hit back through Guillem Bauza. Hawks' goalkeeper Kevin Scriven saved a penalty from Leon Britton, minutes before the interval, but Jason Scotland's 48th minute goal gave the Welshmen hopes of a thrilling comeback only for Tom Jordan to seal an incredible 4-2 victory for the non-leaguers with a glancing header. Swansea, prompted by the excellent Darren Pratley, continued to press and were twice denied by the woodwork but it was not to be and it is the Hampshire club who who will experience the famous Anfield roar in 10 days time.

Tonight's Ryman League Premier Division meeting between Harlow Town and Horsham has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and will now take place on Tuesday 4th March.

An injury to Lee Farrell took the gloss off of a Horsham victory that was less one-sided than the scoreline might suggest. Farrell was stretchered off after being caught by a late challenge that left him sporting stud marks above the knee but it was his former Lewes strike partner, Jean-Michel Sigere, who stole the headlines with 2 goals that showed the fans just why John Maggs had been so keen to take him on a month's loan. His first, a volley after some neat chest control, came after just 6 minutes' play but it failed to produce the anticipated goal glut against the struggling visitors who forced Paul Seuke in to a series of impressive saves. Gary Charman eased the anxieties with a flashing header past Shane Gore, a minute after the restart, and Sigere produced a clinical finish from Stuart Myall's quickly taken free-kick to keep the Hornets in touch with their promotion chasing rivals. Full report...

John Maggs has this morning confirmed the appointment of Alan Kenworthy as his assistant in the wake of Tommy Warrilow's departure to Tonbridge Angels.
The 38 year old has spent the past 4 years on the coaching staff at Brighton & Hove Albion where, for the last 2 years, he has assisted Dean Wilkins with the first team. Alan specialises in psychology but is a fully qualified coach and has previously spent time abroad, including a spell in the USA with Dallas.
"There were 2 or 3 in the frame," reveals Maggs, "and Alan came in at the last moment but I've met him 2 or 3 times this week and done my homework on him and am delighted that he's joining us. The psychology side is new to us as a club and I hope it will be a huge benefit but he'll also take a bag of balls out on to the pitch and do some coaching with the lads."

Simon Austin's 10th goal of the season salvaged a point for Horsham from a physical encounter at Chestnut Avenue this afternoon. Austin's strike, his third against the Stones this season, came on the stroke of half-time to equalise after Lee O'Leary had given the hosts a 5th minute lead from the penalty spot. Wealdstone's leading scorer Peter Dean hit the post, Gary Charman had a second half 'goal' disallowed for offside and the Hornets had two strong penalty appeals turned down late on but both sides had to be content with a point from their opening fixture of the New Year. Horsham remain in 9th place in the Ryman Premier Division. Full report...

Horsham's eagerly anticipated Sussex Senior Cup quarter-final tie with Lewes will be staged on Tuesday, 22nd January. Kick-off at the Atspeed Stadium will be 7.45pm

Hornets boss John Maggs has responded to rumours concerning the appearance of former player Mark Hawthorne at recent home games. Horsham's player of the year in 2005/6, the midfielder has been a regular visitor to the ground, prompting fans to suggest that he may be about to rejoin the club he left in the Summer of 2006. "Mark's been out for over a year with a nasty injury," explains Maggs, "so he rang me to ask if he could do some training with us to try and get himself fit again. He lives local so I told him that he might be able to help us out with some coaching but, to be honest, he's not that keen on the coaching side so we're happy to try and help him along. No manager is going to take a chance on a player who's been out of the game for a year but if he can get back to full fitness then I've got to take a look at him as he was excellent for us when we won promotion. There's a long way to go for him at the moment, though, so we'll have to see what progress he makes." Maggs also confirmed that he hopes to make an addition to the coaching team by the end of next week and he has not ruled out making a further loan signing while he continues to consider permanent replacements for the departed John Westcott and Carl Rook.

Player loyalty may be a thing of the past in these days of signing-on fees and lucrative wages but Gary Charman proved that traditional values are still alive and well after making his 400th appearance for the Hornets in Saturday's Ryman League meeting with Margate. It was fitting that Queen Street's biggest league gate of the season was assembled as the player who had worked his way through the youth ranks of his home town club to become a terrace favourite was presented with a silver salver for his achievements by Chairman Frank King. Gary made his debut as a substitute in the 7-0 rout of Wokingham Town in October 1998, ironically the same year that the legendary Mark Stepney's Horsham career came to an end after 619 games, and marked his next appearance as sub with his first club goal in the Floodlight Cup win against Sidlesham. During the course of the next six seasons he went on to cut an exciting figure on the left flank, creating dozens of goals as well as weighing in with his own fair share and was the club's leading goalscorer in the 2002/3 campaign. Gary developed a reputation for scoring crucial goals in the FA Cup, 12 so far, including memorable strikes against Abingdon United, Hungerford Town, Team Bath and Yeovil Town and brought up the 100 goals mark in only his 301st appearance. A spell with Walton & Hersham was ended through injury after a few months of the 2005/6 season but he made an immediate impact on his return to Horsham, bagging both goals in a 2-0 win against Banstead. He remains one of Horsham's most exciting players and has been a major factor in their recent successes. In classic non-league style his parents, Roger and Jeannie, can be found helping out at every home game as well as lending their support at most away grounds and, to all of them, we say CONGRATULATIONS and here's to 500 !