Horsham vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Friday 18th April – 3 pm
Good Friday sees Cray Wanderers play the first of a double header of Easter fixtures against teams vying for the Isthmian Premier Championship with a trip to Horsham, currently in 3rd place. Kick off at the Fusion Aviation Stadium, 3 pm.
The Wands come into the game in good form and the news confirmed that Tim O’Shea who has been Interim Manager since March will be first team manager next season have won three of the four matches in charge. Last Saturday Cray were in fine form to beat a very good Wingate & Finchley side, 4-1 at Flamingo Park.
Nyren Clunis with a rasping volley netted his twelfth goal of the season to put Cray in front and in doing so keep ahead of the race for the Wands Golden Boot. The visitors equalised but just on half time Cray restored the lead with a poacher’s header from Soul Kader.
Three minutes into the second half, Josh Williams also in good scoring form netted his eighth of the season with a composed finish to make it 3-1. The icing on the cake was a superb lofted shot from Kader in the 83rd minute for his ninth goal in eight starts keeping him in with a chance of claiming the top scorer prize.
The win helped again by a fine defensive performance and also a mature display in goal from U18s keeper Kevin Kardel the Wands penultimate home fixture was in the end a deserved victory and moved Cray onto 60 points in 10th place.
Cray’s last away game was a 2-0 win at Billericay Town which kept the title race wide open but there is no doubt Friday will be a tough fixture as Horsham have been one of the form sides in 2025 winning the last six in league and cup conceding just one goal in the process winning 14 out of 18 league matches.
Last Saturday, the Hornets were impressive 3-0 winners at Carshalton Athletic thereby ending any chance the Robins had of making the playoffs. First half goals from Lucas Rodrigues, Ola Ogunwamide and one after half time from Reece Myles-Meekums secured a comfortable win. This kept Horsham in 3rd on 78 points level with Billericay Town and separated by a goal difference of one. Dartford, who Cray meet on Easter Monday have a two point lead at the top but face Dover on Friday with Dover still having faint hopes of winning the title themselves back on 72 points. Billericay who have lost the last three at home face Folkestone Invicta also on Friday.
Horsham are also through to the final of the Sussex Senior Cup where they will face Littlehampton Town in the Final at the Amex on 8th May.
Manager Dominic di Paolo celebrates ten years in charge at Horsham ahead of the game having arrived towards the end of the 2014-15 season where the club had been relegated back to the Sussex County League. Promotion followed the following season and then in 2018-19 joined Cray Wanderers from the Isthmian South-East into the Isthmian Premier. The club since the return from Covid and settling in very nicely at their Hop Oast ground have been challenging for the playoffs at least and have reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup and on one occasion beyond three times in the last four seasons.
Horsham reached the playoffs last season in 5th place losing to Chatham Town on penalties in the Semi-Final and are at least assured of another crack at promotion to the National South for the first time.
The sides met at Flamingo Park on 7th September with the game finishing in a 0-0 draw. The corresponding fixture last season almost exactly a year ago ended in a 2-0 win for Horsham.
Horsham at home have been impressive and only Chatham Town and Wingate & Finchley have taken points off the Hornets in 2025. They have beaten Chichester City (2-1), Potters Bar Town (3-2), Whitehawk (5-0), Lewes (2-0), Bowers & Pitsea (5-0), Cheshunt (3-1), Bognor Regis Town (2-1), Carshalton Athletic (3-0), Billericay Town (1-0), Dulwich Hamlet (3-0), Hashtag United (1-0), Hendon (1-0) and Canvey Island (1-0). They drew with Chatham Town (1-1) and were beaten by Dover Athletic (1-3), Folkestone Invicta (0-1), Dartford (1-3) and Wingate & Finchley (1-2). Away from home Horsham won at Hashtag United (4-1), Wingate & Finchley (1-0), Canvey Island (0-1), Potters Bar Town (6-0), Dover Athletic (2-1), Hendon (4-0), Lewes (2-0), Whitehawk (2-1), Bowers & Pitsea (1-0), Cheshunt (2-1) and Carshalton Athletic (3-0). Horsham drew at Cray Wanderers and Chichester City and were beaten at Hastings United, Dulwich Hamlet, Cray Valley PM, Chatham Town, Billericay Town, Folkestone Invicta and Dartford. Ex Wand Chris Dickson is the leading scorer with 19 goals.
As well as a strong league season Horsham have excelled in cup competitions. They reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup once again after beating Virginia Water, Dorking Wanderers, Margate and Gorleston before losing 1-3 at League One Chesterfield. They also reached the 3rd Round of the FA Trophy beating Leiston, Canvey Island and Maidstone United before losing at Torquay United. Victories against Chichester City, Eastbourne Town and Brighton & Hove Albions helped the Hornets to next month’s Sussex Senior Cup Final v Littlehampton Town.
Horsham have two more matches to play at Bognor Regis Town on Monday and then at home to Hashtag United,
This promises to be a great day out in front of a very large crowd and with quite a lot excitement as well as tension in the air.
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DIRECTIONS TO HORSHAM FC
Fusion Aviation Stadium, Hop Oast, Worthing Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0AX
PLEASE NOTE AS THE GROUND IS EXPECTED TO BE VERY BUSY SUPPORTERS ARE ADVISED TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE BEFORE ARRIVAL.
ADMISSION PRICES
Adults – £14 (£13 online)
Seniors (over 60) – £9 (£8 online)
Under 16s – £3 (& Online)
Under 5s – FREE
Pay on the gate or purchase tickets online at https://horshamfc.ktckts.com/event/hor2425iplcrw/horsham-vs-cray-wanderers
Arriving by car
Where possible, supporters travelling by car should arrange to share with others.
The quickest route from St. Mary Cray: Take Court Road/Orpington by pass/A224 to M25 in Chelsfield. At Hewitts Roundabout take 2nd exit onto M25 heading to Sevenoaks/A21 for 0.8 miles. At roundabout take 2nd exit onto M25 slip road to M23/M3/M4/Gatwick/Heathrow/Hastings/Sevenoaks/A21. After 0.4 miles merge onto M25 for 3 miles.
At junction 5, use left two lanes to take M25 exit to M23/Gatwick/Heathrow/M4 for 0.8 miles. And continue onto M25 for 11.7 miles. At junction 7, use left 2 lanes to take M23 (S) exit to Brighton/Crawley/Gatwick for 1 mile then merge onto M23 for 13.2 miles. At junction 11, take the A264 exit to Horsham.
After 0.3 miles take at roundabout 3rd exit onto A264 then after 0.3 miles at Tollgate Hill roundabout take 2nd exit, staying on A264 for 1.4 miles. At roundabout take 1st exit onto Horsham Road/A264 and follow for 0.6 miles. Then at Kilnwood Vale roundabout take 2nd exit onto Crawley Road/A264 for 1.3 miles and then at Moorhead roundabout take 2nd exit onto A264 for 0.7 miles.
Then at Rusper Road Roundabout take 2nd exit and stay on A264 for 1.30 miles then at Great Daux roundabout take 1st exit on to A24 for 0.6 miles. Then at Robin Hood roundabout take 2nd exit and stay on A24 for 3 miles. Finally at Hop Oast roundabout take 1st exit onto Worthing Road/B2237. After 0.2 miles turn right and ground will be on the left.
Please note that parking in the Stadium Car Park will be limited on matchdays to Players, Match Officials, Home and Visiting Club Officials and Invited Guests. There are a small number of reserved spaces for drivers displaying Blue Parking Badges which are subject to availability and must be booked through the Club office in advance.
All supporters arriving by car will be directed to the Hop Oast Park & Ride, which is located opposite the access lane to the Stadium. The Post Code is RH13 0AR. It is five minutes’ walk to the Stadium and qualified marshals will be on hand to assist you across the main road. When big attendances are expected, information will be published on additional parking arrangements nearby with a free shuttle service to the Stadium.
There is strictly NO MATCHDAY PARKING in Worthing Road, Denne Park, Salisbury Road, Horsham Golf & Fitness or the access lane to the Stadium.
**Please note that, where big crowds are anticipated, supporters are requested to use the RSPCA car park from where there will be regular shuttle busses to the ground
By Rail
Horsham Railway Station is served by frequent trains from London, Gatwick, Crawley and the South Coast. There are up to five Metrobus services an hour to the Stadium from Bus Stop L (see information above).
Trains to Horsham go from London Victoria and on Good Friday there are three trains an hour at 02, 32 and 42 past the hour. Returns are at 20, 24, 50 and 54 past the hour but please note the 24 and 54 trains require a change at Gatwick Airport.
You can also get there from London Bridge but is much easier to go from Victoria as you will have to change at Three Bridges to get a connection to Horsham.
By Bus
The most convenient means of travel to the Stadium is by bus.
Metrobus run up to four services an hour on Route 98 to the Stadium from Roffey, Southwater and Horsham Railway and Bus Stations, with more extensive hourly services on Route 23 from Crawley and Worthing. Travel time from Horsham Bus Station is five minutes. Subject to demand, the Stadium will be served by double-decker vehicles on matchdays.
Supporters should ask the driver for “Golf Club for Horsham FC.”
Nearest pub: If you have time on your hands for our first trip on a Saturday to the new ground then The Bear, 17 Market Square RH12 1EU about half a mile from Horsham station looks to be the best rated but plenty of choices elsewhere.
The Bear – 17 Market Square, Horsham RH12 1EU
https://www.visithorsham.co.uk/business/the-bear
The Crown – Carfax, Horsham, RH12 1DW (Greene King
https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/west-sussex/crown
The Red Deer – 24D Carfax, RH12 1EE
Ye Olde Stout House – 29 Carfax, RH12 1EE (King & Barnes)
https://www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk/pub/ye-old-stout-house/
The Anchor – 3 Market Square, RH12 1EU (Greene King)
https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/west-sussex/anchor-hotel
The Anchor Tap – 16 East Street, RH12 1HL
https://camra.org.uk/pubs/anchor-tap-horsham-160358
The Rock – 38 East Street RH12 1HL
https://www.therockhorsham.com/
Sit & Sip – 15 Piries Place, RH12 1EH
https://www.sitandsip.co.uk/horsham/
A bit further away from the Station and High Street
The Lynd Cross (JD Wetherspoon) – St. John’s House, 1 Springfield Road, RH12 2PG
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/the-lynd-cross-horsham/
Horsham is a market town in West Sussex lying in the Weald between the North and South Downs. Any early visitors may wish to visit the Carfax which is an pedestrianised square which includes a war memorial, a bandstand and traditionally has a market on a Saturday.
