August | 2015 | Carry on up the Combi

A special welcome to The Nomad

Horsham YMCA vs St Francis Rangers
Gorings Mead
SCFL Premier Division
August 7

Is there a better day in the calendar?

It’s like Christmas. Only without the stress, the relatives and a three hundred pound bill for food. Well, unless you prefer to spend the afternoon at the Emirates.

Yes, it’s the first day of the football season.

Gorings Mead as seen from the stand

A time for hope. A time for clubs and fans to put all the heartache of last season behind them. A time to be positive and look to the future. A time for new kits, fresh paint and very old lawnmowers.

And for The Nomad, it was extra special – as it was the start of a new journey – a quest to visit every ground of every team in the newly-formed Southern Combination Football League.

Formerly the Sussex County Football League, this is a new era for the SCFL. The hope is that it’s rebrand will attract clubs from outside its home county with the Surrey and Kent the likely recruiting grounds.

But wanting to stick to tradition, where better than to kick off the new season that at the heart of the area which used to give its name to the league – Horsham.

The teams line up – no Wenger/Mourinho hysterics when it came to handshakes thankfully….

According to the signs on the way in, it’s a historic market town – where isn’t? And despite being a few miles from Gatwick, the area has remained pretty much unspoiled by the sprawling associated industry. The only sign of a booming economy were all the new homes being out up on the side of the A24, promising affordable family homes for just £450,000.

Plus, it also boasts two football teams – Horsham and Horsham YMCA. They used to play next to each other. But as the more simply named side sold its ground – for yet more “affordable” housing – their search for a new home has been delayed. And so, a ground share is in operation at the wonderfully named Goring Meads, home to the YMCA since the late 1920s.

The club shop for YM’s town rivals Horsham

Tucked away down a narrow residential road, if it hadn’t been for my local guide I probably would have driven straight past. Instead, I arrived at the turnstile and without leaving the comfort of my car, paid the six quid entry fee to a cheery soul on the gate and rolled along the freshly laid Tarmac to take my pick of parking spaces.

And so the season began with an excellent pint of ale in the somewhat dated clubhouse watching the final minutes of the Premier League match on the telebox. Munching on the free crisps on the bar, those behind it were very cheery. “We can hold 3,000 round here but if we get between 60 to 80 then that would be a decent crowd”, said the bar keeper. She wasn’t disappointed.

This is what they all want at the end of the season

The real football started bang on 3pm. Finding a seat in the stand, the pitch looked immaculate and the sun brightly shining as YM, dressed in their white shirts, black shorts and red socks, came out on to the pitch. It was too much for some – with one group of supporters breaking into the Village People. And this was before the match kicked off. On the other side, perhaps taking the home side’s suffix too literally, the opponents – St Francis Rangers – fielded a side full of young lads.

The opening few minutes was tight with the home side dictating play with some sharp passing. YM showed their quality when after a soft foul 25 yards out, midfielder Luke Gedling stepped up and curled an exquisite fee kick up and over the wall to the right of the keeper.

That was after nine minutes.

Collector’s item: a rare St Francis corner

And the visiting manager Dave Shearing lost it, effing and jeffing at his young side much to the disappoint of those in the stand. Seemingly keen on explaining himself to the baying masses, he rhetorically asked if we’d be happy after letting a goal in. “There were four in the wall!”, he carried on. “There were five”, came the response… “and one in the goal….”.

By the time he turned back, his side had let another one in.

And so it continued throughout the first half, with YM showing their class in passing and moving in a very fluid 4-2-3-1 system, while the only thing fluid with the visitors was the tirade of abuse coming out of their manager’s mouth. Half time came and the score had reached 5-0.

Celebration: this was afterHorsham YMCA’s third…or was it their fourth…

Following the short interval, YM took their foot off the pedal. But there was still time for new signing Sam Schaaf to complete his hat trick while left winger Dave Brown gave his opponent more twists than seen at a 60s disco.

To give the visitors credit, second half they did show some promise. And while they kept running to the end, they just lacked the incisiveness and maturity to grab a goal that would have sweetened the post-match orange juice.

Forward pressure from YM

At one point towards the end of the match, after pushing too many people forward and faced with a counter of three vs two, the St Francis centre half shouted hysterically “where are you all?” The cry, perhaps, came 90 minutes too late.

The final whistle came – and after checking with an official, the score of 7-0 was confirmed. The only thing missing was a celebration dance. In unison. While doing silly actions. But then you can’t have it all, even on the most special day of the year.

Gorings Mead in all it’s glory

THE ESSENTIALS

Horsham YMCA
Goring’s Mead,
Brighton Road,
Horsham,
West Sussex
RH13 5BP

http://www.horshamymcafc.com
@horshamymcafc

Getting there and away
Car: Turn off the A23 off onto the A272 at Bolney. Continue on the A272 to Cowfold then follow the A281 to Horsham.
On entering the outskirts of the town, follow the A281 (Brighton Road) a short distance and Gorings Mead is a turning on the left. The entrance to the ground is at the bottom of Gorings Mead.
Nearest railway station: Horsham (15 mins walk).

Programme
Cost £1 for 32 pages. Well laid out and not too advert heavy. Nice features on pre-season and the work gone in to sorting out the pitch for the new season. Also three page interview with the home manager made for an interesting read.

Food and drink
Excellent pint of locally brewed Hepworth. Combined with a pint of Carlsberg this came to less than £7. Less than impressed with the food which although reasonably priced at £1 50 for a hot dog,, it sounded better than it looked. Bacon roll for £2 would have been a wiser choice. Tea was £1 – not that it was needed on such a hot day.

Does exactly what it says on the tin…

Clubhouse
A bit dated but plenty of space. BT Sport on the TV. Nice display of cabinet of trophies and second hand book stall was nice addition. Basic but functional

Toilets
Tried out two lots. Both were basic and a bit smelly although the one in the clubhouse did have soap, perhaps as a token gesture.

MATCH FACTS

Horsham YMCA 7
Gedling 9; Schaaf 25, 55, 63; Brown 34; D Sullivan 35; Wright 39

St Francis Rangers 0

Attendance – 74

The teams

Horsham YMCA
1. Simon Lockwood
2. Dean Carden
3. Dan Evans
4. Alex Gathern
5. Ashley Dugdale (captain)
6. Anthony Hibbert
7. Dan Sullivan
8. Sam Schaaf
9. Dean Wright
10. Luke Gedling
11. Dave Brown
Subs
12. Nick Sullivan
14. Liam Hunter
15. Matt Crane
16. Mark Fox

Thirsty work: home and away players seek the shade after a hard day at the office

St Francis Rangers
1. Mateusz Slafranski
2. Ollie Goodchild
3. Kieron Wiles
4. Matt Godley (captain)
5. Charlie Thorpe
6. Diego Henriques
7. Conor Carolan
8. Chris Haskill
9. Jeff Mahadoo
10. Leiton Rodgers
11. Alex Pollard
Subs
12. Michael Arnoux
14. Ben Haskill
15. Conor Fernside
16. Joao Da Silva

Scouting report

Horsham YMCA build another attack from the back

In his programme notes, YM manager Dave Buckland claimed the SPFL will be the toughest step five league in the country. But with a frontline of Schaaf, Wright and Sullivan, he should have the ammunition for a promotion push. Schaaf is a clever footballer who pushes forward at every moment. But while he took home the match ball, it was Dan Brown on the left flank he impressed the most. He’s quicker than he looks, with great crossing ability.

For the visitors, no one really shone. But great credit must go to them for sticking to it and giving their all in what was a demoralising defeat. Even though he was given a torrid time by Brown, right back Ollie Goodchild showed great tenacity and a will to win. Moving forward, a few older heads have to be brought in. Otherwise St Francis might be looking at a relegation scrap.

Carry on up the Combi

A football nomad's non-league journey

Month: August 2015

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