Horsham clubs live promotion dreams
SATURDAY, April 22, went down as one of the most glorious days in the town's football history when Horsham FC won promotion to the Ryman Premier League and Horsham YMCA clinched their second County League Division One title in a row.
John Maggs' Horsham sparked a huge promotion party with a dramatic 3-1 win away to Molesey, confirming at least second place in Ryman Division One, and John Suter's YMCA side romped to a 3-0 win at home to Wick when a point would have been enough to win the trophy.
Maggs, who can still guide Horsham to a double success if they lift the Sussex Senior Cup on Monday, described it as the 'most pleasing' day at the club while setting his sights towards Conference football.
And YM boss Suter is looking forward to taking the Gorings Mead team into the Ryman League.
Maggs said: "Certainly one of my greatest days as a manager at Horsham, it's the most pleasing day."
The Hornets season threatened to wobble at the end of February when they lost dismally to Cray Wanderers, but they have since gone on a ten game unbeaten run in the league to cement second spot.
"If you had said to me at the start of the season we would be in the Sussex Senior Cup final and gain promotion -well it's mind boggling, I'm thrilled.
It's the most successful day I've had at the club, and I've had a lot of highlights.
"I think we are going in the right direction.
"Personally, I'm 63 now and I'm still up for the job and full of enthusiasm. I think we have a good management team and I've got a job to do. I know it's pie in the sky but I'd like to see the club playing in the Conference. With the new stadium in the offing, I don't see why we can't.
"Congratulations to John Suter and YM. We will now need to avoid a clash of fixtures, I always feel the fans will turn out for the parent club, if we can be successful we will dominate the crowds."
The Hornets could claim a league and cup double this weekend.
They face Conference South side Lewes at Eastbourne on Monday in the Sussex Senior Cup final.
Maggs said: "We are expecting a really hard game, Lewes have had some disappointments recently and will be really fired up.
"We are going to be very positive about it, but we are almost at full fitness and somebody will have to miss out."
YM could be playing Ryman League football next season if they apply to join the league, as their ground has been given the thumbs up by FA officials.
Manager John Suter commented: "We've won the league two years on the trot so it's the right time to give it go.
"From 12 points behind to nine in front - that's a massive points turn around. Thirteen out of 16 managers said Ringmer were going to win the league, this was only about a month or six weeks ago.
"Without a doubt - winning the league this year was a bigger achievement. Back to back and coming from 12 points behind. We've turned around 21 points by being hard nosed about it, by playing with ruthless efficiency. It’s been terrific.
"I just think that the players have shown such mental strength, allied to the p strength. They put their down and got on will' added.
Like true champions YM have finished the season in style, winning ten and drawing three of their last 13 league games, which have included tricky away trips.
Suter is confident his side liuvu ilu- iilnlity ID do well in the Ryman League.
"The predominance of the team is good enough for the Ryman League. There are a lot of players that can, and have, played at that level of football but we will still need to strengthen. I'm 99.9 per cent sure we will be in the Ryman South next season, we should be," he remarked.
The YM boss believes that this championship winning side is better than last season's and was delighted with his new signings, two in particular - Matt Russell and assistant manager Tommy Sampson, a winner of the FA Vase as boss of Deal Town.
"Matt Russell has been a great signing, 25 goals in 25 games, he has been absolutely brilliant. Tommy Sampson was the first signing and he has been invaluable.
"Woody [Glen Woodburn], Ellis [Hooper] coming back, Kris Trevor, Dave Gellatly -they've all fitted in and done really well," said Suter.
"Signing Matt Russell was a pivotal moment, we were struggling for a forward but he did get injured for a bit. Hailsham away was quite important, scoring a goal in the 93rd minute.
"Tommy Sampson has beer pivotal. He has added mental strength to us.
"First game of the season against Crawley I went into it thinking damage limitation. He believed we could beat Crawley and I believe that that rubs off on other people. I learnt something that day.
"He has made us more organised. We've scored a lot of goals from corners and that is down to him."