Isthmian League

Premier Division

Tuesday 22nd October 2019

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.48

Horsham 1 Cray Wanderers 1, attendance 481 (official)

35’ 1-0

37’ 1-1

@ Hop Oast

Worthing Road

Horsham

RH13 0AX

£11 Admission

Programme available, but didn’t bother (Not when charged £11 to get in)

I had visited Horsham’s old Queen Street ground on 14th February 2004, where they beat Hampton & Richmond Borough 3-1 in an Isthmian League Division 1 South match, in front of 246 spectators. Having lost the use of the ground before their new home was built, they ended up in a ground share at Horsham Y.M.C.A. and I saw them draw 1-1 there, versus Maidstone United, again in an Isthmian League Division 1 South match, on 8th January 2013, but with a larger crowd of 275 in attendance.

This season they have moved into their new Hop Oast ground, which for the sake of sponsorship money, is currently known as The Camping World Community Stadium. The car park is too small to allow spectator use, but luckily the Horsham Park and Ride site is more or less opposite the ground, so no problem coping with the large crowds they are attracting. There is the very busy B2237 Worthing Road to cross, which would be far safer leaving people to their own devices, rather than rely on the ‘Lollipop Lady’ who seemed to make if far worse! Having negotiated that, you just have the driveway to the stadium to contend with, which is very poorly lit and it is only a matter of time before someone ‘slips’ as winter approaches and the ‘claim society’ we live in have a nice cash bonus heading their way. Even the Stewards, in their high visibility jackets, were carrying torches!

The ground is just as boring as all the other new builds, but on a slightly larger scale, but at least the club now have a ground of their own once more and they are attracting very good crowds. Tonight’s 481 was pretty impressive for a midweek match versus a club with no away support and I only spotted a handful of ground hoppers as many have already visited as they have played a number of floodlit fixtures in the last month or so.

The two clubs were promoted together from the Isthmian League South East Division at the end of last season. They were evenly matched, even down to the constant moaning and crowding of the match officials after every decision, which is something I come to expect at this level. Horsham opened the scoring with a stooping header from just inside the 18 yard box, but Cray were level within two minutes when Horsham failed to clear a cross and the ball was played back across the six yard box and headed in at the far post. Both teams had good chances to win it, but a draw was a fair result