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Close this message to accept our cookies, or find out how to remove them Horsham District Council is set to tackle the pressures on local housing by developing a new housing strategy Homes for Tomorrow – Shaping the Future Together The new strategy will focus on providing the right homes for those who need them and addressing homelessness in the District Like many areas of the country the Council is grappling with a worsening housing situation There is not enough social housing to meet the needs of locals.  Developers are not in a position to build new affordable homes and house prices and rents in the private sector are becoming increasingly unaffordable for many The new Homes for Tomorrow housing strategy will set out how the Council will: In order to help shape the new strategy the Council is holding an event in July 2025 bringing together specialist partners it will work with in order to develop the strategy housing developers representatives from the Ministry for Housing and planning officers from Horsham District Council Horsham District Council’s Director of Communities Paul Anderson said: As a council we believe that everyone deserves to live in a home that's safe and we're committed to making that a reality for all of our residents secure homes for our residents is a top priority for the Council and sharing expertise discussing potential solutions and building the new strategy are the key deliverables of our Homes for Tomorrow Strategy Day event It will kick start the necessary debates and discussions which will inform and influence the future of housing in our District The new Homes for Tomorrow strategy is set to be fully adopted at the beginning of 2026 It will include an action plan that will be reviewed annually Read the latest news Read the latest edition of Our District magazine for Horsham residents Horsham District Council media enquiriesCommunications Teampress@horsham.gov.uk Site and content © Horsham District Council 2025 While the Men’s First Team won the Isthmian League Premier Division by the narrowest of margins the Under 18s had to settle for second place in the Isthmian Youth League but gave perennial winners Worthing a real run for their money the young Hornets finished the season in unstoppable fashion winning their last six matches in succession We caught up with squad manager Rob Semark and his coaches after the last of those victories to get their reflections on a season in which they can all be proud to have played a part Rob firstly looked back on the very hard fought 1-0 victory over Burgess Hill “We could have forgiven the boys for being a bit unmotivated for this game lose or draw we’d only be guaranteed second place They gave another cracking account of themselves and maintained the consistency which they’ve shown all season I’m really pleased with the way we started the game we really dominated and could have had ourselves a goal or two in the opening 25 minutes and scored a fantastic goal: quick thinking from Barton and I was really pleased with the link-up from Collyer into Colombini came back at us well and finished the game very We talked about the need to narrow up at times and deny them space ,and that’s exactly what the lads did to ensure we put another three points on the board I was really pleased to see him put in such a positive performance one that showed his development over the course of the season but retained his trademark calmness on the ball as well.” while acknowledging the relative successes we all have slightly mixed emotions about it as we [coaching staff and players] felt we could have gone one better they’ve been the most consistent over the course of the season “What we have to remind ourselves of is that if at the beginning of the season we had been offered winning 15 out of 18 league games and finishing on 45 points and in second spot so it has been an incredibly rewarding body of work ‘I’d also like to particularly sing the praises of the second years [Under 18s] who’ve led by example been so professional and consistent in their approach They’ve been a great bunch to work with and we wish them the very best on their journey into senior football echoed many of Rob’s thoughts on the season 15 wins out of 18 games – the best points tally this club has ever achieved at this level and a level of football that was exciting to watch “A group of lads who gelled together work ethic and belief that made the real difference “Proud doesn’t even come close to it Here’s to a special group and a season to remember!” were also full of praise for the group of players who proudly wore the amber and Lincoln green this season James spoke of his pride in the group and their dedication to the collective objectives “The season for me has been one that we can reflect on with great pride and satisfaction discussion between the coaching staff was that we were aware we had a great group of hardworking young men who conducted themselves in a fantastic manner and displayed the high standards we require “However we knew that if we were going to try and go out and dominate teams and make a statement in the league this year we were going to have to try and unlock another side to the group change them somewhat from the ‘nice guys’ into serial competitors and winners “Being able to bring in players with experience in the league into the spine and core of the team brought us a level of consistency and resilience that helped us in the toughest of fixtures this season “The younger players that joined the group understood very quickly the level required of them every week to compete amongst the rest of the squad and to have had two Under 16s join us for the majority of the season was a testament not only to their personal character and strength helping to bring them into the group where they made names for themselves alongside their peers “The whole group played a huge part in the success which led us to a fantastic 15 wins from 18 league games which I think will be up there in the club’s highest under 18s points tally ever at this level we spoke after the last game of the season in the changing room where I made the point that this was one of the best groups I’ve ever had the honour of working with From the individual characters to the group’s camaraderie and friendship a reflection of the hard work they always showed in training coupled with their ability and desire to learn and understand what we were asking of them this group epitomised everything Horsham Football Club stands for – a team with grit an Under 18 player himself only last season and now a regular in goal for Roffey Football Club I thought the season was a very positive one To finish 2nd despite the high points tally is a hard one to take “Getting knocked out of every cup competition on penalties was a bitter pill to swallow but we didn’t do enough during those games to win them outright “15 wins in a season is no easy feat especially doing a league double over seven teams “Proud of how the boys have played this season and just disappointed that they couldn’t end their time in the Under 18s with some silverware.” It was a privilege to witness the lads in top class action at Burgess Hill last week Some real talent there and I am sure there will be some exciting careers ahead I was fortunate to see a couple of games in December and they played a really pleasing style of football somewhat similar to the men’s first team Also good to hear that some of the lads have been joining in with first team training Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Last MatchIsthmian League Premier DivisionThe Fusion Aviation Community Stadium, HorshamSaturday April 26 2025, 3:00 pmHorsham5Hashtag United1Match Report Next MatchSussex Senior Cup FinalAmerican Express Stadium, FalmerThursday May 8 2025, 7:30 pmHorshamLittlehampton TownView Fixtures Send a tweet containing #HorshamFC to get involved. Thy man scores again things self entitled fans love to see.💛💚#HorshamFC https://x.com/robbiemurdoch28/status/1875881834388877785/photo/1 13918045.Limited by Shares: Major Shareholding (100%) Horsham Football Club CIC.Registered Address: The Hop Oast Stadium,Worthing Road,Horsham,West Sussex,RH13 0AD Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Deliveries, Returns & Refunds Powered by: Lello Co A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address some services on our website including online forms and payments will be unavailable from 3pm on Friday 2 May until 9am on Wednesday 7 May Don’t miss your chance to have your say on whether the Horsham town centre area should have a Town Council Horsham District Council is asking your views on how you would like to see Horsham town centre managed in the future – and it is an important time to share your views The Government has recently proposed that local government is reorganised which would mean that Horsham District Council (HDC) and West Sussex County Council (WSCC) would cease to exist a new Unitary Authority council would be formed which would be responsible for all the main services currently managed by HDC and WSCC Moving to a large Unitary Authority means the future of facilities such as the current HDC managed bandstands and its allotments would be decided by a large organisation possibly not based in the Horsham area Horsham town is unique in Horsham District in that many services and community facilities that are otherwise managed by parish councils A newly formed Horsham Town Council could however take over running these services A Horsham District Council spokesperson commented: A new town council is one way to ensure that Horsham town services and community facilities are managed from Horsham A town council comprised of locally elected people would support central Horsham The town council could represent local views to any newly-formed larger Unitary Authority so that decisions could be taken to suit local needs Please take the time to tell us what you think as your opinion is important to us and will help shape our proposals for Horsham town’s future We welcome responses from those who live or work in the town centre area or who have any other interest in the town centre For more information about the development of a town council please go to the Horsham Town Community Governance Review page The public consultation starts on 1 May 2025 and ends on 16 June 2025 and it only takes a few minutes to complete the survey Please complete the survey on our Consultations page Saturday saw the club secure promotion –  a moment of pride not just for the players staff and volunteers but for the entire Horsham FC community family and friends to the club Thursday night for a special Trophy Presentation Evening with the Isthmian League –  and what a celebration it turned out to be With live music from the brilliant Zak Williams the night was a great way to round off a campaign of unforgettable moments We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along to the presentation to celebrate with us thank you for your support throughout the season – home and away no matter the weather your passion & energy has helped power the club and the team We’ll see you at the Sussex Transport Senior Cup final next week View John Lines’ full gallery here Absolutely brilliant being champion for Isthman league Cllr Jonathan Taylor has been appointed as Horsham District Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Property The Cabinet Member vacancy arose as a result of outgoing Cabinet Member Cllr Joanne Knowles being appointed as Vice Chairman of the Council for the civic year 2025/26 Cllr Taylor was elected to Horsham District Council in 2023 He has a background in Marketing and Advertising with eyes trained on computer and smartphone screens as much as on the pitch Horsham defeated Hashtag United by a four-goal margin to leapfrog Billericay Town on goal difference and secure promotion as champions to the National League South In the absolute epitome of timing your run to perfection the Hornets won their eighth match in succession to end the day top of the table for the first time all season besting Billericay on goal difference by a single goal The head-scrambling permutations that had given the strategists of Billericay Horsham and Dartford a week of sleepless nights probably did not include a scenario where all three sides were a goal down in the first quarter of an hour The goal by which Hashtag led was scored by their skipper but the lead lasted just three minutes before Ola Ogunwamide slotted home the equaliser after a lovely assist from Danny Barker The momentum looked to have swung the Hornets’ way when they were awarded a penalty but Reece Meekums’ spot-kick was easily saved by Jack Giddens as the livewire Lucas Rodrigues drilled home after Giddens had produced a remarkable reflex save to deny Ogunwamide who then spurned a glorious chance to make it three crashing the ball against the post from just two yards out With Billericay overturning a two-goal deficit against Cheshunt to lead despite Harvey Sparks having added a third they scored two in quick succession for good measure substitute Jake Elliott headed home from a Hammond corner then Rodrigues drove the ball beyond Giddens for his second and the team’s fifth Hammond missed the chance to settle matters once and for all by firing the Hornets’ second penalty of the afternoon over the crossbar so when Billericay scored again in stoppage time they could still have nicked the title with another Charlie Hempstead tries to make sense of a bewildering Hop Oast afternoon with images by John Lines and edited match highlights courtesy of Your Instant Replay/HornetsTV Read Full Match Report Fantastic day for the club and everyone associated with Horsham the players are amazing bunch of lads and deserved to get promoted to the conference south makes all the more exciting for next season billericay thought they had done enough but our lads knew what they had to do and they done it congratulations to each and everyone you what a season you must be all knacked like me 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 the players and everybody at Horsham on a superb achievement Couldn’t have happened to a nicer or friendlier club Horsham District Council has been informed by the government-appointed planning Inspector that he won’t allow Horsham’s Local Plan to proceed and recommends withdrawal of the plan This announcement from the Inspector comes after a considerable delay as Mr Fleming paused the hearings back in mid-December last year The Inspector’s view that Horsham should be seeking to provide significantly more houses is in contrast to the views of many who objected to the plan arguing that its housing numbers were too high Horsham District is an area of acute water stress and since 2021 delivery of new housing has been severely restricted by the legal requirement for all new developments to be ‘water neutral’ to prevent further damage to the internationally important Pulborough Brooks wildlife sites Horsham has led on developing the innovative Sussex North Offsetting Water Strategy known as the SNOWS scheme.  This manages the water available for new plan-led developments through improved water efficiency and offsetting has already been accepted by the Planning Inspectors for Chichester and Crawley’s Local Plans Mr Fleming has written to the Council saying that he does not accept the Council’s strategy and considers we should have done even more to find water solutions that would significantly increase the number of homes delivered in the District.  Mr Fleming feels the Council should have done more to provide housing for Crawley’s unmet housing need under our legal ‘Duty to Cooperate’ obligation The Council strongly disagrees with the Inspector’s conclusions as it has worked consistently and effectively with all organisations during preparation of its plan and particularly on the issue of water neutrality The Council is astonished that the Inspector could reach such a conclusion without allowing neighbouring authorities to speak at the examination hearings and questioning them directly as the Inspectors examining our neighbours’ plans have done the Inspector focused his attention on the views of the development industry representatives that were present at the Hearing sessions the Council was advised by expert bodies that delivery of the kind of large-scale private water schemes that the Inspector referred to is extremely challenging and highly uncertain and so provides no guarantee to deliver the homes being promoted by the development industry which is the key requirement of any local plan the Inspector did not invite the key organisations to his Hearing sessions to better understand these issues The Council has written a letter of complaint to the Planning Inspectorate Cabinet Member for Planning & Infrastructure “The Local Plan has been the top priority for the Council because after the repeated delays under the previous administration Horsham’s existing Local Plan had fallen out of date and we are now seeing the result with increasing numbers of unwelcome A Local Plan is the best way to deliver the housing we need in the most sustainable locations along with higher eco-build standards supporting infrastructure and community facilities “The plan has been prepared based on good evidence; the Council has taken expert advice including from the Planning Inspectorate on its actions throughout the plan preparation process and no substantive concerns were raised at any point We firmly believe we have acted in the best interests of the District and in the most professional way in trying to meet the Government’s housing targets “It's clear from the hearings and subsequent questions that the Inspector has struggled to understand the unique challenges posed by Water Neutrality These were issues he should have clarified before the hearings commenced “The Government has made it clear that they want to see every local authority with a local plan in place but the Inspector’s decision that the Duty to Cooperate has not been met and his recommendation to withdraw the Local Plan will leave us fighting against uncontrolled speculative developments with one hand tied behind our backs." This is a maverick decision that helps no one Bearing in mind the need for the Council to carry out local government reorganisation at the same time there is no realistic prospect of doing what’s been asked of us “This Council has worked hard for years to produce an evidence-based plan that delivers housing It is wrong for this to be halted by a flawed decision from a single individual “This Council has always sought to work cooperatively with the Government and Planning Inspectorate but there are aspects of the Inspector’s conclusions we cannot accept We are therefore communicating urgently with Matthew Pennycook Minister of State for Housing Communities and Local Government for assistance in finding a way forward.” STRAP YOURSELVES IN – IT COULD BE QUITE A RIDE After 41 rounds of matches spread across 259 days it is quite extraordinary to have reached the final day of the regular season with three teams locked together at the top on the same points making it quite likely that automatic promotion will be decided on goal difference It could even come down to goals scored or number of wins We have set out the permutations for you in a separate article on the website Horsham will have to outscore them by two goals to stand a chance of being champions we are already guaranteed the highest finish in the club’s history maintaining Dom Di Paola’s incredible record of improving our league position in every completed season of his 10-year reign The back-to-back wins over the Easter weekend extended our winning sequence in the league to seven the team has won an astonishing 19 out of 23 league matches since losing to promotion rivals Dartford in mid-December Standing in the way of a continuation of that sequence are Hashtag United making only the second visit to Hop Oast in their short history Lest anyone should get carried away and think that the only question on Saturday is how many goals the Hornets are going to win by it should be remembered that the Tags won the corresponding fixture 2-0 last year With the Hornets needing to outscore Billericay by two goals (assuming that Ricay win) and Hashtag’s matches having generated more goals (147) than any other team in the division this season The beautiful unpredictability of sport also means that it could of course be a goalless draw Tickets have been flying out of the door and with under 48 hours to kick-off there are fewer than 200 remaining, so any supporters who have not yet secured theirs need to act quickly to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be purchased HERE Gates will open at midday and fans are urged to arrive well ahead of kick-off there will be no parking for supporters at the stadium and the Park & Ride is certain to be full very early so anyone attending is strongly advised to leave the car at home and either be dropped off or walk from town (but be aware that the pavement is narrow in places) If driving is unavoidable and the Park & Ride is full parking is available 5-10 minutes away on Blake’s Farm Road or Wilberforce Way in Southwater but this does involve crossing the busy A24 on foot Note that a full matchday guide will be sent by email to all ticket holders and also published on this website on Friday Kick-off is at 3pm and all the usual offering will be there for everyone to enjoy After picking up an award-winning programme (£3 cash at the kiosk or pay by card inside the clubhouse) and a 50/50 draw ticket or two check out the expanded range of HFC-branded goods in the club shop sit yourself down with a drink (there will be additional outlets open) and something from our outstanding kitchen read your programme and watch live televised football as an appetiser for the main event the Player of the Season awards will be presented on the pitch in front of the main stand and there will be live music afterwards in the clubhouse It promises to be a truly memorable day at the Fusion Aviation Community Stadium We are very grateful to our good friends from Visit Horsham for their generous sponsorship of a match that could go down in history All the very,best hornets,go for it,you can do it Horsham District Council is inviting residents businesses and visitors to share their feedback on suggested exciting new improvements to the Bishopric Worthing Road and Carfax areas of Horsham town centre This is a great opportunity to shape a major re-design of our town centre The Council is preparing to significantly invest in the design and build of the Bishopric improvements within the next two years It is also looking for feedback on the design of improvements to the Carfax area in order to secure grant funding to invest in this area at a later date The range of improvements under consideration include: You can learn more about the proposed designs across all areas and access our survey for your feedback on our Consultations page The survey will be live from Wednesday 9 April to Wednesday 30 April as we are hosting two face to face drop-in sessions where you can see our exhibition These will take place on Wednesday 16 April from 10.30 am to 3.30pm and Saturday 26 April 10.30am to 3.30pm in Unit 60 in Swan Walk Shopping Centre in Horsham which is located next to the D&D Café I am excited about the proposed improvements and urge everyone to share their views with us to ensure they meet everyone’s needs and new ideas can be taken on board The infrastructure improvements aim to promote a sustainable environment better access and a thriving economy for Horsham This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our much-loved town centre Proposed cycling area through Worthing Road into the Bishopric Ticket Info: Sussex Transport Senior Cup Final We are pleased to announce tickets are now on sale for the Sussex Transport Senior Cup Final between Horsham and Littlehampton Town Tickets can be purchased online from the Brighton & Hove Albion ticket portal: BUY TICKETS > Tickets will be issued as digital (mobile) tickets. For more information on this please visit the Brighton & Hove Albion website Please do not forget to charge your phone before you leave for the stadium and download your tickets to your phone’s wallet Please have your pass ready before you get to the turnstiles The tickets appear at the bottom of the Apple Wallet or on the Passes tab of Google Pay You will be prompted to do this when you open Google Pay If your phone does not have Near Field Communication (NFC) please tap the “Show Code” option The ticket office at he American Express Stadium will be open on the day of the final for the sale of tickets up until half-time (approx Tickets purchased from the ticket office at the stadium on the day will be priced at £16 Adult General admission at the stadium will open at 6:00pm with both sets of fans seated in the East Stand Lower Horsham fans will occupy the areas E1A to E1D and Littlehampton Town fans E1E to E1I Seating will be allocated in both sections which includes a pre-match two course meal in the Sun Harvest Lounge please contact us directly (details below) for more information or to purchase this Limited parking at the stadium is available to purchase in the Bridge Car Park (BN1 9PW) priced at £5 per vehicle: BUY PARKING > Requests for disabled parking provision should contact the Brighton & Hove Albion Supporter Services Team on 01273 668855 Please be aware that the American Express Stadium is a cashless venue, so card payments only. A list of prohibited items, which includes musical instruments, can be found here With regards to travel to the American Express Stadium, if you are travelling by train, please check Southern Rail’s website before travelling there could be short notice cancellations/alterations Brighton & Hove Buses will be operating a normal midweek service Fans should also be aware that there is no local street parking available for football supporters as all areas close to The Amex have a residents parking scheme in operation and enforcement officers will be on patrol Bags to the size of A4 (21cm x 29.7cm) are permitted inside the American Express Stadium through general admission and hospitality lounge Bags larger than A4 will not be allowed into the stadium There is a bag drop kiosk on the south side of the stadium Any banners or flags over 150cm x 150cm will be required to obtain authorisation from Brighton & Hove Albion in advance, and present their associated fire safety certificate, authorisation can be obtained by emailing supporter.services@bhafc.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion takes safeguarding of all fans attending the American Express Stadium seriously and encourages any concerns or worries about young people or adults at risk to be reported to the nearest steward where our matchday team can respond appropriately Fans should also be aware that no bottles are allowed into the stadium over 500ml and those under 500ml must have the tops removed and could in certain circumstances be contrary to criminal legislation Please note there may well be a lightshow following the trophy presentation Any supporters with concerns about flashing lights may wish to remain in the concourse at this time Official match-day programmes will be on sale from the kiosks on the concourse priced at £3 and for supporters unable to attend we do plan to broadcast a live stream on our YouTube channel through our partners Your Instant Replay – further details of which will be announced on our social media channels on the day For more information about the Sussex Transport Senior Cup or to enquire about the hospitality package please contact: E: Competitions@SussexFA.com Will the club be running coaches again this year Yes… https://horshamfc.ktckts.com/event/coachsscf8may/sussex-senior-cup-final-coach-thursday-8th?mc_cid=77a7a94baf&mc_eid=3e135ad412 We welcome your feedback on these draft proposals to create a high quality urban public realm that considers the needs of all residents those working in and visiting the town centre This is your chance to help shape the future of Horsham This consultation is open from Wednesday 9 April to Wednesday 30 April Please share your thoughts on which aspects of these proposals matter the most to you Your feedback will help to shape our decision making for the future development of the town for local residents You can also view banners highlighting the proposals in Horsham's Swan Walk at Unit 60 (close to Sports Direct) we’re hosting two drop-in sessions where you can view the proposals ask questions and share ideas.Where: Unit 60 .htcIcons { width: 200px; height: auto; float: right; margin: 0 0 0.3rem 0.3rem; } and we are analysing the feedback provided the club is delighted to congratulate Dom Di Paola and Lewis Carey on each winning Pitching In Isthmian League monthly awards for April Manager Dom won the Manager of the Month award for April whilst Lewis won the Golden Gloves award for the same period Dom brought Horsham the Isthmian Premier Division title on Saturday he had not won the gong during the season to this point scoring fifteen goals and conceding only twice during that time Carshalton Athletic and Cray Wanderers Carey adds to the pair he won back in February Golden Gloves winner for April – Lewis Carey Well done and congratulations to both for their richly deserved accolades It was a masterpiece of strategy to wait until the one day that counts to top the table for the only time this season Horsham District Council has published its new Economic Prospectus and Business Charter documents as part of a new Economic Development Framework (EDF) ‘Enterprising Horsham’; the Council’s plan for building a thriving local economy and creating sustainable prosperity across the Horsham District The  EDF was approved at a Council meeting on 2 April and the final documents are now available to access on the Council’s website From 7 October to 29 November 2024 the Council ran an eight-week stakeholder consultation inviting a range of public and private stakeholders and community groups to feedback on the draft Economic Prospectus and Business Charter The Economic Prospectus is the primary and overarching document of ‘Enterprising Horsham’ focussed on delivering the economic elements of the Council Plan in alignment with other local and strategic policies The Prospectus outlines five guiding principles which underpin the framework’s vision and identifies 12 key priorities for action to deliver on these The Enterprising Horsham Business Charter is another key document which will help to shape and drive forward a ‘One Council’ approach to support the local economy and businesses through better collaboration and co-operation across Council services Representative stakeholders will be invited to join a group that drives the Charter’s alignment of the Council’s services to local needs demands and aspirations to ensure they continue to be relevant over 230 comments were received via a survey suggested updates to the Economic Prospectus and Business Charter documents were made 63 survey responses provided a snapshot of some key elements relating to the content of the Economic Prospectus and Business Charter Commenting on the launch of Enterprising Horsham Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Property Cllr Jonathan Taylor said: “I’m looking forward to enhancing our already strong support for the local economy and businesses through a more coordinated and forward-looking approach I would like to thank everyone who provided such valuable feedback on our vision for Enterprising Horsham through completing our survey and taking part in meetings with the approach and content of the Economic Prospectus and Business Charter respectively “We have listened to all the feedback and suggested updates from stakeholders which have shaped the final documents and will inform the development and delivery of the 12 priority actions going forward “We look forward to working further with businesses, residents and local and strategic partners to help develop and drive forward Enterprising Horsham and its priority actions, to support our local economy.” Read the new Economic Prospectus and Business Charter documents via the Council’s webpages The Broadwood Men’s Day of Dance will be held on Saturday 10 May in Horsham with The Broadwood Men and friends filling the centre of the town with colour This year will be the thirty-third Broadwood Day of Dance in Horsham and once again The Broadwood Men and their guests look forward to dancing around the town The day starts at 10.30 with a procession from the end of West Street to the Carfax bandstand and then from 11.00 to 2.00pm there will be dancing throughout the town With around 20 sides taking part there should be something for everyone to enjoy from dynamic Border Morris to  exuberant North West and of course From 2.00 onwards it’s all back to the bandstand for a show dance from each Morris side and a bit of a barn dance where you can join in Then around 4.00pm the day comes to an end with farewell dance that everyone can join in with Following an Annual General Meeting of Horsham District Council on 23 April Cllr Tony Bevis was elected Chairman of Horsham District Council for the civic year 2025 to 2026 at the Council’s Annual General Meeting which was held at Albery House Cllr Joanne Knowles was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Council Cllr Bevis takes over the role of Chairman from Cllr Nigel Emery who was Chairman for the civic year 2024 to 2025 I am honoured to be voted in as Chairman of Horsham District Council and look forward to representing the Council across the whole District I look forward to meeting as many people and organisations as possible around the District – those who work tirelessly in the voluntary sector and in support of our local community groups I also look forward to promoting the work of the local Citizens Advice which will be my Chairman's charity for the year My Horsham roots are deep as my grandparents and parents all lived in our beautiful district I'm delighted to have been appointed to this office and look forward to supporting our distinguished Chair of Council Horsham town centre’s West Street and Bishopric area was the venue for the local heat of this year’s national Market Traders Federation (NMTF) Young Market Trader of the Year competition on Sunday 27 April The event this year marked the highest ever turnout of young competitors visitors and shoppers flocked to the town to support some 11 different talented young entrepreneurs vying for a place in the Southeast Regional Final at Broadway Market in Hackney Open to all young fledgling traders under the age of 30 Horsham’s competition winner for 2025 was Garden to Jar who make chutneys Those who were highly commended and will also go forward to the regional final were: Redamancy Art (Madison Varney) Simply Beads by Freya (Freya Herrett-Allen) The competition was organised by local market operator Coden Events in association with the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) and supported by Horsham District Council The placings were determined by a panel of judges on the day including local renowned businessman John Bartlett who traded for many years in the Carfax as Sussex Faire a regular Horsham West Street Market stall holder and Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Property Cllr Jonathan Taylor Horsham District Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Property Cllr Jonathan Taylor commented: “I was both honoured and delighted to meet all the local young traders and be a judge for this amazing competition I was really impressed by the standards and talents of the young up-and-coming businesses showcasing such a wide range of high-quality products at what was a wonderful trading opportunity for them “Thank you to everyone who came along to support them on the day and best of luck to those going through to the regional final.” The competition is just one element of an ongoing campaign by Horsham District Council to attract and support new and younger traders at all of the District’s markets Anyone thinking of market trading in the District can find lots of helpful resources on the Council website After an exceptional weekend of football with the club crowned Isthmian Premier Division Champions we are releasing a ‘Champions’ T-Shirt to celebrate the occasion These blue and yellow tees are available for pre-order now at  – delivery dates TBC – and are available in both youth sizes (ages 7-13) and adult (S-XXXL) Prizes are £12 for youth and £15 for adult Buy Youth Buy Adult Overcoming loneliness and isolation is just one of the cornerstones of the Conversation Starter Project walking group who meet weekly in Horsham and Southwater Recently Horsham District Council Chairman Cllr Nigel Emery met up with the group to walk and talk around Horsham Park Founders of the Project Shirley Blanch and Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo set up the group officially in 2023 with the aim of bringing people together to get them out and about in a safe space in the fresh air to support both their physical and mental health The free walk and talk sessions meet in Horsham Park’s Human Nature Garden at 10am in all weathers to walk a circuit of the park and by ‘Iggy’ the dinosaur in Lintot Square Southwater on Fridays at 12 noon to walk around Southwater Country Park ” I was delighted to join the Conversation Starters walking group in Horsham Park and to learn about how they help people in both Horsham and Southwater with their mental health Many people struggle with mental health issues and Conversation Starters provides the company of others and the peace and beauty of our parks to provide some help.” “Tara and I are really proud to have run this project voluntarily for almost four years and we are now hoping to engage with local businesses who might want to use our training programmes to help us extend our free services in the community as we believe integrating local businesses with community wellbeing is the key to really making a difference.” SUSSEX TRANSPORT SENIOR CUP FINAL DATE CONFIRMED The Sussex County FA have announced the final of the Sussex Transport Senior Cup Final will be held at Brighton and Hove Albion’s American Express Stadium on Thursday May 8th at 7:30pm KO Following a coin toss by TalkSPORT’s Alan Brazil and Ray Parlour – courtesy of competition sponsors Sussex Transport – we will be occupying the Premier League Club’s home changing room on the day all fans will be hosted in the East Stand Lower of the American Express Stadium; with Horsham fans located in areas E1A to E1D Seating will be allocated in both sections and full ticket information and how to purchase will follow shortly Ken Benham said: “We extend our sincere thanks to Brighton & Hove Albion for generously granting us access to the Amex Stadium for the Sussex Transport Senior Cup Final “It’s an honour for us to host this prestigious competition at such an outstanding venue making the event truly memorable for the participating teams.” of competition sponsors Sussex Transport added: “We wholeheartedly echo the Sussex County FA’s gratitude to Brighton & Hove Albion for their generosity in hosting the final at their exceptional venue “It has been an honour to be involved with the competition and we eagerly anticipate what promises to be another historic and unforgettable final!” Travel and ticket information will be announced as soon as details are known visitors and shoppers are invited to come and support talented young entrepreneurs who will be competing to be 2025’s national Young Market Trader of the Year in Horsham town centre on Sunday 27 April Competitors will be setting out their stalls at Horsham’s West Street market for the local heat of the national Young Traders Market competition organised by local market operator Coden Events in association with the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) and supported by Horsham District Council Horsham’s competition winner will be determined by a panel of judges on the day including local renowned businessman John Bartlett a regular Horsham West Street stall holder jewellery and nature inspired art to sweet treats the event is expected to welcome a variety of young traders competing to be the winner of this local heat The winner will then have the sought after opportunity to progress to the London and Southeast Regional Final at Broadway Market in Hackney with the goal of reaching the National Final in Stratford-upon-Avon over the August Bank Holiday Weekend Horsham District Council’s Director of Place I am so pleased that Horsham will again be hosting a range of talented young entrepreneurs at our town centre markets for the third year running The event provides a fantastic free platform for young people to trade giving them a cost-effective opportunity to sell directly to customers access valuable feedback and hone their business skills alongside experienced traders at our markets Please do come along and support this vibrant local event and cheer on all those involved in this nationally recognised competition Coden Events are excited to host the 2025 NMTF Young Trader Market Horsham Participating traders will be judged by our team of experts and perhaps be able to go on to take part in regional and national finals they will have a great opportunity to showcase their fledgling businesses and have a great day meeting potential new customers Come and join us on Sunday 27th April at the Bishopric end of West Street Horsham Young traders signed up to date include Garden to Jar Horsham’s regular last Sunday of the month West Street Arts and Crafts Market will operate alongside the young traders’ competition market stalls to create a lively trading atmosphere Anyone thinking of market trading in the District can find lots of helpful resources on the Council website and on the day of the event there will be a ‘drop-in’ stall providing advice and information in person Young business owners who are interested in taking part can sign up using the online application form Find out more about Horsham District’s markets A Danny Barker brace in the last ten minutes completed the turnaround for Horsham as they came from behind to win 3-1 at Nyewood Lane and secure their 27th win of the season combined with leaders Dartford dropping points at Cray Wanderers and Billericay taking the spoils at Canvey Island means that the three protagonists in the title race go into the final day of the Isthmian League Premier Division campaign level on points A goal down at half time to teenager Lennie Smith’s header and struggling to get their game going the Hornets hit back strongly in the second half An early Harvey Whyte own goal levelled matters but it took until the 81st minute for the first of Barker’s goals to arrive forced home from close range following a devilish Harvey Sparks corner The third and decisive goal came in similar fashion six minutes later Darry Jacobs reports on a memorable day out at the seaside Read Full Match Report Refurbishment plans for The Capitol in Horsham have been revised enabling the venue to now remain open for 2025 before full refurbishment commences in 2026 In February 2024 Horsham District Council announced plans to refurbish The Capitol which would have required a full closure of the venue between April 2025 and September 2026 These plans were revised in October 2024 due to predicted escalating costs and the project was rescoped to reduce costs whilst still delivering the key priority improvements identified in a recent user feedback survey There will be a short closure of the main theatre auditorium between April and May 2025 to facilitate structural surveys and some interim seating improvements Essential roof repairs will also be carried out across the summer period to make the building watertight in advance of the full refurbishment in 2026 Cinemas will now run as normal throughout 2025 and a range of creative workshops are planned for the summer months Customers will have the chance to try their hand at costume design as well as practical singing activities and art classes A full autumn programme will run between September and November 2025 Season highlights include family favourite The Koala Who Could comedian Milton Jones and a special talk from sporting legend Nigel Owens we can now deliver our pantomime for 2025 which will be Robin Hood There will also be two festive productions on offer in the smaller Studio theatre: a family show for little ones entitled The Christmas Bunny alongside Dickens’ classic tale A Christmas Carol The planned full refurbishment will begin in early January 2026 and will see improvements across the whole venue including: The full refurbishment is expected to take some 40 weeks with the venue reopening in time for the 2026 pantomime Senior councillors will look to fully approve the plans at a Horsham District Council Cabinet meeting on 19 March Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture Cllr David Skipp commented: We are committed to making improvements which will first and foremost enhance the overall customer experience at The Capitol as we secure this popular venue for the future.We are pleased that this phased approach to our refurbishment work will now enable the venue to be open throughout 2025 with an exciting entertainment programme for everyone to enjoy we will share regular updates with the community You can also sign up to The Capitol's email mailing list for regular updates Following reports of ice cream vans trading in Horsham Park residents are being warned about the risks of traders operating without permission Unregulated vans may not have had food hygiene and other health safety inspections as well possibly using vehicles lacking insurance and MOTs This means they could pose a risk to those who purchase food and drinks from them Food businesses are required by law to be inspected as part of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. As such, legitimate sellers should display food hygiene sticker on their van. Consumers can search for a food hygiene rating online at: https://ratings.food.gov.uk/ sellers wishing to operate an ice cream van park or open space across the District must apply for permission from the Council If a member of the public has spotted a trader they believe to be operating without permission, they are advised to report them to ehl@horsham.gov.uk including details of the vehicle registration and operating location Household food waste collections will begin in the Horsham District by spring 2026 A phased roll-out of weekly food waste collections will launch in March 2026 with household refuse and recycling collections continuing as usual every two weeks Horsham District councillors approved plans for weekly food waste collections back in March 2024 Food waste collections are being introduced to help us improve our recycling rates as well as to comply with the Government's simpler recycling scheme which was introduced to create consistency in the way recycling food waste and garden waste are collected across the country Currently some 41.5% of the rubbish in an average Horsham District waste bin is made up of food waste Recycling and Waste for Horsham District Council Cllr Jay Mercer commented: I am delighted that we will be starting our food waste collections for residents in spring 2026.When it comes to overall recycling we have a great track record here in the Horsham District Thanks to our amazing residents we currently recycle over 51% of our waste products which is the highest recycling rate in West Sussex.However and introducing a weekly food waste collection will go a long way to further reducing the levels of food waste that go to waste and will help boost our overall recycling rates Households with a kerbside collection will receive a five-litre caddy to use in the kitchen and a 23-litre food waste caddy to place out on collection day Whilst food waste will be collected weekly recycling and garden waste (if subscribed to) will continue it can be recycled via anaerobic digestion into bio-fertiliser and energy The bio-fertiliser will be used as fertiliser for farmers’ fields and the energy will power the anaerobic digestion facility with any excess being exported to the national grid to be used in homes The food waste collections are initially being part-funded by the Government We start collecting commercial food waste from local businesses from March 2025 To receive updates and timely reminders of all your collections, please download the Horsham District Council mobile app. https://www.horsham.gov.uk/waste-recycling-and-bins/household-bin-collections/food-waste Horsham maintained the pressure on the two sides above them with a 3-0 victory over Cray Wanderers to mark manager Dom Di Paola’s 500th match in charge Just a week on from his 10th anniversary in the job the Hornets’ boss saw his side take a 17th-minute lead when Man of the Match Harvey Sparks fired in a 20-yarder aided by a wrong-footing deflection off Wands’ skipper Tom Bonner Lucas Rodrigues doubled the Hornets’ advantage with a superb header and Sparks put the gloss on the performance in the 94th minute with his second and the team’s third by which time Cray had had a second player sent off Zack Abdool-Rassool provides the detail on an action-packed afternoon at the Fusion Aviation Community Stadium the largest attendance for a league match at the ground Read Full Match Report Let’s hope for a good win in the last game where the goals fly in for the Hornets and automatic promotion is gained Horsham rang down the curtain on an excellent season with a hard-fought victory at fourth-placed Burgess Hill Town Already guaranteed runners-up spot behind perennial champions Worthing the young Hornets played some sparkling football at times but were also indebted to goalkeeper Heater for an astonishing save after Colombini had put them in front midway through the second half After both teams indulged in a 45-minute warm-up that would have left players of an earlier generation lying down in a darkened room It took Horsham 45 seconds to have their first sight of goal Moyo firing over after the Burgess Hill defence had failed to deal with Pettipher’s long ball Barton essayed what would have been the goal of the season had it come off before Chaffey got a crucial deflection on a goalbound shot at the other end with the resulting corner fizzing through the Hornets’ penalty area without a touch Horsham then produced two superb passing moves that deserved reward the first ending with Murahwa’s shot being saved and the second seeing Butler’s effort miss the far post by inches Moyo struck a fierce 20-yarder straight into the goalkeeper’s midriff as the flowing football kept coming Collyer as energetic as ever and Colombini linking play intelligently the Hillians carried a threat of their own and it was they who would have taken the lead had it not been for a vital intervention by Butler to divert a fierce shot over the crossbar Chaffey fired on target from well outside the area as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark and Heater then produced an outstanding save low to his left to keep the scoresheet stubbornly blank Only a brilliant last-ditch tackle prevented Collyer having a clear run on goal and the same player was almost on the end of a neat passing move but was just beaten to the ball by the Hillians’ keeper Although the quantity of chances favoured the visitors the hosts’ openings were of better quality and they missed a clear opportunity when their unmarked centre-forward scuffed his effort into the grateful arms of Heater from ten yards out How such a breathless and entertaining half remained goalless was hard to explain but that was the conundrum facing the coaches as the sides headed for the changing rooms Whatever the conversations during the interval the second half began in very similar vein with both goalkeepers called into action within four minutes of the restart and Collyer only just failing to connect with a dinked F Moyo saw his effort from Collyer’s cutback kicked away by the home custodian as the chances continued to stack up cleared not only the goal but also the mature oak tree behind it The match was still in the balance but there was a sense that the Hornets were turning the screw a feeling reinforced when the deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute releasing Collyer to deliver a measured near-post cross that was expertly despatched by Colombini The hosts almost responded instantly with a drilled low cross from the right being turned towards his own goal In the split-second that it took to think the words ‘there’s the equaliser’ Heater produced a save that required such extraordinary reactions and agility that he was swamped by his teammates as they rushed to congratulate him Perhaps feeling hard done by at not being back on terms the Hillians pressed the accelerator and applied considerable pressure for the next ten minutes but in their anxiety were twice caught offside when in positions of considerable danger so the visitors were able to threaten on the counter but the want of an accurate final ball meant that they failed to fashion a really clear chance The best fell to Collyer when he was presented the ball by the home keeper but his attempt to break the net threatened damage to the hoardings behind the goal instead Burgess Hill thought that they had found the leveller with just two minutes of normal time remaining but the assistant referee’s flag decreed otherwise The Hornets’ best insurance against conceding was to score again but Collyer’s shot from a narrow angle was blocked by the keeper’s legs The hosts then saw a decent curled effort only narrowly clear Heater’s crossbar as the match entered stoppage time The assistant who had endeared himself to the Hornets a few minutes earlier then put himself in their bad books by adjudging that Heater had carried the ball outside his penalty area in delivering a drop kick downfield giving the Hillians a chance to salvage things at the death The free kick was not particularly threatening but the ensuing goalmouth scramble caused palpitations until the ball was hoofed clear and the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of a compelling contest It also signals the end for this cohort of players The improvement in their play through the season has been clear for all to see and to end the campaign with 15 wins out of 18 matches is a testament to their skill as well as to the quality of Rob Semark and his coaching team We’re counting down to our final league game of the season as The Hornets face Hashtag United at the Fusion Aviation Community Stadium and with a sell out crowd of 2,500 expected Please plan your journey and aim to be in the stadium before 2pm Wherever possible get dropped off and picked up at the Park & Ride View timetables for other destinations here If you are able you might also consider walking – the journey takes around 25 minutes but be aware of narrow pavement and a steep hill that may not be suitable for everyone Please avoid driving unless absolutely necessary please arrive at the Park & Ride no later than 1.45pm Please car share where possible and park considerately listening to parking stewards instructions If the Park & Ride becomes full please do not park anywhere else in the vicinity Under no circumstances drive down the lane to the Club Security guards will be policing the entrance to the Golf Club car park With a very large crowd in attendance our facilities will be stretched and there will be queues Please be patient and listen to directions from stewards In addition to the normal toilets in the clubhouse and external toilet block we also have extra toilets next to the stand nearest the tunnel and behind the Main Stand Kitchen – The usual matchday menu including hot food Behind the Main Stand – Additional facilities: our end of season awards will take place on the pitch in front of the Main Stand Please do not enter the field of play at any time during the match or after the match Any ceremonies will not take place with supporters on the pitch We will have live music from Eddie Miller in the clubhouse immediately following the awards ceremony Manager Dom Di Paola will hope he can commemorate his 10th anniversary since taking charge of the Hornets with victory over Carshalton Athletic this Saturday as the title race and play-off push heats up for both sides Horsham need just a solitary point to guarantee an Isthmian Premier play-off place for a second successive year while three points could elevate them to top of the table depending on any slip ups from the top two who travel to Whitehawk and Potters Bar Town respectively a win will at the very least keep Horsham firmly in the title race with only three games to go Saturday’s opponents are embroiled in their own promotion fight as one of six teams with a feasible chance of claiming the other two remaining play-off spots Though that task was made more difficult after a 3-0 defeat to fellow contenders Chatham Town most recently they’ll still be looking to pounce on any dropped points from those above them The Robins’ form has been mixed of late they embarked on a six-game winning streak between January and February but their last six games have seen them lose twice win thrice and draw once – a 4-4 epic with Bognor Regis Town their results have been remarkably consistent with four of the last five games in all competitions ending in narrow 1-0 victories they’ve not been involved in a game that the winning side has won by two goals or more since February 1st even if some of the performances have been more dominant than the record books would suggest some may look nervously at the importance of goal difference Ahead of our short excursion to The War Memorial Ground They have also already got one over Peter Adeniyi’s side this season The return fixture at The Fusion Aviation Community Stadium in January ended comfortably with Reece Myles-Meekums Charlie Hester-Cook and James Hammond supplying the goals in a 3-0 win can Dom Di Paola register his 264th league win for the Hornets or will the Robins spoil the party with supporters encouraged to don their yellow or pink HFC bucket hats for the occasion in what is being dubbed ‘Bucket Hat Day’ by fans Always a well-attended fixture, predominantly due to the close proximity and direct public transport links, kick-off at Colston Avenue is at 3pm, and tickets can be bought in advance HERE and supporters are encouraged to buy in advance as ‘on the gate’ prices are an extra £1: A fourth successive victory by a single-goal margin saw Horsham move to within one point of guaranteeing a playoff spot as they overcame a stubborn Canvey Island side who are theoretically not yet safe from relegation Having struggled to find a way through the Gulls’ diligent defence throughout the first period the Hornets found the breakthrough five minutes before half time through a moment of individual brilliance by Reece Meekums the wide man accelerated diagonally into a central position before smashing an unstoppable drive past Bobby Mason in the visitors’ goal Having been content to absorb pressure in the first half Canvey had to adopt a more forward-thinking approach after the interval and they should have been level within thirty seconds of the restart but the unmarked Elliott Ronto headed wide from eight yards out Conor Hubble then missed another unchallenged header from even closer range before the Hornets managed to regain some measure of control who ended the match with an entirely different back four to that which started Chances came and went at both ends as the additional six minutes turned into seven with Mason having to produce a fine save to prevent Chris Dickson scoring what would have been a brilliant individual goal Zack Abdool-Rassool reports on another crucial victory for the Hornets as the season draws to a thrilling close Read Full Match Report