News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Exciting season ahead predicted for Horsham

Exciting season ahead predicted for Horsham

Richard Ordidge22 Jul 2017 - 09:42
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.horshamrufc.com/ne

Horsham are a club on the march with a new Changing Room block about to be opened and a new Artificial Grass Pitch being installed.

Horsham renew preparations for the league campaign ahead after what seems a very short break from last season on account of the very late cup final at the end of May. In the intervening time, the coaching and management team have been busy planning for the season which will see our new Artificial Grass Pitch and Changing Rooms contribute to a very exciting year ahead.

From a coaching perspective, the team will move into its second year together having welcomed Adam Halsey and Johnny Porter last year to complement the more established team of Richard Bell and Nick Stocker. The balance amongst the coaching team shone through at the end of last season which has seen further development of the already exciting playing style and attacking threat that Horsham are known for. With a very young team, the foundations laid last season during a year in transition will be built on further during 2017/18. Although the league will be very competitive, we certainly expect to have a considerable say in the outcome of the honours towards the end of the season and no team will welcome the thought of playing Horsham on our AGP in front of our home crowd. Teams like Dartfordians, Beckenham and Charlton Park have aspirations of promotion whereas those relegated into our league will have expectations to return at the first opportunity. When combined with eight Sussex derbies through the season, and two very long trips to Dover and Deal, the challenge will be considerable, but one that we feel confident we will meet.

We have retained the vast majority of last year’s squad who will be all the better for the experience gained. Younger players such as Jordan Bell and Ryan Maguire who were Colts until this year have a full senior season under their belts and will only get better. The physicality and multiple ball carrying threats posed by the likes of Richard Tredgett, Michael Tredgett and Jonny Whiting will cause all teams problems in this league and combined with the competition for places in the second row we will certainly be competitive in the forwards. Last Season's Player of the Year Nick Bell will no doubt follow up with another great season and will be pushed all the way by Jordan Smith who is looking awesome already at this early stage. In the backs, with rugby intelligence and pace to burn, we have managed to recruit well and welcome back Josh Mills from travelling, Mike Watts from his time with Worthing, and a new recruit from National League level rugby. When combined with the conveyor belt of talent coming through from the Junior sections of the club, the indicators are for a competitive 1st and 2nd team ably lead by Tom Johnson who assumes the Captain's armband for a second season.

The season kicks off with two pre-season friendlies on the 19th August away to Reading and then at home to Old Reigatians on the 2nd September where our Lions also open their campaign with a Sussex Cup fixture against Uckfield. The league campaign starts with what will no doubt be a full blooded affair between two old Sussex rivals when Horsham entertain Haywards Heath on 9th September.

With all the development off the field in terms of new changing rooms and the soon to be installed AGP, our facilities will soon be the envy of the league. When balanced with the enjoyable and welcoming atmosphere at the club, we are always looking forward to welcoming new players to the fold no matter what the level.

Further reading