Welcome

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Colston Avenue for this Isthmian Premier fixture. I would especially like to welcome the officials, players, and fans of Horsham FC

Please can I remind you:

• We serve a selection of draft beers and real ale in our clubhouse.
• We serve a wide range of food from our matchday kitchens from midday.

I would like to wish both teams the best of luck in this important fixture.

Paul Dipre – Chairman

Match Officials

Team Officials

	Carshalton Athletic FC Peter Adeniyi
	Horsham FC Dominic Di Paola

Recent Clashes

04/01/2025		0-3
09/03/2024		1-2
21/10/2023		1-2

History

Carshalton Athletic FC 1906

Horsham

Although Horsham Football Club can trace its roots back to 1871, the playing of matches depended entirely on the
availability of enough players to form a side and it wasn’t until the club reformed in 1881 that fixtures were played on a
more regular basis.
A founding member of the Sussex County FA and the West Sussex Senior League, of which the club were crowned champions
three years running at the start of the 20 th century, progress continued to be made as Horsham secured Queen Street as its
permanent home in 1904 where they would remain until 2008.
The first half of the 1920s was a lean period until a fourth West Sussex Senior League triumph saw them invited to join the Sussex
County League in 1926, heralding a golden era for the club. Six times the County League title was won during the 1930s, with the
side regularly scoring over one hundred goals in a season, while more silverware was added by virtue of the Sussex RUR Cup
(seven times) and the Sussex Senior Cup (twice).
Horsham won the first post-war title, too, in 1947, the RUR Cup in 1946, 1949 and 1951, and the Sussex Senior Cup in 1950. In
1947/48 the club reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time, taking a first minute lead against Notts County
before losing 9-1. In 1951, the club became members of the Metropolitan & District League and won the title in their first season,
finishing above the ‘A’ sides of several professional clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Millwall and Brighton & Hove Albion. But
as the league became stronger, Horsham struggled to make an impact and after finishing bottom of the table in 1957 they quit the
league and joined the Corinthian League where they began a period of consistent progress, finishing 13 th , 9 th , 8 th , and 5 th before their
best ever season in 1961/62 when 3 rd place was achieved.
In 1963, Horsham found themselves placed in Division One of the Athenian League following the decision to absorb the Corinthian
and Delphian leagues to create a new three-tiered structure of the Athenian. After a mass exodus of players, Horsham were forced
to rebuild with a young, local team that would peak at 4 th place in 1964/65 only to become the first Horsham side ever to be
relegated the following season. Under coach Pat Tobin, the team was rebuilt once more and this reaped dividends in 1966/67 when
the club hosted Swindon Town in the first round of the FA Cup in front of a record 7,134 crowd.
But this was a frustrating period of near misses for the club who finished 3 rd , 3 rd and 5 th and suffered three consecutive defeats in the
final of the Sussex Senior Cup. By now nicknamed the Hornets, following a supporters’ competition, the club appointed Roy
Osborne as their new manager and the change brought immediate success with the championship of Division Two achieved in
1969/70, the Division One title in 1972/73, and the Sussex Senior Cup in 1972.
Instead of taking their place in the Athenian League Premier Division, Horsham became members of the Isthmian League when
that competition expanded to two divisions in 1973/74, finishing 8 th in its first season and rounding the season off in style by winning
the Sussex Senior Cup. Now under the guidance of Tony Elkins-Green, 1976/77 saw the Hornets finish in a best ever 6 th place but
financial problems threatened the club’s existence and only the dedicated work of chairman Frank King saw the club saved from
bankruptcy and dissolution. However, it couldn’t prevent a young amateur team from finishing bottom of Division One in 1979/80
and the club was relegated to the new Division Two. Horsham endured some dark times under numerous managers in the 1980s,
finishing bottom of the league in 1983/84 and 1989/90, when only a successful two-legged relegation play-off against Letchworth
Garden City maintained the club’s Isthmian status.
Progress was made under the management of Peter Evans from 1990, during which time the club reached the final qualifying
round of the FA Cup, though under his replacement, John Yems, Horsham once again propped up the entire league in 1993/4
leading to the appointment of former captain Mark Dunk as manager. He led his side to the Division Three championship in
1995/96, narrowly missing out on a second successive promotion before departing in 1997.
Three years of lower mid-table obscurity followed before former Crawley Town boss John Maggs took over as manager in January
2000, taking a struggling side out of the relegation zone to Division Two runners-up in three seasons and a play-off final
appearance against Bromley in 2004/05. Promotion to the Premier Division was achieved the following season with another
runners-up finish and the club went on to establish itself as a consistent performer, even challenging for a place in Conference
South in 2007/8 before ending up 11 th . The Hornets made history in 2007/08 by reaching the second round proper of the FA Cup
and taking eventual League One champions Swansea City to a replay, with both matches shown live on Sky TV.
Having sold their ground for redevelopment at the end of the season, Horsham played at Worthing during 2008/09 and again
reached the fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup where they took Conference side Stevenage Borough to a replay before ending
an injury-ravaged year in thirteenth place. Season 2009/10 saw a return to Horsham, entering into a groundshare agreement with
their old neighbours Horsham YMCA as their quest for a new ground continued, but fortunes were on the wane and an acute
overhaul of the club’s finances in 2011 resulted in the departure of Maggs and virtually the entire playing squad.
A turbulent 2011/12 found the club under three different managers, with Simon Colbran ultimately unable to prevent the side from
returning to Division One South. A season of stability followed, with the Hornets ending the campaign in 15 th and claiming the
Brighton Charity Cup for a second successive season. The club entered a new chapter in November 2013 when, following
Colbran’s departure, long-serving player Gary Charman was appointed as first team manager. Despite steering the club to 16 th
place, a poor run of results the following season led to him being replaced by two more former players, Anthony Storey and Cliff
Cant, in January 2015. That same month, the club’s misery was compounded when an application to build a new home on the
outskirts of the town was unanimously rejected by Horsham District Council. Despite some impressive initial results, Storey and
Cant were unable to save the club from relegation so former East Preston manager Dominic di Paola was appointed towards the
end of the campaign with a view to rebuilding a side capable of competing in the Sussex County League for the first time since
1951.
After a season-long battle with Eastbourne Town, Horsham took the title by eleven points to secure a record-equalling 8 th County
League title, thus securing an immediate return to the Isthmian League. During that 2015/16 campaign, the club recorded a club
record 97 points whilst conceding the fewest goals in their history (22). Off the pitch the club finally got the news it longed for when,
on March 21st 2017, a revised ground application was submitted and overwhelmingly approved by HDC, meaning work could
finally begin on constructing a new community stadium off the Worthing Road.
With the arrangement at YMCA having come to an end, Horsham moved into the Lancing headquarters of the Sussex FA in the
summer of 2017 but a crippling injury list put paid to any pre-season expectations of improving the club’s position, with the lowpoint
of the season coming in an 8-0 reverse at Cray Wanderers in what is the club’s heaviest ever FA Trophy defeat. Yet that result
proved the catalyst for the side to kick on and only six of the next nineteen matches ended in defeat, a run that lifted Horsham to
11 th in the table, only to fall away again in the closing months of the season before ending in 15 th spot, one better than the previous
year.

Hopes that the club might start the 2018/19 campaign in the new ground went unfulfilled but the disappointment didn’t seem to
affect the players who turned their temporary home into something of a fortress, losing just four matches in all competitions. From
early December, the Hornets never dropped below fourth place, eventually finishing as runners-up to Cray Wanderers and securing
their deserved promotion via a play-off final victory over Ashford United to return to the Premier Division after an absence of seven
years.
However, the joy of this success was in stark contrast to that felt when Club President Frank King passed away just weeks before
his beloved Hornets finally took ownership of their fabulous new ground. But the players did his memory proud, confounding
expectations by occupying one of the play-off spots for much of 2019/2020, topping the division on more than one occasion, whilst
also reaching the last four of the Isthmian League Cup for the first time, only for the campaign – as it would also be in 2020/21 –
declared null and void due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Although it ultimately counted for nothing, their standing of 6 th place at the
premature conclusion to the season represented the highest finish in the club’s history
The 2021/22 season was the first fully completed campaign at the new ground and although a lengthy injury list soon put to any
hopes of another promotion, there was plenty to celebrate in the cups as the Hornets overcame the odds to battle through to only
their fourth appearance in the FA Cup first round. A 2-0 loss in Cumbria put paid to the heroics but the team would end the season
with silverware after beating Margate 4-0 to earn the Isthmian League Cup (Velocity Trophy) for the first time in their history.
By contrast, last season produced little cup success although early exits in each of the FA Cup, FA Trophy and Velocity Trophy
focussed the minds on an improved league placing, which was achieved with a best-ever 7 th , missing out on a play-off spot by just
two points. In addition, the club topped the division’s attendance charts with an average of 920.

CAFC People

Chairman: Paul Dipre
Directors: Clare Dipre, Paul Williams, Kelly Riddel, Vicky Mannooch

Club Secretary: Bonnie Hare
General Manager: David Geddes
Match Day Tannoy: John Kistner
Admissions: Andy Rickman
Matchday Sec: Christian Kemble
Safety Officer: Clare Dipre
Programme: Christian Kemble
Media: Joe Turner & Lin Bartley

Club Vice Presidents:
Phillip Payne, Steve Friend, Alan Walker, Kay Maynard, John Kistner, David Reilly, Martin Reilly, Peter Clews, Alec Griffin, Gary Smith, Alan Clarke, Peter Lebihan, Peter Robins, Marc Haskins, John Hillarby, Graham Skipp, Matt Hillarby

Matchday:
1st Team Manager: Peter Adeniyi
Coaches: Charlie Acres
Physio: Dave Feasey
Kit Manager: David Geddes
Matchday Safeguarding Officer: Andy Rickman

The Club is owned by Paul Dipre & Family by way of controlling interest

CAFC Snapshot

Surrey County FA
London FA
Pitching-In Isthmian League Premier Division
Isthmian Development League
The National League U19 Alliance
Isthmian Youth League
Surrey Youth League
Surrey County Women’s & Girl’s League
Epsom and Ewell League
Registration Number: 05316320

Contact details
War Memorial Sports Ground, Colston Avenue.
Carshalton. Surrey SM5 2PW
Tel: 020 8642 2551
Email: enquiries@carshaltonathletic.com
Web: www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk
TV: www.robins.tv
Twitter: @CarshaltonA_FC
Instagram: (Link to your Instagram profile)

The Robins Choir

Ground Rules

Colston Avenue Ground Rules

Carshalton Athletic is a FA Charter Standard Community Club.
We do our best to make every matchday or event as safe and enjoyable as we can for players, fans, customers and officials. We also respect the amenity of our neighbours.

To those ends we have ground rules that we respectfully ask visitors to the ground to abide by.

Approaching and leaving the ground and stadium

Please respect the amenity of neighbours surrounding the ground when arriving and leaving the ground. If driving please drive very slowly and carefully in the access road approaching the ground and in the car parks inside the ground. Please avoid making unnecessary noise in the surrounding roads on your journey to the ground, please save it all up in support of your team!

Dogs

Dogs are not permitted in the stadium, regardless of size and nature. (Except guide dogs)

No Drums or clappers

Our operating licence prohibits the use of drums, clappers or musical instruments, they cannot be brought into the ground

Flags and Banners

There are plenty of places to hang flags and banners around the ground, but pleased don’t hang them over the pitch-side barriers where they cover advertising hoardings.

Bring Photo ID

Please bring photo ID. You may need it for purchasing alcohol. Seniors, U18s and all season ticket holders will need to show it at the turnstiles, no exceptions.

Challenge 25

If you are lucky enough to look under the age of 25, then you will need to show a driving license, passport or an id card bearing the PASS hologram. Staff will lose their jobs if they don’t adhere to the challenge 25 guidelines.

Video Filming

Any filming within the ground that is intended for publishing online must seek written permission before filming – except for the official videographers of opposition clubs who may film at the ground for the period beginning 2 hours before kickoff and ending two hours after kickoff. Other private or third party videographers must seek the clubs written permission prior to filming within the ground if the footage it to be published online.

Commercial Photography

Any filming within the ground that is intended for publishing online must seek written permission before filming – except for the official videographers of opposition clubs who may film at the ground for the period beginning 2 hours before kickoff and ending two hours after kickoff. Other private or third party videographers must seek the clubs written permission prior to filming within the ground if the footage it to be published online.

No foul language please

As a community club, many fans and customers are families with young children. Please help us to provide an environment suitable for the whole family.

Hospitality

Football on TV

Partners with Sky Sports & TNT Sports.

Every evening, every matchday, all the big games are showing on our big screens

Two viewing rooms – both with 75 inch LED screens, Dolby sound and fully stocked bars.

Matchday food

Gourmet Steak Burgers

Our steak burgers are fresh and from local sustainable suppliers – Scotts the Butchers.
Our Burgers are fresh, never frozen. Made with English Steak and cooked to perfection.
Our Buns are fresh, never frozen. Soft and squidgy.
Our Onions and fresh, never frozen. Slow-cooked for 4 hours and caramelised

WE DONT RIP YOU OFF – 1/4 POUNDER IS UNDER A FIVER

Chips

You wont find tastier chips anywhere.

Pies

We serve a range of meat and vegetable pies

Matchday food

Bean to Cup Coffee

Our coffee is freshly ground and brewed. Choose a cappuccino, latte, americano or flat white

Fully stocked free-house Bar

Choose from our wide selection of real ales, craft beers and a vast range of liquors.

Respect statement

“The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly any form of discriminatory abuse whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action by that Association.” (The FA 0800 085 0508 / Kick it Out 020 7253 0162). The Isthmian League and all Member Clubs in the League are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.”

League sponsors