Fingers crossed on eve of vote to end exile

Horsham's fans, players and officials are hoping Horsham District Council will bring their six and half year exile to an end on Tuesday by voting in favour of a housing development that will fund a new stadium for the Ryman South club.

The Hornets have been battling to secure a new home since May 2008 when they played their last game at Queen Street after more than a hundred years and officials are hopeful of getting the green light after planning officers recommended that an application for a new ground at Hop Oast funded by the building of 57 homes on the site of a local leisure club be approved.

Horsham's initial plans to build on the Holbrook Club site which they own were turned down five years ago with the current proposal to build a more modest stadium at Hop Oast announced in June 2013.

As well as ensuring the economic survival of the Hornets and providing them with the only 3G all-weather facilities in the area, club officials say the scheme will also safeguard the future of the social, sports and business facilities at the Holbrook Club.

Despite being privately funded, the all weather facilities at their new home will be open to the town's schools, sports clubs and other community groups as well as local businesses and the public for conferences, meetings and social events.

Hornets chief executive John Lines, pictured at Hop Oast, is calling Tuesday's decision by local politicians one of the most important events in the club's history after a roller coaster of a ride as nomads in recent years for everyone connected with the West Sussex club.

Ahead of the vote, he told the County Times on Friday: "This decision means absolutely everything to the club. Tuesday, January 20, 2015 is the most important date in the recent history of Horsham Football Club when the planning application for a new ground is heard.

"If this application succeeds, not only will the club be in a permanent home of their own, but as landlords of The Holbrook Club we will be working together with them to ensure their own sustainable future.

"Success of the application will bring with it a donation to them from ourselves of £200,000 to commence repairs and improvements at their discretion and we will support any ambition by them to enlarge or improve their facilities."

Lines added: "There are a mix of emotions. We cannot just expect it to go through and we will not take it for granted until it all goes through.

"We are very pleased the officers have recommended an approval of consent but will not be blasé or relaxed for one moment until after the decision. We remember, we need to win 2-0 on the night and get the Holbrook application through as well.

"Nothing is ever definite, but it is a firm positive the view of the officers recommending it. If it is turned down on the night, we of course will have the opportunity to appeal it."

Image courtesy of www.wscountytimes.co.uk

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