Hornets confirm eight

By Ian Townsend

Horsham's squad begins to take shape


Following on from the April signing of Callum Saunders from Haywards Heath Town, Horsham last night took their number of confirmed squad members for next season up to nine.

The next eight are as follows:

Goalkeeper George Bentley, who made forty three appearances last season. He joined the Hornets after his release by Brighton and Hove Albion, where he had played for six years, coming through the youth setup at the Amex.

Striker/Midfielder Rob O’Toole scored perhaps the goal of the Isthmian League season to great critical acclaim (an overhead kick against Lewes), and is a serial promotion winner with the Hornets, Burgess Hill Town, Peacehaven and Telscombe, Shoreham, East Preston and Haywards Heath Town. He got nine goals in thirty one matches last season.

Defender Will Miles made twenty five appearances last season. He was alongside Rob at Burgess Hill Town when they won the South Division, and previously played for Worthing.

Harvey Sparks is another former Worthing man, but moved to Horsham from the Mackerel Men's great rivals, Bognor Regis Town. The full back made thirty nine appearances last season.

Lee Harding is another member of that Burgess Hill title-winning squad. He became a Hornet for the 2018-19 season, and last season made thirty two appearances.

Charlie Harris, another midfielder, joined the club permanently in Summer 2018. He came through the ranks at Brighton and Hove Albion, eventually earning a professional contract at Barnsley, but that move didn't work out and he headed back to Sussex, playing for East Grinstead Town and Eastbourne Borough before becoming a Hornet.

Striker Chris Smith first came to our attention as a South Park legend, scoring goal after goal, but moved to Sussex to join Burgess Hill Town in 2015. Over the last two seasons he has become something of a Horsham legend, too- scoring seventeen goals last season and twenty two as they earned promotion from the South East Division the season before.

Captain Jack Brivio made thirty three appearances last season, and forty three during the Hornets promotion season. The midfielder started off at Tonbridge Angels, and is another who has also spent time at Burgess Hill Town.

Read more here.

Where next?

Shared Chips! Chipstead announce a groundshare
Rams sign Ashford midfielder From United to the seaside for Prescott

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe