MATCH DETAILS
Crawley are set to make the short trip up to Horley Town tomorrow as we prepare for a 3pm kick-off at The New Defence.
After a great start away at Walton Casuals on Tuesday night (0-3), we now prepare to take on local side Horley Town - a team very familiar to striker Ashley Nadesan.
Horley kicked off their pre-season with a 1-3 defeat to Croydon FC last Saturday, with Adam James Grant scoring their only goal.
Ticket information for tomorrow’s game can be found later in this article.
THE LOWDOWN
Horley Town are members of the Combined Counties Premier Division South, and play their football at ‘The New Defence’, which has a maximum capacity of 1,800.
They are managed by Anthony Jupp, and chaired by Mark Sale.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Horley have missed playing competitive football for many months, notably taking to the field back in December 2020, when they reached the second round of the FA Vase after a 5-1 first-round win over CB Hounslow United. The Clarets bowed out after a 3-5 defeat to Chatham Town. Plenty of goals to be expected tomorrow.
Reds forward Ashley Nadesan scored 99 goals for Horley between his final two seasons at the club, landing him a move to Fleetwood Town before he moved back down south to join the Reds.
On Twitter, Nadesan stated: “I can’t wait to return to my non-league club, Horley Town, with Crawley Town for a pre-season friendly. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone - make sure you get your tickets!”
CLUB HISTORY
Horley Football Club was first affiliated to Surrey County FA in 1896. In 1903, another local club by the name of Gatwick Rovers was formed and the two clubs merged in 1908 with Horley retaining its name. Both these original clubs played in the same colours of red and black and it was not until 1912 that Horley adopted the colours of claret and blue that they still wear to this very day. Intermediate football was tasted for the first time in season 1925/26 following an appearance in the Surrey County Junior Cup Final in 1923/24 and winning the Surrey County Junior Charity Cup in 1924/25.
With the expansion of the village of Horley to a town, the Club changed its name in 1974 to become Horley Town F.C. During this spell in senior football, Horley Town enjoyed their most successful period culminating in the winning of the Surrey Senior League title and Surrey Senior League Challenge Cup in 1976/77. The club went on to compete in the London Spartan League and the Athenian League before returning to the Combined Counties League (formerly the Surrey Senior League).
In September 2003, Horley Town moved to their new ground, named “The New Defence” in deference to their old home, behind the Horley Adult Education Centre, which has now been demolished and replaced by the new Horley Leisure Centre. The Club has been in the Combined Counties League Premier Division since 2006 and, in addition to its Reserves and Youth teams, incorporates successful junior football teams at all age levels.
2013/14 saw Horley Town FC appoint Ex-player and club stalwart defender Anthony Jupp as manager alongside former player, Chris Weller. In the 2014/2015 season, the Club had a very successful campaign finishing 6th in the league, the highest position for years and the most ever points recorded. The club also had the league’s top goalscorer in Ashley Nadesan, who scored 99 goals in the last two seasons before signing for League One side, Fleetwood Town, in a three-year professional contract before later moving back home to the Reds.
Credit: Horley Town FC
TICKETS
Under 16s accompanied with a paying adult go free. Tickets can be found here.
Prices: Adults £7.50 Children £4.50
