By james art Horsham FC will compete in the first round of the FA Cup for the second year running on Saturday when they travel to Chesterfield after facing Barnsley last season.
It’s all part of the positive change over the past few years, according to committee chairman Ian Burlinson, who is convinced some classic magic cups can help get even more people to Fusion Aviation Community Stadium.
“We have a decent home crowd now but what the cups have done is raise awareness of the team and the club in the city,” he said.
“If you come in and have a Horsham top, someone will say ‘What was the score? How did they do?
“Different pubs in town have our scarves in their pubs which is great. It’s never happened before. The whole thought process and mentality towards the football club has changed significantly in the city over the last few years.
“The cup was held in Barnsley and then the replay was massive. As a football club we have changed for the better and moved on. All changes for a club of our size have to go forward.”
Horsham played Barnsley twice last season, drawing 3-3 with the team away from home in the first round before losing the replay 3-0 at home.
Still, it was a result that didn’t matter as Barnsley fielded a suitable player and lost the result. Horsham subsequently fell to Sutton United in the next round.
A trip to Chesterfield is their latest prize after battling through the qualifying rounds, which included another win over near neighbors Dorking Wanderers.
Burlinson added: “FA Cup first round, you can go to different grounds, I’ve been to Barnsley, I’ve been to Carlisle and now Chesterfield.
“It’s a relatively new modern stadium and it’s a day out. It’s an opportunity to get out and treat it as a day out. The 90 minutes of football is a bonus but the experience of the whole day will make the day.”
Burlinson is one of a number of volunteers who will travel to Chesterfield this weekend and he highlighted the tireless work of those behind the scenes as key to the club’s success.
He said: “Without the volunteers at Horsham Football Club, all the committee, all the match day volunteers, everyone who helps out, we wouldn’t be the club we are. Many people give up a lot of free time. On the day of the match, we need a lot of volunteers.
“It’s about being a part of something. It’s a great way to meet new people while giving back to the local community. It’s a great way to learn new skills, it’s so much more than just a club. It’s a community within a community.”
Volunteers are a key part of any non-league club, with league sponsors Pitching In making it easier than ever to get involved through their new Volunteer Hub.
And Burlinson revealed the Hornets never forget how lucky they are to have an army of people who give up their time to keep the club running.
“The club is bigger than the men playing in the first team, you’ve got all the other stuff going around, the people behind the scenes that nobody really notices,” he added.
“The volunteers are working hard. They work hard in home games and are rewarded for what they do.
“Volunteers make the clubs money. Without volunteers, you would have to pay for the stewards, and they are expensive. You save that money which is then invested in the teams and grounds.
“That’s one of the key things I tell the players; “Don’t forget it.” Volunteers play a key role in enabling you to play for this football club, to play on this pitch. Without them you wouldn’t be here.