User:Bighammerfan/Horsham Baptists Football Club

Horsham Baptists Football Club
Horsham Baptists F.C. currently run 2 teams in The West Sussex Football League, the first team plays in Division 3 North, and the second team in Division 5 North. The club is a part of the Brighton Road Baptist Church in Horsham, West Sussex.

History
There was a Brighton Road Baptist Church FC formed in 1921, the club ran until the mid 1930's.

The modern day Horsham Baptists were formed in the spring of 1981 by the late (and much lamented) Paul Brant. Paul had been managing the third eleven of another Horsham based team but decided to form a club based on more Christian values. A number of the younger players were "lured" to the fledgling club and formed the nucleus of the team that was to represent the club in its early years. Paul had a vision of a church run football club in Horsham that would be run by Christians for Christian and non-Christians alike. He felt it would be an outreach that Christian player’s ethics could and would rub off on the other players, opposing teams and referees. He was right, as the team held a prayer before each match (and still do to this day). It was not not un-common for the opposition to say that Baptist’s had 12 men including him upstairs!

On September 5th 1981 the "Baptists" took to the field for their first competetive match, away versus Sothwater. The team was made of up mainly of 16 and 17 year olds and their youthful enthusiasm helped them to a well deserved 3-1 win. The team that day contains at least one name still affiliated to the club this day. The team was Rick Brant, Malcolm Cracknell, Dave Worthington, Johnny Bird, Mark Stratton, Martin Liu, Chris Allen, Simon Clarke, Steve Liu, Peter Venis and Mike Berriman. Goals from Allen, Venis and Steve Liu plus a penalty save from Rick "The Cat" Brant sealed a famous win. A 12 game unbeaten run (including completing the double over the early league leading Bell Spartans) sealed a promotion place at the first attempt.

The following year a second team was added to accomodate the excess players attracted to the club, while the first team established itself in Division 4. By now the Baptists began to gain a reputation for excellent youthful teams that played the game ‘in the right manner’. Opposition team’s enjoyed playing Baptists and referees received and gave their respect.

At the end of the third season the first team were crowned champions of Division 4 and were runners up in the Tony Kopp Cup Final, played in front of one of the largest (and loudest) crowds seen at Horsham's Queen Street ground for many a year.

The club went from strength to strength and in 1996 won Division 2 North. Life in the upper echelons was tough on the Baptists and relegation quickly followed but the honours accumalated over the years is still one respected around the league if not the county.

Other Information
The Needles in the south of Horsham was the home ground until 1988 and the club moved to Horsham Park. In 1996 the club moved yet again to Bennetts Field a ten minute walk along the Brighton Road from the church.

Club Officers

In 26 years of history the club has only had 5 "Chairman" or to be "PC" Chairperson, namely Paul Brant, Malcolm ‘Mick’ Mayhew, Joyce Nichols, Ted Streeter and currently Rick Brant.

Record Goal scorer

The Clubs record goal scorer is the one and only Eamonn Geoghegan who started with the Club in 1986 and has gone onto score 256 competitive goals up to the end of the 2006/2007 season.

Team Colours

As a youngster Paul Brant was on the books of Tottenham Hotspurs Football Club and not surprisingly the Baptists started out with a home strip of white shirts, black shorts and white socks. A wardrobe malfunction led to the club changing to the wearing of black socks.

Honours
1981-1982 Division 5 North Runners up

1983-1984 Guy Walker Sportsmanship Trophy Winners

1984-1985 Division 4 North Winners Guy Walker Sportsmanship Trophy Winners Tony Kopp Cup Runners up

1985-1986 Division 5 North Winners Tony Kopp Cup Winners Won

1986-1987 Division 3 North Runners up

1987-1988 Guy Walker Sportsmanship Trophy Winners

1989-1990 Guy Walker Sportsmanship Trophy Winners

1990-1991 Division 5 North Winners Guy Walker Sportsmanship Trophy Winners

1992-1993 Division 3 North Runners up

1994-1995 Horsham District Referees Sportsmanship Shield Winners Paul Brant Sportsmanship Trophy Winners

1995-1996 Division 2 North Winners Horsham District Referees Sportsmanship Shield Winners Paul Brant Sportsmanship Trophy Winners West Sussex League Club Secretary of the Season Winners

1996-1997 The Kingsway Cup Winners

2000-2001 Horsham District Referees Sportsmanship Shield Winners

2002-2003 The West Sussex League Team of the Season (Lower Divisions) Winners

2003-2004 The West Sussex League Team of the Season (Lower Divisions) Winners

2005-2006 Horsham District Referees Sportsmanship Shield Winners Paul Brant Sportsmanship Trophy Winners

2007-2008 Paul Brant Sportsmanship Trophy Winners

2008-2009 Horsham District Referees Sportsmanship Shield Winners Paul Brant Sportsmanship Trophy Winners

Links
Brighton Road Baptist Church www.brbc-horsham.org.uk Horsham Baptists & Horsham Ambassadors F.C. www.horshambaptistsfc.co.uk West Sussex Football League www.wsfl.co.uk