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Reporter: Neil Burlinson
 Wednesday 10th July 2002 saw AFC
Wimbledon lose 4-0 to Sutton United in their first ever game. FC
United drew 0-0 at Leigh in their first ever match on Saturday 16th
July 2005. Important milestones in recent non-league history but both
were eclipsed on Saturday 9th August 2008 when the newly formed HISC
FC took to the pitch for a match against Worthing Football Club
Supporters Association. The fact that HISC FC went one better than the
other clubs and recorded a win, a Justin Moss goal securing a
hard-fought 1-0 victory, meant that the game will rightly take a
special place in the Annals of Football.
Since the summer a group of Horsham supporters have enjoyed a kick
around on Monday nights in the multi-courts at Broadbridge Heath
Leisure Centre. Due to the good attendance, when ideas were being
sought as to ways to build good relations with new landlords Worthing,
Ian "Burlo" Burlinson suggested a match between the two sets of
supporters. Sean Bravery sprung into action and set about organising a
match, challenging Worthing's supporters to a game before the two
"real" sides would meet in a friendly at Woodside Road. The challenge
was accepted and the game was set for an 11am kick-off at Highdown
Gardens. However, at late notice the 1st team match was moved to
Culver Road in Lancing on the Friday night so that extra work could be
done on the Woodside Road pitch. With Worthing's pitch looking in
pristine condition, the decision seemed a strange one and left many an
observer wondering if it was a ruse to disrupt HISC FC's plans. Would
the players still travel down without a game to watch afterwards?
Would Horsham's supporters drink too much in Lancing and turn up worst
for wear in the morning? However, these concerns were put to one side
and the game was confirmed. Horsham Independent Supporters' Club were
ready to begin their football-playing odyssey.
Such was the excitement in the game that manager Bravery took a squad
of 18 to Worthing, with an age range from 11 to over 50. The suspense
had been building for some time and generated frantic activity on the
forum not seen since the days of last year's memorable FA Cup run. It
also produced some fantastic tongue-in-cheek comments, with
suggestions of training sessions, early nights and Assistant Managers.
The squad were concerned over who would play in goal with no obvious
candidates but showing canniness in the transfer market, Bravery
secured the signing of Rob Frankland. Horsham just hoped that
Frankland would fare better than his last outing for HISC when he was
out for a duck in a cricket match.
The warm-up went well and those supporters that had travelled to
Lancing the night before had sufficiently recovered from the
bedazzling sight of Worthing's reserve keeper and his tight leggings.
The team were resplendent in the all-green Horsham kit, gratefully
donated by the club. Bravery announced his starting eleven and the
team were to line-up in a 3-5-2 formation that could also be described
as 5-2-1-2 or 3-4-1-2. Some wondered if Bravery decided to ignore the
4-4-2 formation to prove to John Maggs that other formation options
were available, having previously been an advocate of three in centre
midfield. Some were concerned at how Frankland would cope behind a
defence of Chris, Burlo and Damo but these doubts were removed when
they were reminded he had played behind the pairing of Tom Graves and
Kevin Hemsley. Just before kick-off Bravery gave a rousing speech to
the team, reminding them they were playing for HISC, HFC and the town
and that they should play with passion, commitment and integrity.
 The pre-match formalities were completed and the game got underway
with HISC FC playing into a strong head wind. Some members of the team
looked like a roll call of Horsham legends, with players resembling
Mark Dunk, John Kirby, Stuart Myall and Andy Howard. The early signs
were worrying as WFCSA pushed HISC back as the side took time to
adjust to a full-size pitch and playmaker Justin Moss seemed nervous
as his first few efforts at controlling the ball went further than
most people can pass. Bravery soon forgot his integrity speech when he
told those on the sideline not to run and give the ball back to
Worthing players so quickly at throw-ins. However, HISC began to find
their feet and could have taken the lead when Twiggy was played
through on goal but the Worthing keeper did well to come out and
smother. Pedro was keen and eager but seemed weighed down by the
amount of hair on his head. With rolling substitutions allowed,
Bravery made his first changes with Jamie, Ben ( a.k.a. Gravsie Jr),
Ollie - who between them provided much needed youthful exuberance -
and Neil "Burlo" Burlinson being introduced. Gravsie Jr was eager to
get into the action after falling out with his manager at being
demoted to the bench and wanted to prove a point to the boss. Despite
these changes, WFCSA were still on top and HISC were indebted to
Frankland as he produced a number of fine saves. Unfortunately
Frankland was struggling with his kicking into the wind and duly
earned the nickname of "Toblerone Feet" as he found touch more
regularly than Jonny Wilkinson. Horsham abandoned their wingbacks
after left-wing back Kevin initially forgot the "back" part of his
role and went to a 4-4-2 formation, with Tom Frankland entering the
fray at right midfield. He soon showed his Dad how to kick straight
and was unlucky when shooting just wide from a Moss corner. With
Horsham beginning to make more forays up the field, Twiggy found
himself in the box being chased by a Worthing player. Running out of
pitch, he seemed to be affected by a strong gust of wind as he fell
over, with no one else near him. If an attempted dive, he needs to
watch Lee Farrell to see the art of falling over and winning
penalties. If it was just the shock at being separated from his
beloved jumper that had been locked in the changing room, then perhaps
he needs to wear that underneath his shirt.
Half-time came with the game delicately poised at 0-0. Gordy and Matt
had both had spells up-front but they were starved of the ball as the
Opta stats showed Worthing had the majority of possession. HISC
wondered if they would have been better served with Howie the Hornet
rather than Matt as it seemed easier to kick a ball in giant yellow
feet. But towards the end of the half HISC had began to settle and
kicking into the wind, Bravery and his side were confident of getting
the win that they craved.
The second half was a titanic battle and despite the heavens opening
and the rain pouring down, both sets of players put on an impressive
show. Gravsie Jr showed the commitment when he produced the header of
the match as a ball was smashed into his face from a couple of yards,
his eye going as red as his hair. Chances continued to come for
Worthing despite the best efforts of the Horsham defence but Frankland
was again in top form, showing Championship form in his Swansea shirt.
Thankfully his kicking had now improved and with the wind behind him,
he began to launch the ball deep into enemy territory. Last year
Jean-Michel Sigere may have scored from the half-way line, but on a
couple of occasions Frankland threatened to score from his own area.
 HISC had more possession and with that came more chances. Twiggy got
in on the by-line and instead of pulling it back decided to shoot and
was unlucky to see his shot strike the post. A scramble then saw the
ball fall to Justin in front of an open goal but he seemed to have a
case of the "Frankland feet" as he sprayed the ball nowhere near the
target.
HISC then had a dodgy five-minute spell when their formation seemed to
become 4-1-5 and some confusion as to positions and substitutions. Did
they say Damo or Lamo? Which Burlo did they mean? Ollie found himself
shirtless one side of the pitch, then had to dash across the pitch to
get a shirt before coming back on to play on the other side of the
pitch. But things soon returned to normal and Justin saw his corner
fly across the face of goal but no one was able to get a touch. HISC
then came perilously close to scoring when Neil Burlo broke from
centre midfield to hit a half-volley from just outside the box but the
with the keeper beaten the ball dipped onto the top of crossbar.
Another late run into the box then saw him force a great save from the
Worthing keeper and it seemed as if it would not be HISC's day.
Frankland and his defence continued to deny Worthing and Bravery threw
the last roll of his dice when he brought on Charlie and Al Morris who
became the second father and son to play for HISC. At the same time
they also became the youngest and oldest players to play for HISC.
Al's introduction into the Teddy Sheringham role seemed to do the
trick as WFCSA seemed perplexed that HISC had managed to bring on
Fabrizio Ravenelli. With Worthing confused, the defining moment of the
game came. Justin found himself with the ball in the left corner of
the pitch and with the big men in the box, he looked to swing in a
teasing cross. As he made contact with the ball with his right foot it
was obvious he had not got the necessary height on the ball but time
seemed to stop as the ball began to bend towards the near post. The
Worthing keeper was unable to get there and the ball snuck in to
provoke wild scenes on the touchline. HISC were
1-0
up and there were
less than 10 minutes on the clock.
 WFCSA threw everything at HISC to get the equaliser. When the ball
went into the box a Worthing forward went down under slight pressure
from Ian Burlo but the appeals were correctly waved away by the
officials. Frankland was called upon again and his kicks were helping
relieve pressure, except when a foray to the corner flag saw him clear
straight to a Worthing player who thankfully could not punish him.
In
the final minute a through ball saw the quick Worthing forward again
give chase but knowing that he could not beat him for pace, Ian Burlo's Eddie French-esque sliding tackle saw the ball clear. Fat
Dicky, who HISC were grateful to for refereeing the second
half, soon
blew the final whistle and HISC FC had secured a momentous 1-0 win in
their first ever game.
After the match HISC FC and WFCSA travelled back to Woodside Road and
enjoyed some superb hospitality from Worthing. Despite his
protestations, Rob Frankland deserved the man of the match award but
everyone involved with HISC FC, especially manager and organiser
Bravery, played their part in a wonderful match.
With it looking likely Horsham will have a long-stay at Woodside Road,
the game went a long way to building up good relations with everyone
at Worthing. HISC FC are up and running and AFC Wimbledon and FC
United may be just starting to look over their shoulders.
HISC: R Frankland, I Burlo, Chris, Gordy, Justin, Kev, Damo, Matt,
Twiggy, Pedro, Lamo, Gravsie Jr, Jamie, Ollie, N Burlo, Tom Frankland,
Al, Charlie |
