CHAMPIONS: Di Paola hails '˜fantastic' players after '˜Titanic battle'

Football Horsham Manager Dominic Di Paola. 02-04-16. SR1609608 Pic Steve Robards SUS-160404-111134001

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Horsham manager Dominic Di Paola has hailed his '˜fantastic' players after what he described as a '˜Titanic battle' with Eastbourne Town for the Southern Combination League title.

The Hornets were crowned champions with a 11-1 victory over Hailsham Town this after afternoon as they clinched their first title for 20 years.

They wrapped up the Premier Division gong with a game to spare in superb fashion to spark scenes of jubilation on the pitch at Gorings Mead.

Fans joined in with the revelry at full-time as Di Paola side were presented with the title.

Speaking afterwards, the manager, who is in his first full season in charge, said: “It’s great to come out winners after a Titanic battle with Eastbourne Town, so I am over the moon.

“It’s been a really hard season, but it’s been a really, really good season. The pressure was on from day one, everyone said we would walk it, everyone said we were favourites and with that comes a lot of tough games.

“Every game up until the last four weeks we have really felt the pressure so it has been tough.

“The players have been absolutely fantastic. It’s probably not been our biggest squad in terms of depth, but they have just kept plugging away and plugging away.

“We have had some quite tough times as a group this year, not necessarily on the pitch, but they have done really well for each other and for the club.

“I am so proud of them all really and I massively greatful to our management team - Browner (Ian Browne), Wezzo (Adam Westwood), Foggy (Nick Fogden), Mac (Andy McCarthy), Marfs (Andy Marfleet) and Daz (Darren Etheridge), they can take just as much credit as the players.

“It’s been brilliant, I couldn’t ask from anymore from any of them.”

Full reaction in Thursday’s West Sussex County times.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!