Horsham FC announce first summer signing

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Horsham FC have announced their first signing of the summer.

The Hornets have announced Joe Turner as their first new signing for the 2024-25 season, joining from last season's Isthmian South East runners-up Ramsgate.

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The attacking forward comes with previous Isthmian League promotion experience from his time at Tonbridge Angels, where he played for over six years, earning promotion to the National League South via the play-offs in 2019.

Turner said: "I'm delighted to be honest. I felt like it was a big decision, where I chose to play my football this year, and being very local to the area was a massive factor in deciding to join.

Attacking forward Joe Turner has joined Horsham. Picture courtesy of Horsham FCAttacking forward Joe Turner has joined Horsham. Picture courtesy of Horsham FC
Attacking forward Joe Turner has joined Horsham. Picture courtesy of Horsham FC

"Dom [Di Paola, Horsham manager] sold the club to me really well, and knowing a few of the players down here as well, it felt like the right decision."

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Having started last season at the Angels, he joined AFC Totton in November after finding game-time limited, and even featured in their 2-0 defeat to the Hornets in the FA Trophy third round in December.

However, he left the Hampshire club in February after finding himself unable to commit to the long travelling distances, and ultimately ended up at Ramsgate where he notched four goals in 14 appearances in the final two months of the season.

Turner said: "Last season was frustrating. I left Tonbridge having been there for six-and-a half years. I absolutely loved my football there, I loved the club, but it felt like the right time to go.

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Joe Turner tussles with Harvey Sparks during last year's FA Trophy third round match between Horsham and AFC Totton. Picture by John LinesJoe Turner tussles with Harvey Sparks during last year's FA Trophy third round match between Horsham and AFC Totton. Picture by John Lines
Joe Turner tussles with Harvey Sparks during last year's FA Trophy third round match between Horsham and AFC Totton. Picture by John Lines

"Then I ended up going to Totton, and, again, I really enjoyed my time down there but I couldn't commit to the travelling. I was doing 90-mile one-way trips on Thursday nights and it just became too much.

"About February time, I had a couple of mates down at Ramsgate be like 'what are you doing? Come and join us till the end of the season', so I went down there.

"But having three clubs in one year is not who I am, and having had a conversation with Dom, he knew that, and that's what sucked me in about Horsham as well.

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"The fact it felt very similar to when I signed for Tonbridge, in terms of the community, the family-run club, the way things are done here, and the facilities.

"Plus the fact that Dom's kept a lot of his squad together the last few seasons, so there's a lot of consistency there, and I want a new place to call home for a long time."

And Turner ranked squad consistency high in importance. He said: "It's massive. Just your changing room alone can win you several points throughout a season, in terms of quality of character, personality and camaraderie.

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"It massively relays onto the pitch and I want to be involved in a group like that again and find that place where I'm comfortable and enjoying my football."

Beginning his footballing career at various clubs around Surrey, including Cove and Knaphill, he represented England Universities at 21-years-old before joining Wealdstone.

He then made further stops at Metropolitan Police and Kingstonian, and even spent four months overseas in New Zealand playing for Richmond Athletic.

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Turning down an offer to play for professional A-League club Wellington Phoenix, he returned home and joined Tonbridge where he scored 67 goals and contributed 54 assists in 261 appearances, winning their Player of the Year award a record three times.

During the Angels’ promotion-winning season of 2018-19, Turner recorded his career best total of 19 goals in a single-season as a winger but, as he explains, he no longer feels that's his best position.

He said: "I haven't played out wide for nearly two years, and when I met Dom we had this conversation. You look at wingers now and they're rapid, they're skilful, and it's not that I can't play out there at all, but I prefer to do my business down the middle of the pitch.

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"I like to get the ball and link the play, whether that's with someone else up top or on my own, or coming from a deeper role in midfield.

"I'm powerful with the ball, like to get my shots off, love to score goals and generally work hard for the team, filling in where I need to.

"For me, it's just about making sure we try and get over the line in each game, and I like to think that every game I walk off, I leave it all out there. I don't come off without having run myself into the ground."

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As already touched upon, Turner is no stranger to the Camping World Community Stadium, after turning out for AFC Totton in the FA Trophy back in December, but even back then he was admiring the club.

He said: "I didn't think it was the best game of football if I'm honest. Both teams were very similar in style and set-up so we sort of cancelled each other out, but I've always admired the way Horsham try and play.

"They're a very good, footballing side, with some very good, technical players and they obviously try to do everything right down here in the way the club's set-up, and Dom was telling me about the analysis and the strength and conditioning side of things, so it sounds like a fantastic set up."

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Revealing his aims for the upcoming season, the 30-year-old said: "On a personal level, first and foremost, I want to enjoy my football because when you enjoy it, you play your best.

"Stats are so huge in the modern day, whether it be goals, assists, or running stats, everyone looks at them, so obviously you want your stats to be profitable.

"And then for the team, I want us to have a successful season. The boys obviously won the cup recently, and very narrowly missed out in the play-off semi-final so hopefully we can go one better and get this club to the next level.

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"I know that's what Dom wants to achieve, and I know it's stereotypical for everyone to say 'oh we want promotion, we want to go up, or make the play-offs', but I genuinely think, with the squad Dom's built here and the fanbase that we've got, we have a good foundation to kick on again next season and hopefully we can do that."

And Di Paola was pleased to sign his new acquisition, saying: "It's an exciting one to get over the line for me, as I've admired him for a long time, since he was at Tonbridge.

"He's a very established player at this level, and can do a number of different things on the pitch.

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"He's a good creator, a good scorer of goals, and gives a bit more of a physical presence in the attacking third again, and has experience of getting out of this league."

Turner had one last message for the fans ahead of the upcoming campaign: "I look forward to meeting you all and hopefully I can give you something to cheer about on a regular basis.

"I'll always be in the bar after the game for a chat, and my family will come down to watch too, so yeah, let's have a positive season together."

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