Horsham FC v Southend in the FA Trophy: Di Paola relishing ‘another exciting moment in the history of Horsham Football Club’
Dominic Di Paola is relishing ‘another exciting moment in the history of Horsham Football Club’ when they host Southend United tomorrow in the last eight of the FA Trophy.
The Hornets have battled past Farnham Town, Hemel Hempstead Town, Leatherhead and Scunthorpe United to reach the quarter-finals.
A win over the Shrimpers, seventh in the National League, would leave Horsham one game away from Wembley – and Di Paola admitted the Southend tie was huge.
He said: “It’s as big a game as any the club has had because of the status of the game and the opposition we’re playing. They were in the Championship and they’ve been a Football League club for most of their history, and they’re going to have a very good chance of going up this year.
“From what we’ve seen of them, probably only Rochdale and York are any better than them. They’ve got all the attributes to get out of that league, so you’re playing monsters.
“It’s amazing for our club. We’ve come so far so quickly that we get so used to this stuff.
“I’m pleased for the football club that they can have these moments. Speaking to a few supporters this week, everyone has been excited and looking forward to what should be a really good game for us.
“We had the Barnsley game, the Swansea game which was before my time, and Chesterfield [all in the FA Cup] – but I think this is just as big. Southend are a similar size club to a lot of those.
“They get big crowds, historically they’ve been at a very good level, and they’re bringing a lot of supporters, which is good. It looks like we’re going to have 3,000 in the ground so it’s going to be amazing.
“We’re going to have another nice experience hopefully on Saturday, come what may, pitching ourselves against that calibre of team.
“Hopefully we can do ourselves justice. The boys give their all. There’s been very few times in the last six years where they’ve let the club down. They’ll give everything they’ve got and it will be a good challenge.
“It’s another exciting moment in the history of Horsham Football Club. We’re in the last eight of a national competition in our first year at step two – that’s really, really good.”
But Di Paola revealed one disappointment: “The sad bit about this is that you work really hard to get to this position and we’ve got seven out.
“I’m just disappointed we can’t go at them with anything like our strongest team.
“We’ll get a couple back I’m hoping, but there won’t be a huge change from the squads we’ve put out in the last two games. I don’t foresee any of the players who’ve been out over the past few weeks suddenly reappearing, unfortunately.
“That’s the only negative. I’m not moaning, I’m not crying about it, but I do feel it’s a shame.
“But there’s no point in griping. I just think it’s sad we have to play Southend and we can’t give those injured boys an opportunity to play in this game.”