Horsham happy to welcome back defender from Dorking

JJ O'Sullivan in Hornets action last season / Picture: Steve Robards

Quickly becoming a fan favourite in two loan spells at Horsham last season, full-back O'Sullivan made 18 appearances for the Hornets and scored one goal, in a Velocity Trophy knockout match against Whyteleafe.

He told the Horsham FC website: “As soon as I came down here, I loved it. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. I got on with the players straight away, the manager was really nice, and it was just nice to be playing consistently.”

O'Sullivan was an unused substitute in Dorking Wanderers’ National South play-off semi-final defeat to Weymouth.

He said: “It was a good experience. It was surreal, something we weren’t used to. Obviously, no fans, and it seemed like it wasn’t going to go ahead, then it did.

“I was happy for it to go ahead, because we were still training at the time, but it was just unfortunate that we didn’t quite cut it.”

Before joining Dorking, the full-back made over 300 appearances for South Park as they climbed through the Combined Counties Leagues and into the Isthmian League Division One South.

He added: “I see myself as a new-school full-back, I like to get on, I like to create chances, but then, as a defender, I like keeping clean sheets as well. Hopefully for my season, I’ll be looking to be up there with most assists of the season.

“But I do like a tackle when it comes across, and be involved. If I’m playing, I like driving out with the ball, I like overlapping and helping the wingers out. That’s how I’d describe myself.”

Hornets manager Dom Di Paola said: “With Harry Mills going, we needed a full-back, and JJ did really well for us last year.

“The first loan, I thought he was excellent, mentally he was right. JJ’s a really solid, special player, really consistent footballer, and talented in his own right. Plus, the boys really like him, he gets on with everyone, so it’s a new signing, but someone we know really well. That’s always good because you know he’s going to fit in straight away.

"He also gives us strength in depth because I am concerned with the number of games we’re going to have to fit in this season. So we’re going to need to make sure we’ve got a squad that can cope.”