Horsham manager Di Paola relishing return of supporters

The Hornets confirmed NINE pre-season games ahead of the 2021-22 Isthmian Premier Division campaign – including a visit from Crawley Town.

Di Paola’s charges begin with a trip Dorking Wanderers on Saturday, July 10.

Horsham will travel to Hanbury Park to take on Haywards Heath Town on Tuesday, July 13.

Di Paola’s side host near-neighbours Crawley on Saturday, July 17.

The two sides last met at the official opening of The Camping World Community Stadium in 2019.

Goals from Chris Smith and Kieran Lavery saw Horsham record a surprise 2-0 win over the Reds.

Following the visit of Crawley, the Hornets play host to Chichester City on Tuesday, July 20.

Hampton & Richmond Borough will then travel to Horsham on Saturday, July 24.

Horsham hit the road to face Burgess Hill Town on Tuesday, July 27 before returning home to do battle with Metropolitan Police on Saturday, July 31.

The Hornets visit East Grinstead Town on Tuesday, August 3, before concluding pre-season with a home game against Hartley Wintney on Saturday, August 7.

And Di Paola said he could not wait to see supporters pack the stands for Horsham’s home friendlies.

He said: “There’s loads of good ones in there. There’s a lot of Sussex-based clubs and we’re not venturing too far.

"We’ve got quite a lot of home games. We’re just quite mindful that it would be quite good to have local people at the games.

"I’m looking forward to all the home games where we can have people in and they can enjoy a matchday which we’ve not been able to for ages.

“Those will be the ones I’m most looking forward too.”

Last week Horsham confirmed the return of club legend Gary Charman for next season.

But Di Paola revealed that he had not been in discussion with other players for the upcoming campaign.

He added: “There’s no real news as yet. We’ll think about it nearer to the start of the football season.

“I would say we’ll start talking to players at the end of next month.”