Hassocks head to Herbert Direct Stadium to take on new-look Horsham YMCA
Hassocks will start 2025 with a trip to the Herbert Direct Stadium to take on a new-look Horsham YMCA outfit.
The Robins will he hoping to bounce back from their first defeat of the season last time out. Roffey ran out deserved 3-1 victors at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground against a home side who looked tired after their exertions 48 hours earlier in drawing 2-2 at local rivals Haywards Heath Town.
Having had a week to recover from losing to the Boars, Hassocks will hope to be firing on all cylinders at a venue where they have struggled in the past.
Horsham YMCA this season
There was a surprise managerial departure last month as Dean Carden resigned as YM boss, ending a 25-year association stretching back to when he came through the youth system at the Herbert Direct Stadium.
YM moved quickly to replace the manager who led them to a surprise Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup triumph last season when beating Haywards Heath on penalties in the final.
Ex-Loxwood boss Liam Giles has taken over along with a glut of new signings as YM attempt to move into the top half of the table. They currently sit 14th with six wins, five draws and 10 defeats from 21 matches.
Horsham YMCA v Hassocks head-to-head
There have been 57 games between Horsham YMCA and Hassocks. YM have won 27 with 20 victories for the Robins and 12 draws.
YM’s dominance of the fixture stems largely from their strong record at the Herbert Direct Stadium in the fixture.
Hassocks have won just four times in the league there since 2000 – although three of those victories have come in the past four seasons.
Last time Hassocks played Horsham YMCA
Big Alex Fair scored a sensational goal from 60 yards back in September as the Robins ran out 4-1 winners over YM at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground.
An own goal got the party started before Fair struck twice in nine minutes prior to half time, the second being an utterly outrageous distance strike from inside his own half after spotting the visiting goalkeeper off his line.
Harry Furnell rounded off the scoring with his first goal for the Robins whilst Tariq Vincent provided the consolation for YM.
How to get to the Herbert Direct Stadium
The ground is situated on the outskirts of the town centre. Take the A272 to Cowfold before joining the A281 towards Horsham.
Once in the town, Gorings Mead is located on the left before the railway bridge as directed by the “YMCA” sign.
There is extremely limited parking at the ground and when that is full there is no parking in the street leading to the ground.
If travelling by train, the Herbert Direct Stadium is a 15 minute walk from Horsham Station.
