Horsham 1881

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About Horsham 1881

Named after Horsham FC’s founding year, Horsham 1881 FC were the brainchild of three dedicated Hornet fans: Darren Jestico, Damian Carter, and Sean Bravery. Originating in 2009 from a 5-a-side team, the club was formed primarily from Horsham Independent Supporters Club players.

The club has been going strong for 17 years. After spending many seasons in the Worthing & Horsham Sunday League, the team is now plying its trade in Sussex Sunday League Division 5.

A core group from 2009 remains. Darren Jestico, who started life as a striker, now anchors the defense at center-back; Damian Carter belies his years at full-back; Peter Kersley still dons the keeper's gloves from time to time; and both Dan Mullery, Jamie Lavender-Brown and Chris Mordaunt remain key squad members.

The long-standing leadership trio of Darren, Damian, and "Ped" (Peter Kersley) underwent a change at the end of the 2025/26 season, when Peter stepped down after 10 years as secretary. He handed the reins over to Adam Wilson, who also leads the line as a striker.

A major recruitment drive ahead of the 2026/27 season has boosted the squad to over 30 players. While this means fewer weeks turning up with barely 11 men, it gives manager Darren a severe selection headache every Sunday. On the pitch, another key change as Peter Monniot has taken over the captaincy from John Tickle, whose availability may be patchy over the course of the campaign.

The targets for this season are clear: a genuine push for the league title and a deep run in the cup.